The Power of Preparation
This is my 4th blog post about navigating life with an uncommon form of laryngitis. View the others:
By Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA®, Founder, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC & Navigating Solo Network
“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” - Alexander Graham Bell
It has been one month since I began navigating life with an uncommon form of laryngitis. The great news is my voice is improving daily. I am getting closer and closer to sounding like myself (without the need for voice cloning). The challenge is to not overuse my voice, re-injure it, or damage it further. Whenever possible, I need to stay silent and utilize alternative methods for communication. I must admit that part is very hard.
To continue on a path of healing with the goal of returning to using my voice again to advocate for myself and others, I have spent time creating solutions for every day life and a plan to navigate the many parts of an upcoming national conference. As I shared previously, I have the honor of being a speaker at next week’s Healthcare Advocate Summit in New Orleans. To make sure my presentation will be as engaging as possible, I have explored voice cloning as an alternative to narrating my presentation in real time, although my goal is to present with my actual voice. It is truly amazing what technological tools are available.
The other component of my plan involves navigating networking and schmoozing time during the conference. Connecting with others is such an important part of attending a conference. Having brief conversations with colleagues prior to and after educational sessions, during meals and free time offers the opportunity to learn more about others’ work and to share mine.
It is much harder to introduce yourself without using your voice even with access to a text-to-speech app. It is difficult to succinctly share what I do and how I do it without being able to spontaneously engage someone in conversation. However, it is not impossible.
Packing for a conference is always an adventure. One needs to think about clothing, shoes, accessories, business cards and other paraphernalia. Should anyone wonder what to pack for a professional conference, seeking a basic checklist via your favorite search engine will offer many options.
However, navigating a conference with an impaired voice requires additional items to be included. Here’s my checklist:
I wonder how many other attendees will be wandering around the conference halls with their own mini whiteboard and markers to communicate. My guess is, like many things in my life currently, it will be a unique experience.
Initially when I first thought about using a whiteboard to interact with others, the scene with cue cards from the film Love Actually immediately came to mind. It’s likely you know which one I am talking about (see above). A doorbell rings, a woman answers the door, and a man is standing silently in the doorway with pre-written cue cards to deliver a message he doesn’t want others to hear.
Of course, my need for pre-printed messages and a whiteboard are not part of the plot of a film or to conceal anything, but rather a tool to engage with others. The last thing I want anyone to think is that I don’t want to connect with them.
Even though I am packing printed business cards, I also set up a digital business card that can be emailed or accessed via QR Code. This is a great tool for anyone – impaired voice or not. Easy, quick, and effective.
My reusable water bottle is ready to travel. Hydration is critical to healing my voice. I have already confirmed the availability and locations of water stations throughout the duration of the conference. I have purchased extra throat lozenges.
I am packing bendable plastic straws to continue my “Straw Therapy” to aid in the healing of my vocal cords. It still amazes me that I have access to technology that will clone my voice and create a downloadable file to use that cloned voice during a presentation, but to heal my vocal cords the very low-tech tool to use can be purchased inexpensively in bulk in a grocery store.
The final thing on my packing checklist is patience and a reminder to pack “extra.” As I said, staying silent is hard work and it can feel very, very isolating, and sometimes frustrating. I am very fortunate that this “disruption” (as a kind and supportive friend termed it) only affects my voice. Everything else about me is the same.
When asked a question, it is instinctual to respond and a response usually involves one’s voice, if available. It takes more time and energy to type or write something out and then play it back or share what is written. Often the moment in the conversation has passed.
Sometimes, it feels like responding verbally, even with an impaired voice, is quicker and more inclusive. That is something I must work on. I need be to patient with myself and the situation to do what is healthiest for me. even when it is hard.
This experience has taught me a lot about seeking and creating solutions. It has reinforced how fortunate I am to have a good support system and extremely supportive colleagues, clients, friends, and family members. It continues to teach me about alternative ways to accomplish what could be considered basic tasks.
I have no doubt that navigating this “disruption” will have a last impact on personal and professional worlds.
Connect With Us: When the complexity of your healthcare situation is too challenging to navigate on your own, working with an independent board certified patient advocate can help cut through the “red tape,” reduce complications, and offer peace of mind at an emotional time. Contact Ailene to learn more about the value of working with a private patient advocate.