I WAS ASKED IF I STILL DO SPEECH, SO, CONSIDERING THAT IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I’VE POSTED, I THOUGHT I’D POST MY RESPONSE: I STILL DO SPEECH THERAPY ONCE A WEEK, AS WELL AS “SINGING” IN MUSIC THERAPY. MY MUSIC & SPEECH THERAPISTS COME HERE, PLUS I HAVE 3 SPEAKING COMPUTER PROGRAMS BUNGALOW SOFTWARE — SIGHTS & SOUNDS 1 & 2, & SPEECH SOUNDS ON CUE-THXS 2 ANOTHER STROKE SURVIVOR!) HERE’S ANOTHER COOL SPEECH SIGHT: , & I “SING” THE ALPHABET SONG & OTHER SLOW CHILDHOOD FAVORITES ON YOUTUBE & IN MUSIC THERAPY (I STARTED BY JUST SAYING “MOO” IN “OLD MACDONALD”!).

IN ADDITION, IN MY LAST POST, I RECEIVED A COMMENT W/THIS QQUESTION: Is the reason you are unable to speak, neurological and also your breath support?

YES, BOTH. I’M MISSING A “CONNECTION”, SO IT’S TRICKY 2 TELL MY TONGUE & MOUTH WHAT 2 DO (PLUS, MY LEFT SIDE IS “PARALYZED”–I FEEL, BUT CAN’T MOVE IT–WELL, I CAN A BIT NOW W/MY MOUTH & LEG, BUT THE MUSCLES R SUPER WEAK!), AS WELL AS COORDINATE THE SOUND W/MY BREATHING. & UNTIL RECENTLY, MY BREATHING WAS INVOLUNTARY. I BARELY GOT ENOUGH CONTROL, SO I HAVE BEEN BUILDING MY BREATH SUPPORT, & AS I DID, MY SPEECH BECAME CLEARER. IT WAS EXCITING!

HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM I WAS DOING RECENTLY ENDED, & I’VE BEEN TRYING 2 MAINTAIN WHAT I GAINED, BUT IT’S A GUESSING GAME HOW 2 MAINTAIN, SO I’VE RECENTLY BEEN STRUGGLING. I NEED A BETTER WAY! (OR THE WAY MAY BE FINE, BUT I NEED 2 DO IT MORE FREQUENTLY.)

I WAS COMPLACENT WHEN THE POSSIBILITY WASN’T THERE, BUT NOW IT’S DOWN RIGHT FRUSTRATING 2 KNOW THE POSSIBILITIES, & NOT DO IT! LATELY, I STRUGGLE 2 SPEAK WHEN I WANT 2, & WHEN I DO, IT ISN’T AS CLEAR AT ALL!

LUCKILY, SOPH IS AMAZING AT UNDERSTANDING ME. WED. NIGHT, I ASKED HER, “WHAT ARE YOU EATING?” THE WORD “EATING” WAS HORRIBLE, BUT SHE MANAGED 2 MAKE IT OUT, & OFFER ME SOME. WE CONTINUED A MINI CONVERSATION, WHERE SHE HAD FUN ASKING QUESTIONS, & FIGURING OUT MY 1 WORD ANSWERS. NO EASY FEAT, W/HOW UNCLEAR I CAN BE LATELY! LOL

ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC…

I ALSO WAS ASKED ABOUT MY EATING:
I’M BITING & CHEWING A LITTLE NOW, & FEED MYSELF A LOT–I PREFER MY HANDS, BUT CAN MANAGE UTENSILS. (WE HAVE WORKED ON MY GRIP IN MUSIC THERAPY, WHICH HELPS WRITING, EATING, & GRABBING STUFF.)
& I USUALLY FINISH THE DRINK.

ODDLY, I’M QUITE PATIENT W/ASL, SINCE I APPRECIATE THE CARE 2 HEAR ME OUT, & EFFORT PUT FORTH 2 COMMUNICATE W/ME, BUT I’M NOT PATIENT WHEN I EAT…I GO NUTS STARING AT MY FOOD. SO, I’VE LEARNED HOW 2 LEAN FWD, GRAB MY CUP OR PLATE, & FEED MYSELF! I KNOW I MAKE A MESS, & IT TAKES LONGER 4 ME 2 FEED MYSELF IN THE LONG RUN, BUT IT’S DIFFERENT. MORE BEARABLE SOMEHOW! I CAN DO, OR WILL AT LEAST TRY, ALMOST ALL FOODS, EXCEPT SOUP & CEREAL, & I’M NOT GREAT W/SALAD…BUT IT NEEDS 2 BE ON A PAPER/PLASTIC PLATE ON MY LAP (SO, I CAN’T DO IT IN CERTAIN PLACES, & IT DEPENDS WHAT I’M WEARING.) BUT SOMETIMES IT’S STILL NICE 2 BE FED-DEPENDS ON MY MOOD (LIKE IF I’M TIRED–IT’S HARD WORK!), & IF THE POTENTIAL IS THERE 4 A HUGE MESS. IT’S JUST SOMETIMES A NICE BREAK! BUT IF I CAN’T FEED MYSELF, MK FINDS SOMETHING (USUALLY BREAD OR A ROLL). THAT MAKES IT WAY MORE BEARABLE 2 NOT FEED MYSELF!

I TAKE PRIDE ON THE DAYS THAT I MANAGE 2 FEED MYSELF EVERY MEAL! LOL IN FACT, I AM ENJOYING IT 2 MUCH, & WENT THROUGH A SPURT WHERE I SEEMED 2 BE ENJOYING THINGS THAT I’VE MISSED 4 FAR 2 LONG! THEN, I WENT ON A DIET, & LOST LIKE 40 LBS.! LOL (IT WAS PORTION CONTROL, SO I NEVER COMPLETELY GAVE UP EVERYTHING, THOUGH I DID WATCH WHAT I GRABBED, & DRIED FRUIT BECAME A BEST FRIEND, 2 REPLACE MOST CHOCOLATE)