Voice Control and other things...

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I get too loud when I am being humorous, and I am almost always humorous in social situations because that is my main and almost only socialization skill.

I also have a big problem with voice modulation, im loud and don't even realize it.

I hate this aspect of AS. Ugh. I talk loud, especially during humorous conversations. The first time anyone said anything to me, about my voice modulation, was in the 7th grade. I was riding the bus and one of the older guys said, "Damn, you speak really loud." I was so embarrassed. Then, I asked my best friend about it and she said I was a "loud talker."

So, when I am really focusing and trying to fit in, I speak half as loud as I normally do and I find that no one blinks an eye, nor do they ask me to speak up. Other people hear me just fine, but to me, my voice sounds close to a whisper.

However, I can't get too down on myself, as I have a wonderful husband, so it can't be that bad.

This conversation reminds me of that SNL episode with Will Ferrell, when he played a guy with a "voice modulation disease." He spoke in this very loud monotone. "I HAVE PROBLES REGULATING THE VOLUME OF MY VOICE, IT ISN'T FUNNY."

My husband and I always joke about that when get loud.

Tallgirl.

I do mainly administrative, banking and
shipment duties. I do minimal customer
service since he knows that I am autistic
and constant public puts me in a autistic
reactive state.

I have been waving the sign 1/2 a block
away from the restraunt for over a month
now. (4/05')-present(5/05') would fall into
this time frame.

I have had little negative incident until today.
The nearby Subway's Sandwiches complained
I was scaring away his customers. The owner
of the sandwich shop I work for had words
with him, and he later called the cops.
I wave the sign across the street from his
Subways, so I don't blame him. I will have to
move to a different corner soon, and oh!
well, I liked my current corner.

Anyways, back to the question. My loud voice
has good effect on attracting curiosity to the
restraunt and give me a value to the owner
and his wife(she runs the 2nd store that I wave
the sign for).

I have been there for 8 months, and it is just
10-20 hours a week aside from the Hostels
21 hours a week (Fri-Sun) schedule. I would
of course prefer a REAL job, but that will
come in due time.

The aspects of the job I enjoy is the use of my
natural gifts.

Sincerely,
Ghosthunter

P.S... I still would prefer a real job though!

Melissa, I would say "ditto" to the Speech Therapy. Perhaps this way the therapist can explain to your mother that not only is volume a problem in AS but even after awareness of it, voice control problems continue to persist.

But at least this way, your mother will see you are making an effort to work on not hurting her ears and your relationship, but a professional can explain that you are not doing it purposefully (as many times people listen to professionals even before the people they love). If you can afford it, I would try it, to help yourself AND as a gesture of love towards your mother.

[quote="
But at least this way, your mother will see you are making an effort to work on not hurting her ears and your relationship, quote]

my daughter doesn't like it much when i get my earplugs, but at least she understands i am making an effort not to be hurt by her loud voice.

Sometimes I shout when I speak and people have to tell me it is inappropriate.

My voice tends to carry sometimes. I don't realize that I'm talking very loudly. People than tell me to lower my voice.

I have terrible trouble with this. When I was younger it got me in trouble with my parents and teachers, it's lost me friends, frightened strangers, got me written warnings in previous jobs, and it gives me trouble in relationships.

People don't understand that I don't mean to shout. It doesn't matter that I know I have modulation problems - knowing it doesn't make me any more able to control it.

It doesn't matter if people indicate to me that I'm raising my voice - I can drop it down in volume for a minute or two at most, then it just starts getting louder again.

It's one thing I really do wish I could change about myself.

mkay, talking normally(not trying any of this weird stuff), i either speak with a projected voice or barely audible and raspy. Instead of speaking from the bottom of your lungs, and using your whole chest, put your head in an akward downware position, so it crushes your air pathway a little and try to speak from the top of your lungs.

I didn't actually read this entire thread, so I'm not sure if it has already been suggested- but have you guys ever considered taking some basic acting classes? They can help a lot with that sort of thing.


EDIT: After looking back at this I realise it may have unintentionally come off a little rude, so I altered the way I phrased it.

Last edited by Sanityisoverrated on 17 Jun 2005, 8:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

I always get told off at work for talking too loud.

Wow, is voice modulation a common problem for aspies? I believe that my husband must have asperger's, and he always talks either way too loud or way too soft, it seems like he can never hit it just right in between. Is this a symptom?

My voice used to be constantly very quiet, now I'm loud, more often than not. I overcompensated, darn it! I know I'm faily loud, but if I'm in an environment where you are supposed to be quiet, eg the call center where I work (yes, it is indeed hell, incarnate!) between calls, I am too quiet, and often people won't hear me at all.

Being an Aspie, I didn't take that non-response very well. It felt insulting at first, that they wanted nothing to do with me, until I realised that they simply couldn't hear me at all. I still am too quiet on occasion, but if they don't hear me, I always speak a little louder.

I tend to speak too fast, and either too quietly or at too high a pitch. The last really embarrasses me. I think this sort of thing is very common among aspies. Tony Attwood writes that female aspies tend to have childish voices. I certainly do. I sound like a ten-year-old over the phone.

My voice is naturally very deep but I when I get talking it pitches itself up. Maybe I do it to seem less threatening, maybe because I act like a kid in many ways. I'm excited by things that are normally considered trivial to an adult, but interesting to a child.

So I know I do it, but don't know why...