Inhalation phonation exercise sheet

Why do I need these exercises?

Sometimes we can get into a habit of tensing the muscles in our throat when we speak. This may be following a cold or throat infection, after prolonged or excessive use of our voice or on other occasions. These exercises should help to reduce the tension in your throat so that voice can be produced more easily. You may find it useful to begin by doing some breathing or relaxation exercises if your speech therapist has already introduced you to these.

How do I carry out the exercises?

When practicing these exercises remember to remain relaxed and aim for a clear voice quality.

Use a relaxed breathing pattern.

• Begin by thinking about your breathing, focusing on the air coming in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• As you breathe in (inhale) your lungs should expand and you can feel your stomach move out as this happens. When you breathe out (exhale) your stomach will go back to its neutral position.
• Breathe in silently and then blow the air out gently as you exhale –as if you were slowly blowing up a balloon.
• Next, breathe in and make a ‘sighing’ noise as you inhale. Breathe out quietly again, blowing the air out slowly.
• Practice this a few times. If you feel light-headed, rest and breathe naturally until you feel comfortable to begin the exercise again.
• Next, breathe in on a gentle sigh and out on a sigh as well. The sound as you breathe out should be relaxed and smooth. Practice this three or four times until it feels effortless.
• Then, breathe in on a sigh but out on a hum (mmmm), still keeping the sound relaxed and smooth. Keep the hum on one pitch (monotonous) rather than adding intonation (going up / down in pitch) as you would in normal speech.

When should I do these exercises?

Practice the above exercises first thing in the morning to help 'warm-up' your voice, or at times when you feel your voice becomes hoarse or your throat gets tense.

How often should I do these exercises?

It is best to practice these exercises for short periods of time, on a regular basis. This helps them to have more of an effect on your voice. A good target would be to practice them five times a day for up to five minutes each time.

What should I do if I cannot complete the exercises?

If you have any problems completing the exercises speak to your speech and language therapist who will be able to advise you.

If you have any questions or concerns about these exercises please contact your speech and language therapist on 01223 216200 who will be happy to discuss them with you.