Exercises for improving coordination of respiration and phonation include building awareness of using diaphragmatic breathing, controlling inhalation and exhalation, counting and sustaining vowels. Instruction can be supported by the use of real-time spectrograms on the IBM Speech Viewer II for feedback.

Examples

Reinforcing Diaphragmatic Breathing

It is important for students to know how to get sufficient respiratory support for speech. This is best achieved through diaphragmatic breathing.

Sustaining vowels

Respiratory support for speech can be illustrated and practiced by sustaining vowels. When sustaining vowels it is important for the student to use a relaxed voice. Tension is often associated with lack of respiratory support.

Speech and diaphragmatic breathing

In helping a student learn to control air expenditure, it is important for the student to become aware of how air is used for speech and to know when speech is being produced with insufficient air support. Visual feedback may be used to show insufficient air usage.

Compare these two attempts and note how the second one shows better use of air during counting. The second segment also shows student recognition of insufficient air support at the end of his utterance.

Conversation

Conversations can be used at the end of therapy session to build carry-over of correct voice and speech sound production.