My first speech therapy session was via video. This was during lockdown and when you are attempting to enunciate and project your voice, there are a lot of aspirants in the air and that is not good for the therapist!
In later sessions I was able to go in person to Worthing. The speech therapist wore an enclosed breathing apparatus so that she wouldn’t breath in any of my air. Then the room had to be fallowed for half an hour to clear before the next patient.
I found the exercises and techniques that I learnt very interesting.
Particularly important was learning to initiate breathing from the diaphragm rather than the upper chest. This has now become the default for me even during exercise.
I have learnt how to use my voice to the best it can be. I am limited in volume which is OK in quiet surroundings, but difficult with background noise e.g. chatting after church or in a restaurant.
Following any kind of throat infection I am more prone to lose my voice. Notably when I lost my voice and couldn’t speak for a month. It’s amazing how you can still communicate quite effectively without a voice, by pronounced mouthing together with non-vocal sounds that are made with the breath and tongue which can give a hint as to the consonant sound.
The ability to sing is something that comes and goes and at the best of times is a challenge. Singing is something that I greatly enjoyed especially in worship and having written songs and led children’s worship over many years. One remarked that they would hate to not be able to worship. I clarified that although I often can’t sing, I can still worship! It’s a good thing that I can make melody in my heart to the Lord!
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