RedditPP Mascot

RedditPP

r/voiceproblems • … • u/RUSSmma

Getting a stroboscopy later this month, what to request footage wise?

Hi I had a previous post, due to my continued issues I've decided to pay to have a stroboscopy done. They said they give you a report with images but I'm going to see if it's possible to get video footage and if that might help.

What would you request for video? A specific note, a slide? I want to get my moneys worth and hopefully any problems that exist can be identified and dealt with.

I can give a rundown of my concerns about my voice that have prompted getting this stroboscopy. Skip this section if you want.

Basically I'm weird. Singing classical with lessons for 4 years (I'm 32 AMAB), started out extremely breathy and quiet. Now I'm not breathy but still quite quiet for classical, and can't hold most notes longer than 8 or 9 seconds. I don't get hoarse, in fact I can sing for hours and my voice never gets tired, and yet some issue with holding notes remains. I can only phonate at higher air pressure, can't do vocal fry. I can hold an sss for 30-40 seconds but a zzz only 10 if I'm lucky. I saw a speech therapist in October and she dealt with serious tongue and laryngeal tension that has improved significantly, but holding a note hasn't. All my speaking is done on a high larynx (unintentionally), although I can sing on a lower larynx.

When I look up MTD or nodules or cysts or sulcus they all mention hoarseness and a voice that gets tired, and I just don't experience that. I'm just quiet and run out of air and can't hold notes long. I do have issues accessing falsetto, it is strained and capped at B4, and my lowest notes are accessed on a compressed high larynx hum.

If I REALLY try to push my voice, like shout sing, I don't feel fatigued but my voice quickly starts breaking into accidental subharmonics in the third octave around E3, I've only done this a few times as it seems unhealthy.

What would you suggest looking for with the scope if you read this information?

Thanks for your time and expertise

(I'm terrified I have vocal atrophy to the point it can't be fixed without laryngoplasty, but I assume those people are breathier and much quieter than me, singing means a lot to me.)

— 0