When do decide your speech is unintelligible by others
And start using a machine.??
Hi Bernard, I have very slurred speech to the point that people say "what did you say"?, sometimes more than once. Usually, it's people I don't know, as my family and good friends seem to understand me better (they're use to the way I speak, I guess...,ha!). I can always tell when I'm having a hard time, as it takes so much energy/effort to speak. I try to speak more slowly and annunciate my letters. I also practice saying letters, numbers and months of the year, etc., as a speech therapist told me to keep doing that. She said, if you don't use it, you lose it. I've heard that before for many things, like exercise! Anyway, I'm not certain what you mean by a machine? Therefore, I suppose when no one understands me anymore, I'll look into another way to communicate. It won't be through writing though, as I have a difficult time reading my own anymore, as it's really deteriorated (although I practice doing that too!). Oh, the joy's of ataxia...,ha!!! ;o)
Speech for an Ataxian is a huge issue. Slurred speech is often the first and most obvious outward symptom of Ataxia. I prefer to be around family and friends who know it’s just impaired coordination and not dementia. My cousin said I sounded like a hearing impaired person; that's probably a good description.
I had to realize my problem was reluctance to speak (more under my control) avoiding embarrassment, as well as the slurring that comes with Ataxia (less under my control). When talking on the phone or to strangers, I'm learning to put my speech impairment out there and proceed very deliberately and slowly. I'll say, "Don't assume it's your hearing. Assume it's my speech and say so if you don't understand me." The good news, is that my speech is intelligible at this point in time. Many people are relieved to: not have to own up to their own hearing issue, not embarrass the speaker, or not pretend to understand (the telltale blank stare). A speech therapist also encouraged belly breathing for my "running out of air" issue.
Many tools out there for people with hearing and speech impairments (IPhone's Siri, voice-recognition computer software) work well for non–Ataxians. But, it's hard to translate slurred speech. I just need to be less self-conscious and speak more often. Given a choice and there's someone else around, I'll walk right past a ringing phone or rely on caller ID. Fortunately, I've never been known to be much of a conversationalist, so family and friends don't see a big difference in quantity. Quality is another issue.
It's interesting that people who haven't spoken to me in awhile actually think they hear improvement. "Are you getting better?" they ask. Nope, just trying harder. The tongue is like any other muscle--use it or lose it. My husband, pushes my body and my language skills (puh, puh, puh, etc.) on a regular basis. It's the only time he can tell me what to do and say and I actually do it without an argument, smart crack, inappropriate gesture, or the look. Must be a welcome change; unfortunately for him, it's training–specific.
The lesson: Get it out there and speak the speech.I noticed it harder to find words - unsure of myself speechwize 8- 9 yrs ago.
the past 5 yrs I;ve had stuttering (that is less often now)
Wrong words - slurred - an S sound like a whistle
I would love to have some idea about questioned. I very seldom answer answer correctly.
I say a specialist last mo. .
he asked when I look in the mirror "what do see ? ) reply , "myself , nothing different"
truth -- every time I look in the mirror ,it is not like me. My right eye isn't open all the way
eye brow is higher, lid is very different, R. side of mouth is lower. R. eye (not the same).
Many other questions answered wrong.
Now stammering - to low volume- hearing from to many that " I can't understand you,
Mary- Elena
Is it possible to listen unbiased to your own speech? I often get "you sound much better today" from others; yes, it comes and goes. There is something about hearing your own voice that makes you want to turn it off immediately.
I agree it lends itself to a preference around familial surroundings.
Lassie-Elena !!! Mary-Elena said:
I noticed it harder to find words - unsure of myself speechwize 8- 9 yrs ago.
the past 5 yrs I;ve had stuttering (that is less often now)
Wrong words - slurred - an S sound like a whistle
I would love to have some idea about questioned. I very seldom answer answer correctly.
I say a specialist last mo. .
he asked when I look in the mirror "what do see ? ) reply , "myself , nothing different"
truth -- every time I look in the mirror ,it is not like me. My right eye isn't open all the way
eye brow is higher, lid is very different, R. side of mouth is lower. R. eye (not the same).
Many other questions answered wrong.
Now stammering - to low volume- hearing from to many that " I can't understand you,
Mary- Elena
That's a good question. I keep talking and practicing this Sunday I read in church! Even with the slow speech! That's
what good about a brain tumor: you can tell that there is going to be a problem.
I am thinking about getting Proloquo4 text, if not Proloquo2Go has an adult text version also.
http://www.assistiveware.com/products
This is an app that works on iphone, ipad and ipod. My speech is affected a times but my son has a speech issue and we could both benefit from this program. His speech therapist told us about the Proloquo2Go and had a demo to it. Cool. It has pictures version for kids and text for adults. We are holding out for the Proloquo4 text when it comes out. There are demos on the website so people can see how these two programs work.
schumant said:
Speech for an Ataxian is a huge issue. Slurred speech is often the first and most obvious outward symptom of Ataxia. I prefer to be around family and friends who know it’s just impaired coordination and not dementia. My cousin said I sounded like a hearing impaired person; that's probably a good description.
I had to realize my problem was reluctance to speak (more under my control) avoiding embarrassment, as well as the slurring that comes with Ataxia (less under my control). When talking on the phone or to strangers, I'm learning to put my speech impairment out there and proceed very deliberately and slowly. I'll say, "Don't assume it's your hearing. Assume it's my speech and say so if you don't understand me." The good news, is that my speech is intelligible at this point in time. Many people are relieved to: not have to own up to their own hearing issue, not embarrass the speaker, or not pretend to understand (the telltale blank stare). A speech therapist also encouraged belly breathing for my "running out of air" issue.
Many tools out there for people with hearing and speech impairments (IPhone's Siri, voice-recognition computer software) work well for non–Ataxians. But, it's hard to translate slurred speech. I just need to be less self-conscious and speak more often. Given a choice and there's someone else around, I'll walk right past a ringing phone or rely on caller ID. Fortunately, I've never been known to be much of a conversationalist, so family and friends don't see a big difference in quantity. Quality is another issue.
It's interesting that people who haven't spoken to me in awhile actually think they hear improvement. "Are you getting better?" they ask. Nope, just trying harder. The tongue is like any other muscle--use it or lose it. My husband, pushes my body and my language skills (puh, puh, puh, etc.) on a regular basis. It's the only time he can tell me what to do and say and I actually do it without an argument, smart crack, inappropriate gesture, or the look. Must be a welcome change; unfortunately for him, it's training–specific.
The lesson: Get it out there and speak the speech.
I am looking at speech devices too but my speech has never been slurred like all the other Ataxians.It is just getting more and more difficult and certainly not fluent. I can just about get out a few words.I do not understand why it won't come out.
I get the blank looks as if I am thick but that is not the case at all.I am now very reluctant to speak to anyone but I used to be such a chatter box.Its very hard when you know things intellectually and you cannot communicate.
Marie
ps I want a machine that you have little speech and does not treat you as a child with pictures.I am seeing a speech therapist again and will ask about the latest machines.Have got an i phone but find texting very difficult because of intention tremors.
Just a thought. Have you looked at an ipad? The proloquo2Go and proloquo4 text I told people about might work on that because the buttons would be bigger and you might be able to use that a little better. I saw a demo where someone was using an ipad with the program and it looked pretty cool. Text buttons were bigger and easier to use than our iphones. Just a thought.
Marie Turner said:
I am looking at speech devices too but my speech has never been slurred like all the other Ataxians.It is just getting more and more difficult and certainly not fluent. I can just about get out a few words.I do not understand why it won't come out.
I get the blank looks as if I am thick but that is not the case at all.I am now very reluctant to speak to anyone but I used to be such a chatter box.Its very hard when you know things intellectually and you cannot communicate.
Marie
ps I want a machine that you have little speech and does not treat you as a child with pictures.I am seeing a speech therapist again and will ask about the latest machines.Have got an i phone but find texting very difficult because of intention tremors.