Confusing replies on YouTube

From time to time, I will check what posts have shown up on my YouTube videos (the ones also posted in this blog) to see if there are any comments that I should respond to. The last two comments left were related to stuttering. One guy asked if people have psychological effects from SD. He said he didn't think it was such a big deal, as he is a stutterer, and some people who stutter feel afraid to go out into public and even commit suicide. I was a bit baffled about what kind of response to give. First of all, I found it incredibly offensive he was playing the "my problem is worse than yours" game. I've been a stutterer, too, but not nearly to the degree that some people are. I still stutter occasionally. Although I found the original comment a bit inflammatory, I politely explained to him that perhaps before assuming that SD isn't "a big deal" he should read stories from people who have it. I explained that it is an incurable neurological disorder that is considered a disability. His following reply was "Yeah, you're right. this is a big deal, compared to stuttering, since you guys can talk and we can't correct? (rolls eyes)." I'm not entirely sure he even listened to this particular video, at least all of it, because my voice cuts out terribly while I am reading the book. Sometimes we can't talk. I have my husband order for me when we go out to restaurants. I try not to put myself into situations where I can't be heard, like a concert.

A second person made a comment about stuttering. He was not nearly as aggressive. He asked if stuttering was a symptom, and he said he didn't know why people make a big deal about SD, as people who stutter have hard times too. I explained that no, stuttering is not a symptom. What he is hearing is my vocal cords being pulled apart, but I have had issues with stuttering in the past. I also stated that people aren't making a big enough deal out of SD because it's very little-known.

I shouldn't be too angry about this, but I just don't understand making posts on videos about how much worse your disability is than the person who posted the video. Does it matter? Not once did I claim that stuttering wasn't a problem. However, it's a problem faced by many more people than SD (millions compared to about 50,000), and it is something that is a well-known issue. SD is not, and the point of the videos was to bring awareness.

My voice is so-so right now. I'm over my cold, so I don't have that bothering me as much. I did make another video, which I will be posting here soon. Followers of this blog already know much of this information, but those who have only seen my videos do not. I guess you can view the video as a kind of refresher.

Well...

I'm just about over my cold, but yesterday was the worst my voice has been in months. I sounded like a boy going through puberty! My voice was all over the place. It squeaked, cracked, and cut out all night. Normally my voice doesn't have too many issues. I have a mild case of SD, and it is usually pretty good. Yes, I talk in a softer voice to accommodate the breaks, but overall it's okay. But yesterday was the first time in months that it cut out constantly like that. Hopefully it's just as a result of the cold and not because it's actually getting worse. Only time will tell.

Update time

Thanks to all who voted in the NSDA Share Your Story contest! Congratulations to the winners!

I've been pretty MIA from this blog for a while, I know. I tend to go absent during the holidays anyway, but my husband's grandfather died on December 26th, then recently we've all been sick with colds here. The cold has, of course, had an adverse effect on my voice. When I have been able to talk, I've had a very low, weak voice. The cold is mostly gone now, but I've still had a really scratchy throat.

I've recently taken a job doing in-home parties on the side. It shouldn't be very often, but I've been concerned about how my voice will hold up sometimes. However, as long as I don't really stress about it, I think I should do fine. A friend of mine has noticed when I go to the gym my voice gets worse. I assume this is due to the extra stress put on the throat by breathing harder and more frequently. She also noticed when I get emotionally stressed it my voice cuts out more. I knew about the latter, but I never really thought about the former.

Otherwise, I don't really have a lot to update with. I'm not going to speech therapy, I'm not getting Botox shots or anything...I'm just doing basically the same thing I have been for a while. Which is good, I suppose. Don't need the boat rocked too much :).