Breathing Correctly

I can't guarantee that you will be able to speak if your diaphragm is stronger. I don't know your specific case. It should help, though. Speech production is  getting air up and over your vocal cords.

This does help ward off pneumonia. It doesn't prevent it. -Angela

Not every case of not being able to produce speech is due to improper breathing, but knowing how to properly breathe can make a difference. The video comes from music. Voice training spends a great deal of time on this.

In the hospital, it is the respiratory therapist who is concerned about your breathing. My mother got a rather lengthy lecture. The speech person is the Speech and Language Therapist and is concerned with how you communicate with the world around you. Vocalizing may or may not be there. They may do sign language and other nonverbal ways to communicate.

When I first had my stroke, but before I could talk, I was put on a computer to learn how to indicate "yes/no" by using a special dot placed on my forehead, as I could only move my head. The dot operated a special mouse. I now use my left arm to type and I speak enough to get short messages out. Initially, I did not speak when I did that computer. I had to communicate in some way.

I have said before that I had a well-developed diaphragm before the stroke. This proper breathing video is that. It is breathing using the diaphragm.

 

 

I like the following video. The person who made it uses clips from other YouTube videos. I must have seen all of them while looking for that above one that I used. He also uses that one in this video.

Having a strong diaphragm may be why I talk now. Some doctors will say it is. I thought it was strong before I could talk. It was really only strong enough to keep me alive. Now it is stronger and I talk some. I guess I will be better when I can blow up a balloon. Yes, stronger breathing is something I still strive for.

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I once was hospitalized at Stanford for pneumonia. When I got better, they gave me a spirometer. The picture I found is the same brand. This one was followed by some numbers, so it must be a new improved version. I compete against myself, so I'd try to beat my previous score. 

The Voldyne Spirometer is sold on-line.