Communication Disorders
Video exercises and educational presentations
This section includes links to video exercises commonly given to patients within our Voice service, as well as an educational presentations on vocal hygiene, and links to other useful websites for those with voice difficulties.
These resources have been developed to fully support patients in their therapy, and will hopefully act as a useful memory aid. Please only use these resources if you have been directed to do so by your Speech and Language Therapist. If you have been experiencing a voice problem for longer than three weeks, consult your GP as soon as possible.
General exercises
This section includes various exercises for different aspects of the voice. Here you can find a vocal warm-up and breathing exercises, specific techniques to encourage relaxation, increase voice projection and help to find a comfortable pitch, as well as others. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Warm Up Exercises
Exercises to warm up your voice before use.
Adult Speech and Therapy - Breathing Exercises
Exercises to improve breathing patterns, helping to improve voice production
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Dynamic Stretches
Stretches to increase the flexibility of the muscles in the upper body, neck and shoulders. Description
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - Tongue Roll
Voice Exercises - A technique to increase voice control, pitch range and muscle tension release.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - Chewing
Voice Exercises - A relaxing technique for the jaw and tongue.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - Lip Trill 2
Voice exercises - A fun exercise to increase vocal energy and airflow using the lips.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Tongue Trill
Voice Exercises - A technique to increase voice control, pitch range and muscle tension release.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Volume and Projection
Exercises to improve the volume and strength of your voice: hmmm, twang and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy- Vocal Function Exercises
Exercises to strengthen and balance muscles of the voice and improve the relationship between airflow, vocal fold vibration and tone.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Lax Vox
A technique using water and a straw which encourages stronger airflow
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Resonant Voice
Exercises to improve voice resonance and throat comfort
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Pitch
Exercises to help achieve the ideal pitch level for your voice
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Breath Before Tone
A gentle technique for allowing breath to come through before closing the vocal folds
Exercises to achieve full closure of the vocal cords
There are many reasons why the vocal cords may not come together in the way they need to for normal voice production. In the links on the right, there are exercises to help achieve this closure. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Glottal Onset
A technique usually using vowels to close the vocal folds more firmly
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Smooth Onset
Voice Exercises for Smooth Onset. Exercises to allow the most comfortable, easier voice
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Voice Exercises - Plosive Consonant Closure
Voice Exercises using certain consonants and oral back pressure to improve vocal fold closure
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Pops
A gentle technique to close the vocal cords.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - voice exercises - Glides
Using vowels to smoothly glide up and down the pitch range.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy- Vocal Function Exercises
Exercises to strengthen and balance muscles of the voice and improve the relationship between airflow, vocal fold vibration and tone.
Adult Speech and Language - Creak
Using voice in a relaxed way to close the vocal cords more gently
Adult Speech and Language - Sob
Releases tension and helps the vocal cords to close
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Hmmm
This is a gentle hum to help relax the vocal cords and tune in to resonance.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Exercises to reduce lateral constriction
Below are exercises to release the muscle tension that causes constriction in the voice box from the sides. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Smooth Onset
Voice Exercises for Smooth Onset. Exercises to allow the most comfortable, easier voice
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Hmmm
This is a gentle hum to help relax the vocal cords and tune in to resonance.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Silent Inspiration
An exercise to encourage a more open throat using silent breathing,
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Stifled Yawn
This exercise allows a deeper stretch of the throat
Adult Speech and Language - Sob
Releases tension and helps the vocal cords to close
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Silent Laugh
A technique to open and widen the voice box
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Breath Before Tone
A gentle technique for allowing breath to come through before closing the vocal folds
Exercises to reduce anterior - posterior constriction
Below are exercises to release the muscle tension that causes constriction in the voice box from the front to back. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Yawn Sigh
An excellent method to relax and lower the voice box
Adult Speech and Language - Sob
Releases tension and helps the vocal cords to close
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Whine
A gentle vocal cord closure exercise
Exercises to lower the larynx
There are many reasons why the voice box, or larynx, may be held too high in the throat. Below are exercises to help lower the larynx. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - Chewing
Voice Exercises - A relaxing technique for the jaw and tongue.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Yawn Sigh
An excellent method to relax and lower the voice box
Adult Speech and Language - Sob
Releases tension and helps the vocal cords to close
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Whine
A gentle vocal cord closure exercise
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Lax Vox
A technique using water and a straw which encourages stronger airflow
Exercises to improve visor control
Sometimes people can have difficulty controlling what is known as the 'cricothyroid visor', causing voice problems. There is an exercise to help gain more control over this. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Posture
Try relaxing your shoulders down, keeping your head level and your back comfortably straight. You can search online for more advice about the best posture when speaking.
Exercises for vocal fold paralysis
Some people can experience paralysis of the vocal cords where one or both cords do not move properly. This leads to poor function of the vocal cords meaning they do not come together to close properly to achieve normal voice production. Below are exercises to help achieve this closure. Please follow directions from your Speech and Language Therapist to the exercises which are best for you.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Glottal Onset
A technique usually using vowels to close the vocal folds more firmly
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Smooth Onset
Voice Exercises for Smooth Onset. Exercises to allow the most comfortable, easier voice
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Voice Exercises - Plosive Consonant Closure
Voice Exercises using certain consonants and oral back pressure to improve vocal fold closure
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Pops
A gentle technique to close the vocal cords.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy voice exercises - Hmmm
This is a gentle hum to help relax the vocal cords and tune in to resonance.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services - voice exercises - Glides
Using vowels to smoothly glide up and down the pitch range.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy - Accent Method
A technique that develops coordination of deep diaphragmatic breathing, voicing and resonance
Adult Speech and Language Therapy- Vocal Function Exercises
Exercises to strengthen and balance muscles of the voice and improve the relationship between airflow, vocal fold vibration and tone.
Adult Speech and Language - Creak
Using voice in a relaxed way to close the vocal cords more gently
Adult Speech and Language - Sob
Releases tension and helps the vocal cords to close
