Smolover Voice Technique - for Spasmodic Dysphonia

I've decided to post here the 1st exercise I've done, which was the most effective method I've tried so far. It's from the Smolover Method.

I haven't been able to email back to most of the email queries I've received, sorry!! I'm getting married and moving to a different city exactly a month from now, and I didn't know there needs to be a lot of preparations to be done!

Better if I post my experiences and share here. Kindly just add me here or input your email address under Follow by Email so you'll receive updates :-)

There are some who said they do not wish other people to know that they have spasmodic dysphonia. So I won't include them here. But I also cannot promise to answer your queries if you want me to email you back one by one and privately.

Hi Diane Ryan - It's too bad that the Smolover book became out of stock! But no worries, you can do the exercise I'll be posting below. You can begin with this. It seems like a small thing, but it made a world of difference starting small!

Hi Syed - Alma Vajas already replied to my email! Well, not her but her recommended voice therapist. Her name is Terry. She does Skype sessions at USD90/session. If you're interested, just comment here and let me know.

Hi Cathy Lynn - I'm not sure now if I was able to reply to your 1st email! I think I did, but sometimes it turns out I only replied in my head.. The Chinese herbs I took helped my voice by lessening my acid reflux. I know I've read materials that say acid reflux has no effect on SD. But in my case, I think it has an effect. It's not the main cause, but since I already have existing SD, I could feel my acid triggering my loss of voice. But I think Pariet could give you the same anti-GERD effect.

Hi Peter - I hope the book helps your brother! Wait, which book are you referring to? At any rate, all of the books I bought were helpful: Connie Pike's, Dr. Cooper's and the Smolover book.

Hi Andrea - I bought the Student Version of Sing&See. It was helpful for doing Dr. Cooper's technique, especially at the start where I needed to find out my normal pitch and see if I'm talking within that pitch range. Although as I've progressed, I couldn't take the Sing&See with me anywhere. It'll be funny if I'm talking to a friend and I was attached to my laptop to see if my pitch is correct. ;D Although I did that with a good friend, explaining to her what I'm doing. :-) I'm using a real piano keyboard now with my continuing exercises because I can already detect which key I'm talking in/humming in.

Hi Lynn - I paid Dr. Cooper USD500 for the 30 minutes over-the-phone consultation. Hope you were finally able to get in touch with him!

Hi Ruth - I was thinking that in your case the book I'll be sending you would help only a bit. It discusses the theories and has some exercises, but they're mainly relaxation techniques. But they can only help so far. If ever you'll get a book, I suggest the Smolover book. I'll be transferring to Manila next month. If we have time, we can meet up in our place (if we do get to find a place to live in!!). I'll be bringing my piano-keyboards there, so I can show you how to do the exercises.

If I may have missed your email, my apologies. You can contact me or our other fellow SD patients here. It is good to share experiences and results.


So finally, here is the 1st exercise I did under the Smolover exercise. I did not edit my Pastor-mentor's email anymore:



Dear Misty,

The exercises in the book by Dr. Smolover start out very advanced. For the first one only extone. Sit relaxed in a quiet place. You need a piano keyboard, or I use a computer keyboard. Gently extone, think tiny. It is in the tiny that you will grow little by little. Start out as low as you can and go up to as high as you can. Take a couple minute break and then start up as high as you can and bring it down. Do this two or three times. When you reach as high as you can, try to go two notes higher. It will be hard, and it is work.

What you are doing is stretching the ligament by going up. You are also aligning it in order for it to make sound. This is the first exercise. Do this six days a week and take one day off.

Notes:
1. Don't worry about the quality of the sound as yet, just make pitch. Sound is made from your ligament so if there is sound your ligament is working.

2. In the beginning make sound any way you can. Little by little it will get better.

3. try to stay relaxed when making sound, though this may be hard.

4. The theory is like lifting weights. It takes time to get back in shape and it will take time for the exercises to work, but stay with it.

5. Do not worry about doing something wrong, just work your voice.

Hope this helps.