Fereydoon
Tafazzoli, Ph.D.
UPDATE: 25 Years
In 1973, because of Laryngitis and vocal misuse due to my career
as Professor of Economics at the National University of Iran, my
vocal cords gradually became weak in such a way that I could hardly
speak. In the beginning, I contacted an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor
in Tehran and he gave me Antibiotics to use. I did not get better
and in the summer of 1973 1 went to England in order to see a voice
therapist. This trip was of no use and my problem became worse.
In summer 1974, 1 went to the United States and consulted my cousin
who, as a medical pathologist, was making research at medical school
at that time. She said that I should first see Dr. X ... and if
his treatment might not be useful, I should go to Los Angeles in
order to see Dr. Hans Von Leden. Dr. X's prescription was funny,
as he told me to chew a golf ball and for this matter one of my
teeth broke apart.
In September 1974, 1 went to Los Angeles in order to see Dr. Von
Leden. He, for the first time, diagnosed my problem as Spastic Dysphonia
and after extensive examinations referred me to Dr. Morton Cooper.
Needless to say, before seeing Dr. Von Leden, I went to see Dr.
Shapoory who is a Nose, Ear and Throat specialist in Burbank. After
different examinations, he also referred me to Dr. Von Leden.
On September 12, 1974, 1 saw Dr. Cooper in his office, He said
that I suffered from spastic dysphonia and should undergo vocal
rehabilitation. The length of time needed for the treatment was
stipulated as 1 to 4 years in the initial session with the possibility
that one year may be sufficient.
I stayed in Los Angeles from September 1974 to July 1975. During
this period, I used to see Dr. Cooper twice a week and in the beginning
a few times a week. His treatment was a new experience in my life
as I regained my natural voice and also my career. In the beginning,
I was pessimistic towards the outlook of the treatment, but after
a few months, while exercising Dr. Cooper's methods and reading
his book, I found out that my voice was going to its natural level
without slipping back to a low level. I still remember Dr. Cooper's
statement. namely: "Since you are a theoretician and teach
economic theory, you would be able to learn the right methods of
speaking." This was proved, as his treatment became fully effective
and after eleven months, I was back to my real voice, without losing
ends of words and sentences.
Personally, I owe my regained natural voice to Dr. Cooper. I admire
his patience and kindness. Of course, I worked very hard during
the period of rehabilitation, exercising his methods of humming
words first and later sentences and breathing correctly.
Finally, I have been able to teach regularly every semester since
September 1975, carrying a full load of 15 hours per week on the
average. Thanks to Dr. Cooper for his rehabilitation program.
Fereydoon Tafazzoli, Ph.D.
Shahid Beheshti University
|
