From: "MaryBeth D. Smith"
Subject: MED: Geriatric voice
To: vocalist
Organization: Dept. of Music, Southwest Texas State U.
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hello Listers:

My aunt is 93 years old and still going strong. She has been dealing
with severe arthritis, however, and walks with a walker. Recently she
has been treated for some arthritis-related jaw problems which sounded
much like TMJ to be, bur her doctor did not use that term. Her doctors
also told her that she was experiencing some arthritis in the larynx,
and that she may lose her voice permanently. Her voice has always been
very low-pitched (she really sounds like a baritone now), but she told
me she now has trouble projecting across the dining table to her
friends.

She lives by herself in her own apartment, but talks on the phone a good
bit and at shared meals in her building. Could she be experiencing some
bowing of the vocal folds from lack of use? Is the pitch of her voice
working against her? I suggested she experiment with trying to hum
easily and feel resonance sensations which could then carry over into
speech, but am not sure that this will be possible for her.

Any suggestions, illumination, explanations will be most welcomed!

MaryBeth D. Smith
Coordinator of Voice/Opera
Southwest Texas State University