Sudden Loss of Speech and Learning the Value of the Spoken Word

y">feelings. She now has been writing in a journal and
Do you have colds or allergies and lose your voicealso has been typing her thoughts on the computer.
for short periods? Do you whisper anyway whenGET YOUR EMOTIONS OUT:
your throat is red and sore? If you answered yes orSHE FINDS HELPFUL: EMOTIONALLY
no to any of these questions, read on.(1) Medication
When my sister's speech vanished one morning I(2) Faith based groups.
thought it was temporary. She tried whispering to(3) Stopping to decide what really counts.
speak to family members and friends. After a month(4) Most of the time accepting for whatever reason,
her voice had not returned, she made anyou are where you are for a reason.
appointment to see an Ears, Nose and Throat doctorSHE FIND HELPFUL: PHYSICALLY
(ENT).(5) Biking
The doctor in his office placed a small electronic(6) Walking
scope device down her nose and examined her vocal(7) Swimming
cords. Her vocal cords looked good, but the muscles(8) Lifting Weights
next to them had been damaged by whispering(9) Going to a Health Club.
when her voice had disappeared.(10) Walking the dog.
GERD:COMMUNICATION:
To make matters worse he said she had GastroMy sister is using the finger alphabet with close family
Esophageal Refluxmembers. She does not know sign language. She is
Disease (GERD) which means she had an acid refluxhoping the loss of her voice will only be for a short
from her stomach that actually spilled over into hertime. So far she is into her third month. It is helpful if
throat and vocal cords. She is now on a restrictedyou can connect with someone who can read lips.
diet and must sleep with her head elevated.She is also seeing an acupuncturist three times a
SPEECH THERAPY:week. He has done miracles in decreasing the redness
My sister is now meeting with a Speech Therapist toand swelling in her throat and loosening up her neck
relearn how to use the correct muscles to makethroat muscles.
vibrations, soon to be sounds, and then hopefully -MEDICATION AND SIDE EFFECTS:
she will speak.She wants you all to be aware before you take
SGD ELECTRONIC SPEECH COMMUNICATION:medication - any medication you know the side
My Speech Therapist suggested a new electroniceffects of that medication.
device called Speech Generating Device (SGD).After the damage to her throat had been done she
For whatever reason you have lost your voice thiswent to her Pharmacist and had her print out all the
small computer will help you find yours. It can beside effects of all the medication she was taking.
programmed for your lifestyle. It has many wordsThey read all the material together.
and phrases already programmed into the system.They decided the medication which had caused most
A voice choice is available. Man, woman or child. It is aof her symptoms was the medication she you used
great device and she fully intends to utilize this deviceonce a month for osteoporosis. Further reading and
for as long as she needs it. Medicare will pay part ofresearching revealed the extensive side effects. Even
the expense and as well as other medical insurancethe GERD which affected her throat did not present
plans. She does not have this device yet but hersymptoms (heartburn) until five months after she
Speech Therapist is now in the process of obtainingstarted using the Osteoporosis medication. The
one for her.medication was already causing damage but she
EMOTIONS:didn't realize it.
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to not beWARNING:
able to communicate with anyone? Not her family orHer doctor explained these are actually drugs for
friends or necessary business calls, let alone anCancer, and they change bone density but not
emergency. She absolutely can not use thestrength.
telephone. She now communicates by writing outWhen she alerted her Speech Therapist and all of her
everything she wants to say or think but that doesdoctors about the findings, they were shocked. They
not mean the reader of her words says what sheimmediately stopped the Osteoporosis mediation.
wanted to express. It is frustrating and extremelySUGGESTION:
exhausting.Take Calcium supplements with Vitamin D and
Sometimes she feels invisible since she can not speakMagnesium and walking are the way to go to build
and get herself heard. Her opinion or thoughts do notbone loss.
count. Deep down she knows this is not true but sheThank you for reading my article. Please feel free to
can not help how she feels.read any of my numerous other articles on various
The doctor told her to journal all her thoughts andsubjects.