Dew, bless your heart!!

Ok, here is another suggestion. When I went to a speech therapist for an evaluation, she had me read a paragraph. I knew my speech was pitiful (like you, even my own family has trouble understanding me, sometimes -- especially later in the day). But, as I read the sentences of the paragraph -- my voice got weaker and "slurrier" (is that even a word -- LOL?) and finally just squeaked and STOPPED completely after about four sentences. I was FLOORED!! I had been "conserving" my voice -- just out of habit, I suppose -- and had never tried to PUSH my voice to its limit. When my voice completely disappeard, I started crying -- and was inconsolable for about five minutes. (And, I am so NOT normally a crier!!) So, try reading a paragraph at home -- taking NO breaks -- and if this ALSO makes YOUR voice WORSE, then ask the judge if you can DO THIS DEMONSTRATION for him!!

SOOOOO glad you have a judge with a high approval rate!!!