In the August/September 2017 issue ofNeurology Now, we feature letters in response to various stories in the June/July 2017 issue. Here, we include other letters we didn't have room to print. Our story on Peg Van Horn, an 87-year-old who has had spasmodic dysphonia for more than 20 years, was particularly resonant.

Many Voices

Thank you for publishing an article about Peg Van Horn in Pictures of You ("Talking Points," June/July 2017, bit.ly/NN-TalkingPoints).Ialso have spasmodic dysphonia and have been involved with the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association (NSDA) community since 1989.Our community has thousands of members who live vibrantly like Peg Van Horn.We in the NSDA are always happy when word gets out about this rare neurologic voice disorder.We want everyone with spasmodic dysphonia to know that there is help and hope. You are not alone.

Mary Bifaro

Charlotte, NC

I enjoyed reading the latest issue of Neurology Now and especially the Pictures of You interview with Peg Van Horn. I was diagnosed with adductor spasmodic dysphonia more than 16 years ago and Peg's description of and experience with this rare voice condition is very much what I have experienced. Thank you for shining a light on this condition, and my sincere appreciation to Peg Van Horn for sharing her insights, frustrations, and delightful way of encouraging all living with this disorder. The NSDA is an invaluable organization and resource for patients and their families living with this rare voice disorder.

Charlie Reavis

President

National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association

Alpharetta, GA

I was delighted to read the article about Peg van Horn and her spasmodic dysphonia (SD) in the recent edition of Neurology Now. Thank you for such an excellent and informative article, and for helping spread awareness about SD both in the neurologic community and to the wider public.The article is well written, and shows the positive attitude Peg has after living with the disorder for more than 20 years. Your article ticks all the boxes in terms of reaching and educating the right audience.Thank you for writing about Peg Van Horn and putting a human face to our voice disorder. David Barton Past President NSDA

Auckland, NZ

Thoughts on Diet

I just finished reading the current issue and was particularly interested in comments about the Feingold diet ("Brain Food," June/July 2016, bit.ly/NN-BrainFood).Reading about the diet more than 40 years ago made a major difference in our family's life.

Our youngest son taught himself how to read before he was 4 years old. Sometimes he was a pleasant child, sometimes he was extremely fidgety, unable to sit still long enough to practice the piano. Or, if we were in the car, he would constantly poke and jab the person next to him.One night he was unable to sleep and chewed the drywall off the bottom ledge of the window in his bedroom, swung on a small closet door, tearing it off the hinges, and was in and out of his toy box.I had to sit in a rocking chair with him and rock him until he calmed down enough to sleep. There were times when he was totally uncooperative and would throw temper tantrums. Then I heard about Feingold's diet, and discovered through trial and error that he could not tolerate sugar, but honey was fine.He couldn't eat chocolate, but carob was okay.Anything with red or yellow food coloring affected him.He could eat a slice of tomato, but could not tolerate tomato sauce.I ended up changing our family's diet by editing all my recipes and buying groceries to accommodate his needs. When my son left home to attend university, I stopped monitoring his diet.I felt dietary choices were now his to make.I may not have followed the diet to the letter, but Feingold's book helped me start to help my son be the wonderful person he is. Marvel Riley Livingston, TX 77399

Fasting and prayer as treatment for pediatric epilepsy was described inMark 9:29, probably 2000 years ago. As for the Feingold Diet, if artificial foodcolorings don't cross the blood brain barrier, they are unlikely to change behavior.

C B Brill, MD

Philadelphia, PA

Go here to read the rest:
Wednesday, July 5, 2017 - LWW Journals (blog)