THE VOICE….I Can’t Hear You!!!

(‘wearethemighty.com’)

For any soldier who put on government issue white boxer shorts or had his head shaved to the skin in the first few days of Basic Training, these words are forever etched in your mind…

“I CAN’T HEAR YOU, TRAINEE!”

Whether inches from your face or in front of the assembled company, be it a Drill Sergeant or Officer, regardless if we were already at the high end of a decibel scale, our replies were never loud enough, hence…

“I CAN’T HEAR YOU, TRAINEE!”

Why? Harassment? No, the military trains young men and women to be soldiers, and soldiers need to respond with certainty, confidence and INTENT.

Following months of training, we became soldiers, found our voices and took on our missions with INTENT

Fast forward decades later, and the drill sergeant has been replaced with a speech pathologist who sends the same message but with a softer tone…

“I can’t hear you, Steve.”

I have Parkinson’s Disease and one mark of many Parkinson’s patients is a softening of the voice associated with an expressionless face. Thankfully, there’s help, speech therapy.

I suspected there was an issue with my voice and it festered until I found the right people to help me. After a month of therapy sessions, I’m happy to report that I’m on the right track to returning my voice to appropriate audible levels. I understand the importance of ‘speaking with INTENT’ and, if I waiver, I have a ‘toolbox’ to correct myself.

Just as I exercised my body in Basic Training to build strength and endurance, now I’m exercising my voice box to strengthen my speech. Instead of daily runs, countless push-ups, jumping jacks and the rest of the army’s ‘daily dozen’, I’m exercising my voice with ‘speak out exercises’ and reaching decibel levels that heretofore were routine and automatic

It’s challenging

And, like the physical military exercise, if I don’t make my vocal exercises a regular routine, the voice will soften, again. The program is ‘SPEAK OUT, Speaking With Intent’ and the local effort is part of a nationwide practice to teach Parkinson patients how to fight back.

The challenge is to be aware of my speech and apply vocal exercises on a daily basis to improve and maintain voice quality.

Parkinson is a slowly progressive neurological disease that afflicts each patient differently. It can impact speech, motor skills and memory over time. Other than a pill, a recommended course of action is to ‘fight back’ with rigorous physical exercise for the body and voice.

Big movements! Big voices! Big rewards!

And there’s no need to yell, “YES, DRILL SERGEANT”, a simple “thank you, Jaime and Heather” will suffice.

Steve

080124

To my two speech pathologists, Heather and Jaime (URMC), who guided me without intimidation, just INTENT.

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srbottch

Retired in 2013 after 5 years as an elementary school teacher and 40 years as a sales representative to begin anew as a school crossing guard. SMy essays/stories are a way to communicate through the telling of personal experiences. One reader said about my blog stories, "...these are like a cold sip during a marathon run, simple, real life events". Another offered about my blog, “it brings some sense of normalcy not easily found in the modern world.”

32 thoughts on “THE VOICE….I Can’t Hear You!!!”

    1. Robbie, thanks for your comment. I’m learning more about it, myself. It’s a slow progressive disease and I’ve been okay since my diagnosis the past two years but recently I’ve noticed some changes in my walking. I just need to keep exercising, continuing with my Friday morning boxing class. Hope you have a great weekend, Robbie. Hugs!

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  2. Wonderful educational post, Steve. I think the best educators teach with intent rather than intimidation. I know that the military has their ways, but frightening or bullying students into certain behaviors isn’t really teaching them anything except how to avoid getting screamed at.

    It’s logical to me that we need to keep training our bodies when it comes to certain functions. it’s like riding a bike is only true for some things.

    Someone close to me (I’m refraining from mentioning any names because he’s private about it) has Parkinson’s. Some of his challenges are physical and others are cognitive. He has good success in his boxing class as it helps with both functions. I saw him take part in class, and it all made sense, especially when his instructor was calling out a series of numbers like 1-1-2-3-4 (jab, jab, cross, hook, uppercut) and then he threw the sequence of punches according to the directions.

    I’m really happy to learn that you are taking steps to improve the quality of your life. Wishing you the best, my friend.

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    1. Pete, thanks for your comments. I appreciate it. I understand your friend’s issues with PD And, yes, the boxing class is helpful but it’s only once a week. I walk nearly daily, do water walking at the Y 2-3x/wk, do my regiment of aParkinson exercises and join a couple of boxing instructors on line for great shadow boxing workouts. Need to keep moving in addition my voice exercises. It’s a challenge. But, that’s life and you know that so well following your health issues.

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    1. Derrick, thank you. Sometimes, humor is the best medicine.

      By the way, I get emails regarding your stories but I don’t see them pop up on WordPress feed. Would you have any idea what’s wrong?

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    1. Liz, thank you. It is a ‘fight’, including my ‘boxing class for Parkinson’ tomorrow morning. But the emphasis on rigorous exercise seems to be a common prescription, as well
      as daily voice exercises. It’s a challenge. But, what else do I have to do🥊💪🍺😎. Thanks for commenting, Liz.

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  6. I am pleased to hear that the speech therapy is working and that you are willing to put in the effort to combat the challenges this disease brings. You get three cheers from me!

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    1. Thank you, Darlene. It’s a work in process and having the disciple to stick with the exercises, daily, is the challenge. Alas, there’s only so much time in a day. I’m fortunate in that I’m doing okay, so far. A slightly weak voice, a shaky leg, a slower walk,and a little more fatigue. But it doesn’t interfere with my Friday morning boxing class😁. Thanks for commenting.

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  7. A few memories resurrected there Steve. Keep up the good work. Parkinson’s definitely requires a few adjustments. I well remember the first time I walked with a friend who lives with Parkinson’s. He regularly has to sit down and many people were initially shocked when he did so, suddenly! It is such an individual thing. I hope yours remains with only mild symptoms.

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    1. Yes, Pete, PD is different for everyone, while there are many similarities. I’ve been diagnosed for nearly two years and, for the most part, am doing okay. I do exercise regularly, always have, and that helps but I am seeing subtle changes, most notably in my walking, recently. So, I can empathize with your friend. Thanks for commenting. As for ‘memories being resurrected’, I’m assuming that you were a ‘trainee’ at one time😉.

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    1. Thank you, John. As for the voice, it’s a work in progress, WIP. Hoarseness seems to be my biggest bugaboo. I’ve been told to up my water intake. Water seems to be a remedy for lots of ailments. I appreciate your comment.

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  9. I had no idea tat you were battling Parkinsons and so I will be cheering you on! I pray you continuento make good progress, too. My dad had it and he had a doctor from INdia that suggested fava beans, as there is a place in India with no repoerted cases, and their diet is mainly this bean. ou may know about the lack of dopamine is the culprit of the symptoms, at least we were told this, teo years ago. Apparently few foods support the production. Maybe you could research this. You have always been so kind to me-I had to tell you, in return. x Michele

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    1. Thank you. These are nice sentiments. Right now, Michele, it’s just a ‘fight’, the battle might come later😉. Yes, dopamine, I’m familiar and am taking the dopamine Rx. Otherwise, exercising more. It’s only been nearly two years. My stories will keep you abreast. Thanks, again. (Steve)

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