Speech difficulties
Summary
Michael Rosen and Jonathan Cole discuss how conditions like vocal cord paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, and aphasia challenge an individual's sense of self and ability to connect. The conversation highlights the frustration of not being understood, the isolation it causes, and the unexpected ways people adapt. It also touches on the medical journey for diagnosis, the importance of patience from listeners, and the potential of technology to unlock communication.Episode description
Michael Rosen asks what happens to people's sense of identity and social being when speaking becomes hard. Jonathan Cole has interviewed people with conditions such as cerebral palsy, vocal cord palsy, spasmodic dysphonia and post-stroke aphasia. They describe in their own words what the experience of not being able to express themselves is like, the frustration and isolation as well as the adaptation and resilience. Jonathan Cole is the author of Hard Talk: When Speech Is Difficult and a consultant in Clinical Neurophysiology at University Hospitals, Dorset. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz