Monday 10th November 2015 - Singing Techniques To Improve Quality Of Voice

Down Syndrome And Speech

There are two main areas of problems that are apparent with the speech that are associated with this condition, these are the motor system (early articulation and phonological difficulties and fluency disorders such as stuttering) and the speech-language interface (developmental aphasia-type problems). This means that these people will have difficulty with the level of clarity their speech and have issues with some of their phonics. Aphasia is a communication disorder that Is caused by damage to parts of the brain that contain language. This cause difficulties in speaking, listening, reading and writing, however this does not affect someone's intelligence.


Diction - This is the style of speech, It includes the accent, quality and intonation that a person has. It focus on the way that someone pronounces particular vowels and consonant, mostly "d"s, "t"s and "s"s. Some people with downs syndrome has difficulty with their diction, therefore singing techniques to improve this could help them with their quality of speech over time.

Ways to improve diction?

• When singing a scale apply constant sounds such as "d", "k" and "t"
• Singing doh, ray, me, far, so, la, te, doh.
• Making a "brr" sound before singing to warm up.
• Singing different tounge twisters.
• - This will help the children have a higher quality of speech over time if they continue to do this over a long period of time. This is done by building up the muscle memory in someone's vocal anatomy making it easier for someone to speak more clearly. This can improve their communication skills, which can help them do things like go to job interviews and public speaking. This in turn allows them to feel more confident when speaking.

Articulation - This is similar to diction in some ways as in it focuses on the different ways you use our voice, including legato which is smooth and staccato which is sharp. It focuses on the ay that the voice makes individual sounds and includes stress, rhythm and intonation.  



Source: Boundless. “Articulation and Pronunciation.” Boundless Communications. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 17 Nov. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/communications/textbooks/boundless-communications-textbook/delivering-the-speech-12/effective-vocal-delivery-64/articulation-and-pronunciation-257-7089/
http://jaydeecastlee.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/friday-14th-november-2014-singing.html 10/11/15
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/vocal-warm-up-4-articulation - 17/11/15

Tuesday 20th October 2015 - Downsydrome

What is Downs Syndrome

Downs syndrome is a genetic conditions that typically cause a level of disability and characteristic physical features. In England and Wales around 775 babies are born with this condition each year. Some of these characteristics include...

• Eyes that slant upwards and outwards.
• The back of the head ma be flat.
• Hypertonia - reduced muscle tone.
• At birth a smaller than average weight and length.
• A small mouth that may have a protruding tongue.

Children with this condition are more likely to look like their mother or father or perhaps another family member rather than other children with downs syndrome. They may share some physical characters but they will not all look the same, they will also vary in the level of learning difficulty and personality.

Screening for Downs syndrome

In some cases the condition can be identified by a screening test for downs syndrome, however these tests do not give a definite answer as to whether the baby will have the condition. If the screening test states that there will be a chance that the baby will have the condition then there are further test during the pregnancy to confirm it..

What causes Down Syndrome

This condition is caused by an extra copy of the chromosome 21 in a baby's cells. This is inherited In most cases however it could be the result of a one off genetic mistake Even though there is a small chance of the child having Downs syndrome in every pregnancy but the risk increases if the mother is older. There is no evidence that anything can be done to reduce the risk of Downs syndrome before or during the pregnancy. 

What is life like with Downs syndrome?

There is no cure for downs syndrome but there are different ways that can help the child can develop a healthy lifestyle and will be able to gain an appropriate level of independence that is right for them. These include...

• Having access to good healthcare from a range of specialists.
• Early intervention programmes that supply support for those with downs syndrome and the families of those people.
• An ordinary family life.
• Education and support groups that provide appropriate information and advice.

Because education and support has improved people with downs syndrome have been able to gain more independence and do things like being able to leave home. gain employment, form relationships and lead independent life's. However because each case is different it is not possible to predict how the child's life will develop.

Associated health conditions

There are a number of different disorders that are commonly associated with downs syndrome, these include...

• Hearing and vision problems
• Heart conditions such as congenital heart disease
• Thyroid problems such as an underactive thyroid
• Infections such as Pneumonia

These children will be checked over by a paediatrician more often than other children to ensure that any problems can be picked u as early as possible to prevent them  form developing more.

Reference
Accessed 20/10/15
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Musculoskeletal conditions 

Hip instabilities - Eight percent of children with downs syndrome will develop abnormalities of the hip, the most common conditions in dislocation of the hip, this is also called subluxation. This is where the femur moves out of the socket which is formed by the pelvis. This dislocation occurs when there is a lack of the connective tissue that keeps the hip together in a normal hip and a low muscle tone which is commonly found in children with downs syndrome. This instability is usually found in children between the ages of 3 and 13 rather than at birth, the common sign is a limp and the child may or may not feel pain. One way to prevent this dislocation form happening is to build the muscle around the hip, so that there isn't a low muscle tone which can cause this. Building the muscle can be done by aerobic exercises such as dance. When doing this it is important the right technique is used to avoid injury, when the right technique is used the muscles can be strengthened making it less likely for the hip to dislocate.

Knee instabilities - Twenty percent of people with down syndrome will develop knee abnormalities, most of these are when the kneecap moves further then a normal kneecap, this is known as subluxation, this will not cause pain. However the kneecap can also dislocate where it completely moves out of its position, if this happens then the individual will suffer sever pain. Those will knee instabilities will be able to walk however there will be a decreased range in motion. If no treatment is used for this the condition will get worse, for mild cases braces may be useful, however in severe cases surgical correction will be required.

Foot conditions - The majority of people with downs syndrome will have flat foot, this is also know as pes planus. In mild cases the heel of the foot is in a neutral position however in more severe cases the heel of the foot rotates and therefore the person affected walks on the inside of the feet. This condition could result in the pointing of the front part of the feet away from each other, many cases of this can be helped by orthotic however some cases may need surgical correction.

Arthritis - This is the inflammation of a joint that will cause pain and swelling of the joint, there is a higher incidence of joint problems in people with downs syndrome. If the joint pains are not inflammatory then the most likely cause is hypermobility of the joints. The treatment of arthritis is the same for people with and without downs syndrome, there is no  cure for this condition however there are treatments that ca reduce inflammation in joints, relieve pain, prevent or slow any damage to the joints and reduce disability. Medication is used in most cases but surgery may be needed in most cases.

MOnday 19th October 2015 - Cerebral Palsy

What is cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is the overall term for different neurological conditions that affect a persons movements and co-ordination. In the UK an estimated 1 in 400 people are affected by this condition. The symptom's of this condition usually become apparent within the first three years of a child's life, the main symptom's are...

• Muscle stiffness and weakness
• Uncontrolled body movements
• Balance and co-ordination problems

These symptoms can affect different areas of the body and can change in severity depending of the person. Some people may have minor problems where others may be disabled. Many people with Cerebral Palsy may also have a number of problems that may include seizures or fits, problems and difficulties when eating and swallowing. As well as this some people may have communication and learning difficulties however the intelligence of this child is often not affected. A child with this condition may have difficulties in achieving important development goals such as learning to crawl, walk and speak. This condition is not a progressive conditions and therefore the original problem that I in the brain doesn't get worse with age and the life expectancy of the person affected is not shortened. On the other hand the physical and emotional strain of living with this long-term condition can put a lot of stress on the body and this may cause further problem in later life.

How is it caused?

These conditions are caused by problems in the parts of the brain that is responsible for controlling he muscles in the body as well as the nervous system. This condition can occur if the brain develops abnormally or perhaps damages before, during or slightly after birth. Some of these causes include...

• If the mother caught an infection during pregnancy.
• A premature birth.
• A bleed in the baby's brain.
• Mutations in the genes of the baby that may affect the brains development.

How is Cerebral Palsy treated?

There is no cure for this condition, however there are different treatments available to those who are affected. These treatments are able to control some of the symptoms associated with this condition, this is to help these people gain as much independence as possible. Some of these treatments include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and different medications that are used to relieve muscle stiffness and muscle spasms. In some of these cases surgery may be needed.

Reference 

Accessed 20/10/15 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cerebral-palsy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Exercise and Cerebral Palsy

There are many benefits of people with Cerebral Palsy exercising, they can help the person feel more energetic, have a release if stress and general good feeling, it can improve well-being and reduce stress and anxiety. As well this it can help them increase participation in community and individual activities. For people with Cerebral Palsy exercise can increases heart and lung efficiency, as well as maintain strength, flexibility, co-ordination and mobility. As well as this it can improve bone structure and help weight control and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like  osteoporosis and high blood pressure. Exercise for people with this condition should be made into a park of their daily routine, onw way of doing this is to enrol your child into physical fitness programmes, dance and gym. When doing this it is important that the staff are aware of any of these additional needs and have the help and co-operation of an instructor during class.

Reference
Accessed 28/10/15 http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com/Treatment_and_Therapy/exercise_cp/index.html

Sunday 4th October 2015 - ADHD

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder effects around 7.8% school aged children in the USA, and according to the Mental health America around 4.4% of adults. It is the most common behavioural disorder in the UK and is estimated that around 2.5% of school aged children and young people are effected by it. It has a range of negative effects which include an inability to focus, have a short attention span and a low tolerance for frustration. It can occur in people of any intellectual ability, however it is more common in people with other learning difficulties. Other issues are also associated with the condition such as sleep deprivation and anxiety disorders. Symptoms tend to be first noticed at an early age, usually between the ages of 6 and 12. Symptoms usually improve with age however many adults who are diagnosed can continue to experience problems. Childhood ADHD is more commonly found in boys compared to girls, Girls who have the condition usually have more problems with attention rather than hyperactivity, this causes less noticeable symptoms. It is thought that it could be more common than estimated and could be under diagnosed in girls.

Reference
Accessed 28/10/15 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

What careers are suited to those with ADHD?

Some careers are able to take advantage of ADHD behaviour whereas others are no suited to those with this condition. One example of a career that would suit someone with this condition would be something in the performing arts industry. Performers of all kinds have non-traditional schedules, this is suited to people with ADHD who will often have a difficulty with the daily 9-5 routine, where they quickly lose interest and have trouble focusing. As well as this the creative aspect of performing is a natural release of frustration and hyperactivity that they may have to deal with as part of their condition. Performers often do not have to report to the same office everyday and perform repetitive tasks and therefore they are relieved of the type of boredom that they would endure in other careers.

Reference
Accessed 28/10/15

http://work.chron.com/careers-suited-those-adhd-8356.html

What help is available?

When growing up many children go through phrases where they are restless and inattentive, this doesn't necessarily mean that they have ADHD. However if your child's behaviour is very different to most children their age you should raise concerns with your child's teacher, SENCO or GP. There is no cure for ADHD but it can be managed with educational support, advice and perhaps medication if necessary. Medication is usually the first treatment offered to adults as well as psychological therapies.

What causes ADHD?

The exact cause of this condition is unknown, however it is known to run in families, as well as this research has shown possible differences un the brains of people with ADHD and those without. Other factors also include being born prematurely, having a low birthweight and smoking, alcohol and/or drug abuse during pregnancy.

Living with ADHD

Even though looking after a child with this condition can be challenging, it is important to remember that they cannot help 100% of their behaviour. Some issues that may come about during day to day life include...

• Getting your child to sleep at night.
• Getting ready for school on time.
• Listening to instructions.
• Social occasions.
• Shopping.
• Being organised.

Adults with this conditions may also have issues with drugs, crime and employment.

Tuesday 22nd September 2015 - Research

I started by mind mapping the different types of disabilities that i had worked with with performing arts,  once i had done this i thought about the different things that come with those disabilities. For example when thinking about downs syndrome there are different things to consider such as, these children have hyper-flexible joints in the hip, knee and neck. This means that you have to ensure that they are warming up effectively to prevent injuries such as dislocating the joints. As well as this children with downs syndrome so not have clear speech, however learning different voice techniques that are learnt in singing and drama can help improve their quality of speech.