Co-authors Lydia Hart and Stephen King are back on the podcast to talk about their recently published book, ‘Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem’. A book which should belong on every singer and voice user’s bookshelf as well as on display in the voice teacher's studio; so that everyone has the opportunity to understand how voice problems can occur.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Lydia and Stephen wrote this book for the reader, that's what's different about this book. They didn't want to write another book about voice, they wanted to write all the things that had never been written for all the people out there who are experiencing a voice problem, where those people will have lots of questions.
From their work with the NHS and the Voice Care Centre Lydia and Stephen discovered that people with voice issues felt a real lack of empathy right from seeing their GP to diagnosis and if they’re lucky a referral to a speech therapist. They’re not seeing a doctor that has an understanding or sympathy for somebody that's a professional voice user.
There’s not just the issue with the voice itself that the book addresses, but also the emotions people may be feeling and the fears they have.
In the medical or diagnostic world people have started to refer to the body as a machine and not as a living thing. We are not machines and when being treated should be thought of as what we are, people with emotions.

 
BEST MOMENTS
‘The book is dedicated to everyone without a voice’
‘When framing the journey of voice through a biopsychosocial perspective, all of those questions become clearer’
‘I'm fairly confident that the stuff that we have committed to paper has an almost universal truth about it’
 
EPISODE RESOURCES
Guest Website:

voicecarecentre.co.uk

Social Media:

@lydiahartvoice

Relevant Links & Mentions:

Stewart Harris: https://stewartharrisdesigns.myportfolio.com/
Sing Like Never Before by Justin Stoney with illustrations by Mark Pate: https://singlikeneverbefore.com/
VoiceWork: Art and Science in Changing Voices by Christina Shewell
Lydia Flock: https://www.flockstars.com/
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4R13bvilWjwQnd9WOfTiVc?si=f2b9489b9e914317
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 58 Understanding the Speaking Voice with Lydia Hart: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5q4JLR8tByssABbUeVNk7F?si=cc1553bd79f54f8c
Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 88 What can be Learned from Teaching 100,000 lessons with Bob Marks: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Nc7qa6VxhYALuamxwgKZB?si=a37c1d39d8a64a24
Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem book: https://www.newvoicepublishing.co.uk/books/
Lydia’s contact email: lydia@voicecarecentre.co.uk
Stephen’s contact email: stephen@voicecarecentre.co.uk

 
ABOUT THE GUESTS
 
Lydia Hart:
Lydia Hart is a specialist Speech and Language Therapist, working in the field of Voice and Upper Airway. She works with people experiencing difficulties with their speaking or singing voice, or other throat symptoms. Lydia is known for being vibrant, caring and sensitive, taking time to hold a holistic space for clients to explore and improve their symptoms. Lydia is also a singer, and voice therapy – which ultimately means working with a person, not a diagnosis – is a true vocation for her.
Alongside her work at Voice Care Centre, Lydia works for the NHS including the Joint Voice Clinic at Wexham Park Hospital, with leading laryngologist Declan Costello. This involves assessment and management of a range of voice disorders, from muscle tension dysphonia to vocal cord paralysis, and her clinical expertise is constantly expanding.
Lydia is dedicated to developing her knowledge and experience in fields outside of Speech and Language Therapy, in order to provide truly holistic, biopsychosocial care. She is currently undertaking a Diploma in Hypnotherapy with Chrysalis Courses, and has trained in manual therapy with Stephen King and most recently Walt Fritz. She is experience