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Therapy restores Susan's voice
STRUCK mute by a neck operation, a woman from Eastbourne has extended her thanks to the speech therapist who helped her find her voice again.
Susan Westwood's life changed after her operation in February, which left her unable to raise her voice enough to be heard by others, especially strangers.
Often inaudible on noisy public transport and unable to talk on the telephone, she lost all confidence and people spoke over her. They would speak to her as though she couldn't understand them and often shout as though she couldn't hear.
She was referred to Claire Bardo, an NHS speech and language therapist working at at Firwood House and the Ian Gow Memorial Health Centre.
Claire said, "Sue wasn't able to convey her personality and even her sense of humour was affected. If you are a witty person with no voice it is impossible to make spontaneous jokes. When you have to repeat it three times the moment has gone."
Susan was given breathing exercises and facial and neck massage was used to loosen tight muscles in her voice box which were strangling her voice. Slowly her voice gained energy, power and stamina so she could be heard more clearly.
"I have told everyone I know in Eastbourne how brilliant Claire is and how I could not have done it without her," Susan said.
"Before I had her help I had to take a friend with me everywhere or write a note in every shop I went to. She has gone out of her way. She even came to my last scan when she didn't have to.
"It seems silly but when I lost my voice I couldn't remember what it was like to have a voice, now I can't remember what it was like not to be able to speak."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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