I'd guess the speech therapy might have been suggested for two reasons - to untangle any compensatory habits you've developed to cope with the SD, and also they might be unsure of the diagnosis.

I note you say you have been diagnosed as having **both** MTD and SD. I would think that is a contradiction in terms - SD is organic (a neurological movement disorder - laryngeal dystonia if you like) where the spasms originate from faulty brain signalling, whereas MTD is functional and can be resolved by voice therapy. One of the hallmarks of SD is that it does NOT respond to voice therapy. If you really do have AD/SD I'd suggest you move on to the Botox treatment asap.

Speech therapy can be and is beneficial for SD patients. Some will disagree with me on that but I'm of the opinion that it does help - whether or not you have the Botox injections.

The majority of people - who have or don't have SD, are shallow chest breathers. Basically we're lazy. We don't intake enough air to project speech. Speech therapy will teach you proper breathing techniques and that does help on speech production - regardless of whether or not you wind up taking the Botox injections.

On the speech tremors, speech therapy techniques will help you to speak through the tremors. You learn to put more intonation into your speech, especially on the words that you tend to 'tremor' on.

There are some excellent speech/voice exercises up on our International Dystonia On-Line Support Group website http://www.dystonia-support.org that you might take a look at. They are specifically geared toward a patient with SD.

You might also read the Greensboro SD Symposium transcription up on our website in the Symposium Report section. One of the speech pathologists who did a presentation on speech therapy techniques actually has SD. She doesn't take Botox injections. I transcribed these taped sessions and I can truthfully say that when she practiced her speech therapy techniques, her voice did improve remarkably well. When she didn't practice these speech therapy techniques and tried to force speech without enough air support, the SD spasms were very obvious.

Improvement isn't something is going to be achieved overnight. It takes practice, practice, practice; and determination! I have severe ADductor SD with tremors. I took Botox injections for 5 years every 4 to 5 months up until September of 1998. My insurance company discontinued their health coverage and I had to get another health insurance provider at that time. They won't cover my Botox injections for my SD as they considered it to be a pre-existing condition; so I discontinued the Botox injections. I was also tired of the hassel of having to have the Botox injections every 4 to 5 months. Personal choice on that one.

I survive using speech therapy/breathing techniques and while I don't have a 'normal' voice by societies standards, I am able to be understood and I make no effort to conceal the fact that I do indeed have a voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia. I still practice speech therapy techniques daily to keep the voice 'oiled' so to speak.

You're much younger that I am Matt, and you're in a different life-style situation. I would encourage you to continue with the speech therapy sessions and I'd encourage you to continue with the practice sessions. They should prove beneficial to you regardless of whether or not you have the Botox injections on down the road.

Good luck.

Go to the Table of Contents section on our home page, and you will see the tab to click to get to the Symposium Reports section. The Symposium I'm speaking of is the Greensboro SD Symposium.

For the speech/voice therapy exercises, same website, same Table of Contents, it's the Library tab. Once your 'in' the Library, scroll through the Library Table of Contents until you get to the Speech Therapy Exercises.

Both ADductor and ABductor SD patients have seen positive results from these speech/voice therapy exercises. Again, I will emphasize that it takes practice, practice, practice and commitment!

Anne

My symptoms of abductor SD began about three years ago. Over the ensuing six months, my ability to phonate deteriorated severely and I was left barely able to communicate verbally. Conventional wisdom was that I never would get better. In a way, this was true; the SD doesn't get better. But, the human body is an amazing thing - it can learn alternatives and, actually, for many motor skills, the brain can remap to some degree. I was very lucky that one of my doctors said I should try speech therapy, that I had nothing to lose.

Like you, I am positive and driven. I practiced constantly. However, the progress was very slow. It took months, not weeks, to make noticeable advancement. And, even now, after years, my techniques for producing enough pitch to drive a microphone and for controlling my air usage so I can phrase reasonably still are improving as I continue to practice. I don't sound like I used to and I don't sound "normal." But, I am functional. [I recently was elected CEO of a technology company, I serve on several Boards of Directors, and even do public speaking on occasion (with special equipment).]

So, Matt, my message for you is that you can win, but you must be patient. Don't give up! And, of equal importance, never lose your sense of humor!