A Voice Apart

For the last 2 and a half decades, we are more and more treating voice problems and also, sometimes, quite serious speech problems – the identification of which is  speech impediment. What is the difference between the two described above, you, my reader, may ask? There is definitely a difference between speaking voice problems (which are usually much easier to correct, as they are caused by a wrong application of one’s voice), and a speech impediment.  The former may cause voice disorders like: • Muscle Tension Dysphonia • Spasmodic Dysphonia • Vocal Cord Nodules, Polyps, Lesions, etc. As for a speech impediment, it is usually either some kind of a birth defect, (which directly effects the manner of the person’s speaking) or it is a consequence of some other diseases; like for example, stroke (pre or post condition) ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or the aftermath of any kind of accident occurrence. In the latter, the speech center of one’s brain may be quit

Vocal cord paralysis, also known as the vocal cord paresis, is the inability of one or both vocal cords to move. It can greatly impact the daily life of the sufferer, including, job, social interactions and leisure time activities. The condition is caused by damage to nerves going to the vocal cords-the nerve impulses in the larynx are interrupted, resulting in the paralysis of the vocal cord muscles. Patients with vocal paralysis typically experience hoarseness, vocal fatigue, mild to a severe reduction in speech volume, a pain in the throat when speaking, and swallowing things down the wrong way and choking. Signs and symptoms of vocal cord paralysis include: • Changes to the voice • Hoarseness • Noisy Breathing • Changes to vocal pitch • Coughs that do not clear the throat properly • Voice volume may be affected Treatment for vocal cord paralysis The treatment for vocal cord paralysis depends on several factors, including what caused it, how severe the

Almost anyone, at one time or the other, experiences hoarseness, or even loss of voice due to the occurrence of various circumstances. Some of the causes of hoarseness could be due to the common cold, exposure to high volumes of sound in a concert or even simply cheering for your favorite team at a sports event. While these conditions can temporarily compromise one’s vocal cords, with some needed care, (such as vocal rest and proper hydration) it can actually be recovered in a reasonably short time. There are certain times where people are not able to decipher the problem(s) with their voice which they are experiencing. With that said, it is important to have an awareness of the most common disorders, and how to rectify them, in order to avoid long-term or even permanent damage. Here are the major signs that demand immediate attention followed by proper care: 1) Persistent hoarseness or voice changes : Hoarseness is a general term that includes a wide range of abnormal voice

The Royans Professional Vocal School (a.k.a, The Royans School for the Musical Performing Arts), was founded in 1984 by my partner Ted Kowalczyk & myself. Prior to that, Ted and I performed as a duo around the Toronto area which was called Toronto Mini Caravan. Both of us were involved in multicultural events and had been highly profiled on multicultural radio and TV stations as well as performing at numerous CHIN Picnics. In 1983, a Veteran Toronto Polish musician named Stephan Pavliak, incidentally overheard me playing piano and singing some Russian romances while I was awaiting in the lobby of the Academy of Music (where I worked as a piano and singing instructor) for my student’s arrival. He approached me, commending me on my talent and offered to help me out (along with my partner Ted) to open a music school which he thought I could successfully carry for many years to come. As of today, the school exists for almost 34 consecutive years. Unfortunately, my partner h