Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Hi Betsy, I have SD/AB and it was my singing voice that I noticed going before my normal speaking voice. I was an alto and my voice started breaking first on lower notes and gradually I was left with no range at all and, by that time, my speaking voice was spasming and I am reduced to a strangled type of hoarse whisper after a few minutes of conversation, especially on the phone. It took two years to get to the stage I am now, with a few incorrect diagnosis along the way. I've noticed other postings on our Board have problems with their singing voices too. I think there maybe a difference in the symptoms with regards to singing if one has Abductor or Adductor SD. There are different treatments available Betsy and I'm sure others, who have the same problem, will post an answers to your query.
Regards Janine R. AB/SD Aust.
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Thank you, Janine, for your PROMPT reply. All of a sudden I feel as though there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Today I have make an appt with the Vanderbilt Voice Clinic for early January, but want to learn all I can before my visit so my time there can be most productive. I can't believe how much I took singing for granted. I now come home from choir practice in tears....that is, if I even bother to go...Again thank you for your insights...Good luck to you on your recovery. Betsy
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Betsy,I had made several decisions about treatment before I found this bulletin board, but after reading what everyone has written about their treatment experiences, I changed my approach several times. Read and learn all you can about this disease from this site and others and download information you might show your dr. I have decided to forgo the Botox shots and voice therapy and right now am using the GABA and seeing a difference. Also voice management helps, learning what causes you to get worse, i.e. phone or stress about talking to someone who doesn't know, etc. We learn to talk in phrases so we don't break up so much, connecting the last consonant from a word onto the next word beginning with a short vowel that gives us so much trouble. This site has been a huge help to me in understanding the disease and deciding what to do about it. Sandy
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Betsy,My SD first became noticeable in my singing. My voice would go off in crazy directions. This happened about six months before my talking voice was affected. Most on here say they can sing fine, but that is where mine started. I can still sing the very high notes, but nothing withing the normal range. Sandy
--modified by Sandy Van Vlymen at Thu, Nov 29, 2001, 21:00:35
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
SandyIf the GABA does not provide you the help you need, you may want to check with your doctor to see if he will allow you to try Neurontin which is somewhat like GABA but works on totally different neurotransmitters/receptor sites. Gaba is an over the counter aid whereas Neurontin requires a doctors prescription and supervision. From what I can tell from my doctor's experience and from searching the web, Neurontin seems to be reported by more patients and doctors as providing help to a number of patients. I have not heard the same degree of positive feedback about GABA but some claim it helps. There is clearly no single successful treatment for SD and probably not just one cause.
I just wanted pass on what I have learned and provide some info. on what has helped me almost totally regain my voice after 6 years of Botox injections.
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
My SD started with my speaking voice but progressed to my singing voice. I had more trouble with the lower notes than with the higher ones. This has made my singing voice go from "pretty bad" before SD to "oh, please...be quiet!" after SD.
-Karen
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
I lost my singing career many years ago because of SD. It came on quite suddenly, and I, not knowing what in the world was wrong with me, went into quite a long spell of anxiety and some depression and was terribly worried. I had been singing all my life, and it was my identity, so all at once I didn't know who I was anymore. Problems with my speaking voice soon followed. From what I can tell, I have mixed AD and AB. One thing I can say to encourage you---keep singing as much as you can. I have noticed that the more I sing in the choir the better I get, and there has been noticeable improvement over the past year or so, although I still can't trust my voice enough to think about any solo work. But the experience of singing in itself is such a joyous thing, that I'm grateful to be able to do any at all.I am also an alto. The weird thing, as all things about SD are weird! is that there are occasions when I'm singing in the car or at home, and suddenly there's my old beautiful voice again out of the blue. Go figure.Good luck to you and don't quit music!
Susan
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Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
your message gave me a chill because it is exactly what has happened to me. I am a songwriter and now cannot record my voice. I can't even read stories to my children properly. I'm trying hypnosis on recommendation from a psychiatrist friend after many speech therapy sessions.
I was a professional musician working on my fourth compact disc and singing full time.
I had a flu and soldiered through with sudafed(psuedoephedrine). Soon after I noticed trouble with my pitch especially in the lower range. Over six months my voice went from the sublime to the ridiculous.
I had to stop and to add insult to injury take up the dreaded day job.
The depression spiralled fueled by self abuse. I feel better(3 years on)but still want to punch myself in the throat at times.
On the positive side I have taken up more musical instruments including wind instruments which I wouldn't have done while I had voice.
I have become a better listener.
I'm very happy to have found this site.
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Hi Betsy,
I too, was affected 1st with my singing voice. It was exactly 4 years
ago when we were practicing for our Living Christmas Tree. I was a
2nd sop. I couldn't get any volume and it felt like my vocal cords
weren't touching, however, I could speak just fine. This went on for
a year and I had a fat injection done to fix the problem. That's when
I lost my speaking voice. I understand what you are feeling about
the singing. I tried to go to choir, but felt so out of place, and
even though choir was my thing to look forward to all week, I would
leave so frustrated. I also taught children's choir for 10 years and
am unable to do that. Botox doesn't really work for me. Only once
I had an injection that worked good and I could sing (not with the
ease that I once could), but this only lasted 2 weeks. This happened
this past Easter and I was able to sing in our Easter program. I think
it was more of a gift from God to allow me to do this than anything
else. I've been working the power point in the services for the past
2 years. Since I can't sing, at least I'm around what I love and
knowing the music makes me more useful to the choir than somebody who
doesn't know music. I went to Wake Forest in Sept. and was diagnosed
with Paresis, and they don't believe that I have SD. Since I had had
a botox injection in April (that had no effect), they wanted to
reevaluate me at a later time. I will be returning in February for
that and probable surgery. It's called medialization of the vocal cords
where they put implants on each side to push the vocal cords closer.
My prayer, of course, is for God to heal my laryngeal nerves, but if
divine intervention isn't God's will for me, I certainly pray that this
surgery will be the answer for me. I can't imagine what it would be
like to just open my mouth and sing. Such a gift that is so taken for
granted. Sorry this is so lengthy, but I thought I would share my
experience...Kay
Re: Singing and SPASMODIC Dysphonia
Betsy,Good luck with this new possibility and Welcome to the NSDA Bulletin Board. As of 1989, the lay terminology is "Spasmodic Dysphonia" (or laryngeal dystonia) as opposed to "spastic dysphonia." When the NSDA was formed that year, the terminology changed. I'm sure you can discern why. With our involuntary muscle movements originating in the brain, none of us wants to be termed a "spastic." Sounds like an old term from grade-school. At least in my era. It's true (as said in this thread) that there are many varieties and severities of SD and a large difference between AB and AD types. Those of us (many of us) with ADductor usually sing great even when we can't talk at all. ABductor SD, the rarer form, may be a different story. As a very severe ADductor case (but informed about AB) I can certainly understand where a singing voice could be impacted if you have AB. I sang MUCH better (with AD) than I talked prior to having SD-surgery. Good luck with your pursuit of knowledge but keep in mind that there are numerous forms of dysphonia (vocal disorders). Just because your singing voice is failing doesn't mean you have SD. SD is a neurological disorder. There are so many other types of vocal disorders. Keep in touch with us though. This is an informed and supportive group so we'd like to help you if we can. --Lynne (AD-SD; NSDA Regional Contact; Northern California)
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
Hi Betsy,This is interesting. I didn't realize a few of us first had problems with their singing voice, and then their speaking voice. I'm a musician, and played keyboards and sang in Top 40 nightclub bands. Gradually I had trouble with my range...the midrange notes were the hardest, and some high notes. This was before the the onset of ABSD with my speaking voice. Don't give up, keep your chops up the best you can, and try to see a SD specialist who can properly diagnose you. Meanwhile, you may want to try the GABA, an amino acid you can buy at health food stores. Seems to be helping some of us (me too). And get a little spray bottle of Singers Saving Grace, also at health food stores. It's an herbal throat spray that seems to clear some of the gunk in the throat.
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
I am not a singer, just singing with the radio, but my voice is reduced to a whisper after afew songs.
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
I read this entire thread with great interest. I've sung my entire life...throughout school, church choir, a few professional "gigs"...and always took my singing voice for granted. I was recently diagnosed with SD/AD. Even when I was croaking through daily conversation, I could sing just fine, which helped keep my spirits up. However, I didn't lose my singing voice until AFTER I had my first Botox shot. My voice is gradually coming back, but only in the lower register. And I mean low...I can sing tenor now (I'm an alto soprano.) And my voice breaks while I'm singing. That never happened pre-Botox. I hope that this is just temporary situation. Oh well, I can always take up my clarinet again...
Re: Singing and Spastic Dysphonia
I havn't been able to sing in 5 years which is how long I have been losing my voice I feel as if I am stangling and the notes just aren't there
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