It is important that clients understand the normal process of speaking. Clinicians should devote about 15 minutes explaining the process and identifying significant features of the physical act of speaking. This will form a basis for understanding and continued communication about speaking.

Click on the Icon at the right to open an illustration of head and neck anatomy. Print it to aid your explanation of the normal process of speaking in therapy.

Respiration. We speak on the air we exhale. When we exhale for speaking, we breathe air out at a measured rate that is slower than for respiration alone. We inhale rather rapidly and then begin to exhale slowly. Have your client place one hand on their chest and one hand on their belly to feel the movement during their respiration; have them note the difference between breathing and saying the sound "ah" for an extended period.

Phonation. Our voice is created as the vocal folds come together and narrow the opening through which air can flow between them. This restriction causes the vocal folds to vibrate and make noise that is our voice. Have the client feel the vibrations of the vocal folds by placing their fingers on the angle of the cricoid while phonating. Show them the some phonemes are voiced while others are voiceless. Demonstrate what happens when the vocal folds are brought together with too much effort.... Have the client hold onto the sides of their chair and pull up while saying 'ah'. Draw their attention to the effort and the similarity to the type of stuttering known as laryngeal blocking. Note that with excessive tension, there is less control and range in using the voice. Gradually release the tension allowing the voice and air flow to begin again.

Articulation. Discuss the process of making sounds by moving and contacting the lips, tongue, teeth and palate. Show some examples of how different types of sounds are articulated (the manner and place of articulation). Describe speaking as movement from one place of contact to another.

Speaking then is the process in inhaling, then bringing the vocal cords together while air is being exhaled to produce sounds that are modified by movement of the articulators. Speaking fluently is a smooth, effortless, forward-moving process. Breathing is relaxed and regular; the vocal folds are slightly tensed, and them muscles of articulation are relaxed enough to move freely from one contact to another.

© Rentschler, 2001