We were talking about how you feel about how people react to your speech. Perhaps you could say a little bit about that.
Well, I find that very difficult. Some people are good at listening and always have been. Others are shy and run away. Some just don't hear and think you're mad [laughs]. It's not comfy. I don't find I like asking for things. I just like to go and pick up and pay in shops. And for instance I think there's somebody new over the road, but I can't knock on the door and say anything because it just sounds, oh, she may not even understand what I say.
Do you ever say to people before you start talking to them just, you know, “I've, I've got MND and that's why I'm a bit slower”?
Well, sometimes I say, “I've got a voice and speech problem.” It depends on what one's got to negotiate, if you're pinned down. I find the phone bad this way. I do say, if I've got to debate something I tell them. And I also say, “I'm not dementing. I am slow.” That is all right unless you're phoning something and it goes to India, and you can't understand them and they can't understand you.
Call centres?
Yes, call centres are hard. But it's not just there. I mean north of, north of England, they have difficulty. And again I tend not to put a good argument out. I limit what I say, and that I find very frustrating. Or, you know, you can't just neatly spell things out. You have to reduce it all, and it's like trying to make a nursery rhyme of what you say. Hopeless sometimes.
And the, the concentration and tiredness issue you were talking about.
That's huge. On those I tend to avoid ringing people in the evening. If it's a friend I'd ring in the morning because I'm less tired and my voice is stronger. But, you know, that, as you say, concentration is a big issue. And I still go to courses to try and hold it. And that's not easy either. I had to explain to a tutor, “I can't discuss with you or with the class.” I have difficulty writing notes. And I really want the notes, so I must find one of those little recording devices, I think. One of them was very nice about it and he said, “Oh, fine. Don't worry about it.” I was bursting with an issue on one of my courses, so I did bag the tutor afterwards amid everybody else ganging up wanting to. But that's not easy and it, you've passed the, you've passed the significant moment. So that's frustrating too. Because sometimes you feel you have a contribution, and you would like them to respond and enlarge, but you can't do that. So there are limitations to courses that are related to artic. And voice. |
