I've been doing (undergoing?) Speech Therapy now for a little over a month. This latest medical adventure was triggered by the unwelcome onset of Vocal Cord Dysfunction which in turn is mostly likely a by-product of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My vocal cord apparatus is not working like it should. As a result, breathing can be a challenge and my voice is ridiculously hoarse.
I have to say Speech Therapy is definitely high on the entertainment scale. Vocal exercises have a certain goofy quality. For example, for the past week and a half, as a part of my daily speech and breathing exercises, I've been assigned glottal fries (You want glottal fries with that?).
A glottal fry has to be heard to be believed. It sort of sounds like the rough opening tone of a really really really deep belch. It comes from deep within the diaphram and each fry should last about 10 seconds. So, I do my fries off and on throughout the day. But it is very important that I do ten of them first thing in the morning to limber up my voice.
When my speech therapist showed me how to do a glottal fry, I couldn't do it - I was laughing too hard. However, in the privacy of my home and car, I've been glottal frying away.
Peter is very jealous - my glottal fry is much superior to his.
5:51:30 PM 
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