Voice training after operation for cleft palate / by Cortlandt MacMahon.

  • MacMahon, Cortlandt.
Date:
[1912?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Voice training after operation for cleft palate / by Cortlandt MacMahon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the “EE” resonator—such as “British,” “little,” “singing,” and words beginning with “ s,” when joined to another consonant as in “ ship,” “ stoop,” and “ speak ” —will be a cause of considerable trouble before improve- ment is attained. ‘ As the training progresses the main vowels, when used in combination in various words as, for instance, “ ah ” and “ oo ” in “ town,” “aw” and “ ee” in “ boy,” “ oh ” and “ oo ” in “ boat,” must be given their definite positions, and words containing subordinate vowels, as previously instanced, must have their main vowel position recognised and correctly shaped for. By so doing over- tones and harmonics will occur in the vocal resonators and the voice will, in consequence, have a much improved quality. ‘ The voice-training of cleft palate cases after operation is extremely interesting and differs considerably from that of every other form of speech defect. The treat- ment of the air column is a very difficult matter until the patient learns how to manipulate it with skill; some- times it must be full and powerful, and at other times it will have to be light and rapidly dealt with. It is re- markable how cleverly, in most cases, the patient learns what is necessary for improvement in the voice. When the required knowledge is combined with regularity in carrying out daily, physical, breathing and vocal exercises one may, within a reasonable time, expect the voice, in less severe cases, to become very nearly normal and the cleft to be unsuspected, but in all cases one can certainly anticipate a very definite improvement both in the quality of the voice and in clearness of enunciation.’ 13 Wimpole Street, W.