Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia--Reading Out Loud

[FuzzyBlueFreddy]

1:30 to skip the shit.

[Tokahfang]

I have spasmodic dysphonia as a subsidiary of a progressive neurodegenerative disease. I lost my ability to read out loud first as well, and I think it is because instead of kind of 'speaking with the flow" of our vocal chords, it forces us into the rythm of the written word.

[MbJayWalk]

I feel for you, I've been experiencing the same thing for the last year and I know its been coming on for years before that. I just wish they knew more about it. I've been having my son make important phone calls for me because no one can hear me on the phone. All I've got to say is a lot of hope and prayer and research could be the answer. Thanks for your courage to make these you tubes.

[jmbstudent]

thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[Alimaleo]

XD i stutter when i read, but its probably not the same reason huh

[angelus49]

No...I stutter at times, too, and these are two totally different things. With SD, my vocal cords pull apart and I get whispery. It doesn't always happen when I'm reading, but it is often exacerbated by it. There could be a neurologic component to both SD and stuttering, though.

[pekkomono]

I have minor SD for many years and I didn't know why my voice quality is different from others. I have to strain my voice when screaming. It's really bothering the quality of life sometimes and people don't understand our fraustration. Thanks for sharing and now i know that I am not alone.

[MrJonnytheboy]

hi i have this too ..me and u r the same

[Muffysb]

This must be extremely frustrating, especially to not know why it happens.

[lJBoyStance]

its annoyin when i just, try to talk then i nkow i cant say a word before i say it, and when i try i noticed a long sound comes out,and it feels like im spitting when i try it then it comes out

[Cosmosis]

Thak you for helping to raise awareness of dystonia. I never heard about it until today & I've had it for 13 years now. Trust me I understand the discrimination involved with having a disability, but until today I didn't realize what that disability was. My dystonia is somewhat different than yours but I aplaud you for being brave enough to help bring awareness to this serious condition.

[angelus49]

I can't imagine going 13 years without knowing! I went three (2003-2006), and that was enough. It was so hard trying to apply for a job. I would tell them I had to avoid talking too much. Then, when they would ask why, I wouldn't have a concrete answer to give them, just that I had a voice issue.

It's kind of funny that even though I've known that I've had SD for three years now, and friends have known for just about as long, some of them still tell me to drink lemon tea to help my voice.

[Cosmosis]

I feel so embarrassed right now. Please allow me to explain. I was confusing Dysphonia with Dystonia. While I think both are neurological Dysphonia affects the speech but Dystonia affects motor skills, at least mine does, causing uncontrollable muscle spasms & intense pain. I only pray that Spasmodic Dysphonia isn't as physicaly painful for you as my Generalized Dystonia is for me.

[Cosmosis]

I'm continuiously struggling to get the courage to even discuss my own disability; so I still have to say that I think you're really brave to talk about yours openly on such a public forum as YouTube where people get to hide behind their computers while putting everybody else down.

[angelus49]

Spasmodic Dysphonia is considered a dystonia (laryngeal dystonia), but there are many other kinds of dystonias out there. Spasmodic Dysphonia involves the muscles that work with the vocal cords. In my case, the vocal cords are pulled apart.

SD is really not painful for me at all, thankfully. The only pain I really have with it, and this is rare, is from whispering a lot. I think anybody who would whisper constantly would have that kind of pain, though!

[Cosmosis]

I'd likely be hooked on chloraseptic rather than tylanol if that were my case.

[rebco77]

@angelus49 Oh it drives me crazy how dense people can be to these types of sensitive health concerns! One guy tried to tell me that if I didn't focus on it I could just get on with my life... My mom still doesn't understand that complex movements actually bring on attacks. I feel for you. My neck spasms affect my voice in a warbly way. It sucks to not be able to speak properly.

[bluesmanjames]

It's pretty amazing what Type A toxin can do.

[amandataylorxxxx]

This is a excellent example of SD. Reading does make it worse because you have to project and because you are reading some words that make the spasms worse.

I find that if you use the words that your vocal chords can handle you sound better, so of course reading you dont have a choice but to say words that are going to make your SD worse and than the spasms kick in.

Good Video...

[amandataylorxxxx]

THis video is a excellent

[brlaranjo]

Is stutteringa symptom of this so if you have a stutter then you have this, cause to me I stutter and and it sounds the same. I always want to be louder butt I can't at presenations, I think people make more of a bif deal of somethibg like this, peopel who stutter go through hard times too

[angelus49]

No, stuttering is not a symptom. What you are hearing is my vocal cords pulling apart spontaneously, which is a dystonia, or a neurological movement disorder. I stutter also, and this is completely different.

People aren't making a big deal about SD, as it's a little-known disorder. I actually lost my job because my coworkers thought I was making it up, and I went three years without a proper diagnosis. I actually ended up telling the doctors what I thought I had, and tests later proved it.

[asmcriminaL]

I am a person who stutters. From my perspective, i don't see a big deal with this "Spasmodic Dysphonia" I am not sure if it's like my stuttering the psychological affects. Stuttering can be very traumatic to the indivual, where it affects his/her life, to the point they don't go outside, or speak with family, or even suicide. Do these psychological affects happen with Spasmodic Dysphonia too?

[angelus49]

It may be beneficial for you to do some research into what SD is first, perhaps by reading stories from those who have been through it before assuming that it's not a big deal.

In a nutshell, SD is an incurable voice disorder that is considered a disability. Some people find relief with voice therapy and Botox shots, but these are only therapies and not cures. Of course it has psychological effects. Sometimes I can't speak above a whisper, which is not only frustrating but can be dangerous.

[asmcriminaL]

Yeah, you're right. this is a big deal, compared to stuttering, since you guys can talk and we can't correct? (rolls eyes)

[angelus49]

I never said that stuttering wasn't a problem. If you read my reply to the above post, you would have seen that I, too, have had problems with stuttering. I'm not claiming to have it harder than anyone else, and I don't appreciate such comments here.

Sometimes I can't talk. I was also forced out of a job and was discriminated against for this problem, and others have faced similar issues. I just wanted to use these videos to bring awareness to a little-known disorder.

[asmcriminaL]

All i am trying to say is that... from my "perspective" SD isn't a big deal. Alot of people think stuttering isn't a big deal, but you say you stutter, and you know how it really is. I am saying compared to stuttering, it doesn't "SEEM" like a big deal. Like i said in my first post "I AM NOT SURE" if it's like my stuttering, the psycological affects.

[jonboygood1]

i have sd and have botox and its been a miracle for me..........

[nemci7v]

PART 4:

CONFIDENCE. Huge factor. I can recall days when my voice was good or days when it was bad. Confidence is the basis. If you're down, unhappy, stressed, constantly worrying about how you sound, those spasms will kick in for sure. Be happy!

Also consider pills for loosening spasms or anxiety pills. There is also Botox injection for SD which I'm sure you know of. I haven't tried any yet and am improving on my own.

Good luck!

[nemci7v]

PART 3:

Staying at the computer or at any desk puts tension on those throat muscles. We gotta get up and be active for at least 2 hours a day.

Buy yourself a humidifier. It spreads steam while you sleep, keeping your throat smooth. You'll wake up with a relaxed voice. Have water by you when you sleep, keep air conditioners away from your face.

[nemci7v]

PART 3:

You can do it! Don't let your conscious tell you, you can't.

Make sure you eat. Energy is vital. Make sure you sleep. Those two play a major role. Avoid milk and thick foods that will stick to your vocal cords. Drink A LOT of water. Small amounts but make sure it's at least 2L a day.

Go to the gym. Exercise is another major role. My voice was much worse before I went to the gym. Or jog an hour in the park but gym is better.

[nemci7v]

PART 2:

The brain plays a huge factor. If you think you can't talk out loud your brain will trigger those involuntary muscles and you won't talk out loud. It's that simple. Before you talk, do, some neck exercises, move your head left-right, down-up, etc. Bring blood to your face. Extend every muscle on your face then squeeze in until you feel a tingle. Keep your throat relaxed, breath in-out. Then with confidence talk out loud. Start low volume and work your voice up.

[nemci7v]

PART 1:

Sounds like your spasms are pushing your vocal cords together. Maybe also apart. I also have AD and am slowly curing myself. It started out really bad but now it's slowly fading and my voice is improving. Just follow what I do and your voice will get better.

[ummubasma]

It started this way with me too. My voice would start to change as I was reciting. Also, when I would bring sown my head while speaking, my voice sometimes got cut. So, the comment B4 this 1 makes sense to me. I can produce voice better when I stick out my neck, holding my head up. Maybe it is just a matter of posture

[cosmiquemuffin]

Wow, Angelus -- thanks for this video. I have ADDuctor dysphonia (as Scott Adams does) and one of the chief techniques I use to make my voice better is to open up the back of the throat or "yawn talk", and to tilt my head down to open up the back of the throat physically.

You have the opposite SD: ABD. So your throat opening up makes things worse. Maybe try reading while you hold the book up, so your head is tilted up, not down? Have you touched base with the larger SD community? GL & hugs