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Re: deep breathing

From: Peter Ramig
Date: 10/9/02
Time: 4:26:22 PM
Remote Name: 128.138.238.113

Comments

Speaking more slowly with appropriate pausing can be helpful as one of several necessary tools to help lessen stuttering. Having ample breath support is imperative, and is another one of several important ingredients to speak more fluently. However, I am not sure how you are applying what you call "deep breathing." If you mean taking several full breaths when you feel you might stutter in an upcoming situation, for example, that can be helpful for some as a relaxation strategy because it can help reduce muscle tension. On the otherhand, if you mean you take a deep breath immediately upon speaking, I would caution such a strategy may eventually create more stuttering IF you are tensing more to take that breath. As I said above, air is necessary to speak, but I personally prefer an easier inhalation followed by easier exhalation that allows me to stutter a little slower as I move through the word, as opposed to trying not to stutter (some of us believe trying not to stutter actually feeds stuttering). But the bottom line is this: if this technique continues to work for you, that's great!


Last changed: September 14, 2005