Can I really change my voice and speech pattern?

I am introverted and shy in social and business encounters. Can I learn to communicate comfortably in these situations?

I have never been able to project my voice well; can I learn to do it? Is there a problem with my vocal cords/folds?

Will I ever be able to answer impromptu questions confidently?

The pitch of my voice gets higher when I become nervous or challenged.

Will my voice ever sound clear and resonant?

I frequently need to repeat myself in order to be understood or taken seriously.

Are stuttering devices helpful?

Can I really change my voice and speech pattern?
Although most people believe they are born with a given voice and speech pattern that can’t be changed, with the proper techniques using biofeedback technology both can be significantly improved. It is true that your physical size dictates the length and mass of your vocal folds thus defining the boundaries of your pitch. However, the resonance of overall tone of your voice depends on the openness of the back of your throat and the clarity of the speech sounds you produce. Learning to play your instrument correctly will take four to five hours of training and daily practice.

I am introverted and shy in social and business encounters. Can I learn to communicate comfortably in these situations?
Yes, an introvert derives energy from within whereas an extrovert derives energy from others. Thus, you may feel tense and awkward in new situations. As you master the nuances of nonverbal communication and learn how to engage in conversation with strangers, your comfort level will soar.

I have never been able to project my voice well; can I learn to do it? Is there a problem with my vocal cords/folds?
Learning to control your breath and maintaining a relaxed throat are the keys to speaking with more power. These are easily learned in three to four sessions. During the initial evaluation, we can determine quickly whether a visit to an otolaryngologist to observe your vocal folds is needed.

Will I ever be able to answer impromptu questions confidently?
Some speakers love to present information that they have prepared but become extremely anxious when asked to speak extemporaneously. When your heart starts to race and your mouth becomes dry, it is much harder to express yourself confidently and coherently. Learning how to diminish your physiologic arousalutilizing breathing techniques, biofeedback software, and positive self-talk will enable you to more readily process questions as you master strategies to express yourself succinctly and with self-assurance.

The pitch of my voice gets higher when I become nervous or challenged.
Your gender and physical size dictates the length and mass of your vocal folds thus defining the boundaries of your pitch. If your vocal folds tighten when you are tense they will vibrate faster resulting in a higher pitch. As you learn to breathe and relax into your vocal folds, your pitch will remain lower.

Will my voice ever sound clear and resonant?
The resonance or overall tone of your voice depends on the clarity of the tone produced by the vibration of your vocal folds and the openness of your pharynx or back of the throat. A clear tone requires that the vocal folds vibrate easily without obstruction. Learning to breathe properly and relaxing your hydrated vocal folds and throat are the keys to generating consistent, vocal tone. If your voice remains raspy, a visit to an otolaryngologist to evaluate your vocal folds may be warranted.

I frequently need to repeat myself in order to be understood or taken seriously.
Call your voice mail and leave yourself a message. When you play it back, analyze whether you are speaking too softly or too quickly. Is your speech imprecise with one word running into the next? Is your message too scattered lacking a succinct message? Do you stress the wrong syllable of words containing three or four syllables? Does your accent diminish your message? All of these problems can be addressed easily in training. Speaking is a fine motor skill that requires crisp movements of the lips and tongue while your message must be refined and relevant to the situation.

Are stuttering devices helpful?
Smoothly flowing speech requires rapid and precise timing of the speaker’s lips and tongue, consistent vocal fold vibration and a relaxed breath. The majority of stuttering therapies focus on helping the stutterer to maintain the motor timing required for speaking. In many cases, the stutterer can learn to speak more fluently in therapy but has great difficulty using the learned ‘controls’ in everyday speaking situations.There are two portable stuttering devices on the market which can be helpful to persons who stutter. Both are based on a natural phenomenon called the "choral effect." The choral effect occurs when a person’s stutter is dramatically reduced or even eliminated when they speak or sing in unison with others. This choral effect has been well documented for decades. As the stutterer talks using either the SpeechEasy® or the Fluency Master, she/he hears a distorted sound in one ear. The goal in using either device is to initiate the first sound of a word easily and to keep the sound going through the end of the sentence or thought. It is almost like having someone talking with you. Both devices can be helpful for some stutterers. Evaluation must be by a certified speech language pathologist who has an expertise in fluency or stuttering. For more information visit www.speecheasy.com and www.stutteringcontrol.com.

If your question has not been answered, contact susan@voicetrainer.com.