Semi occluded vocal tract exercises

These exercises are for patients who need help with their voice. This document explains why these exercises are needed and how to carry them out.

Why do I need these exercises?

Semi occluded vocal tract exercises aim to:

• help release excess tension from the muscles that you use to produce your voice;
• improve abdominal breathing and awareness of diaphragmatic movement;
• build the air pressure below the vocal cords to enable them to come together with less muscular effort. This helps to reduce potential for strain in and above the larynx;
• build vocal strength and stamina.

How do I carry out these exercises?

Before you begin, ensure that you are sitting in a comfortable position and avoid slouching. Remain relaxed and remember the breathing technique you have been taught.

• Half fill a cup with room temperature water.
• Hold the cup in your hand, level with your chest.
• Place a straw into the cup of water and bend it towards you. Do not rest the straw on the bottom of the cup.
• Start to blow gentle bubbles through the straw. You should feel your abdominal muscles working and your cheek muscles wobble. (Check by placing your hand on your stomach and then on your cheek). It can also be helpful to look in a mirror to check this is happening. Try to control the bubbles and don’t let the water overspill.
• Now make the sound ‘oo’ while you are blowing bubbles. Your cheeks should start to wobble more and you should feel a vibration around the front of your face. Repeat this ten times, prolonging the ‘oo’ for as long as is comfortable.

Once you have practised the above technique and feel comfortable, try:

a) increasing the volume of the ‘oo’

Start softly and gradually increase the volume of the ‘oo’, as if revving the engine on a motorbike. Remember to use abdominal breathing to increase volume. There should be no strain in your neck.

Repeat this 10 times.

b) changing the pitch of the ‘oo’

Start making the ‘oo’ sound at a low pitch and gently glide into a higher pitch.

'oooooooooo’

Then start making the ‘oo’ sound at a high pitch and gently glide into a low pitch.

‘oooooooooo’ - repeat this 10 times.

c) singing

Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ with the same ‘oo’ sound. You should feel increased vibration and wobble in the muscles of your cheeks.

Once you feel comfortable, repeat this exercise. but this time start to withdraw the straw from the water. Keep the same sound and flow through your throat by making sure the air continues to come out of the end of the straw.

d) removing the straw

Once you feel comfortable with the above exercises, try to repeat them without the straw. Make sure you keep your throat open and relaxed and maintain the same feeling in your face and lips to ensure the sound is coming forwards.

When should I do these exercises?

• Little and often – aim for five minutes practice three to five times per day.
• These exercises can also be used as a warm-up or cool down or as a way of ‘resetting’ your voice’ if you feel any excess tension developing.

What should I do if I cannot complete the exercises?

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.