If you’ve ever felt trapped in a stuttering block, you know how frustrating and exhausting it can be. The word is right there, on the tip of your tongue, but everything feels stuck and you're unable to push forward. Many adults who stutter describe blocks as hitting an invisible wall—one second you're speaking, the next, nothing comes out. And it’s not just about struggling with speech, it’s about the overwhelming tension, frustration, and even fear that can build up around speaking situations.
Many adults who stutter have tried traditional fluency techniques, but rather than focusing on repetitive fluency techniques, we take a different approach, incorporating voice therapy principles to address the physical aspects of speech production, helping you navigate stuttering blocks with ease, flexibility, and confidence.
Voice therapists are a small subset of speech-language pathologists with focused clinical training—and we have two on our team!
What Causes Stuttering Blocks?
Stuttering blocks aren’t just pauses, they’re stoppages in airflow at the level of the vocal folds. Your vocal folds don’t just help you speak, they also protect your airway! When tension builds in the throat, neck, and mouth, speech can start to feel locked up, making it even harder to break through a block.
More often than not, blocks beget blocks. A stuttering block is rarely an isolated moment—it often sets off a cycle. The more frequently a person experiences blocks, the more they begin to anticipate them. This anticipation creates tension, increasing effort in an attempt to push through. But the harder one pushes, the tighter the speech system becomes, making the block even more difficult to release.
Over time, this pattern can lead to speech that feels increasingly effortful, reinforcing the cycle and heightening speaking anxiety. Certain words or situations may start to feel intimidating, not because of difficulty in saying them, but because of the fear of getting stuck. Breaking free from this cycle requires a deeper understanding of what fuels these blocks and a targeted approach to reducing their impact.
Several key factors contribute to the experience of stuttering blocks:
Tension– As a speaker fights through a block, tension builds in the vocal folds, throat, and speech muscles, making it even harder to release the word
Disrupted Airflow – Speaking depends on a steady, coordinated release of air. During a block, airflow becomes constricted, leading to silent pauses or hard stops
Anticipation and Fear – Many adults who stutter begin to anticipate difficulty with specific words or speaking situations. This can trigger a cycle of tension, blocking, and frustration
Understanding these physical mechanisms is the first step in overcoming blocks, and the next step is learning how to counteract them. This is where voice therapy techniques come in, providing practical strategies to release tension, regulate airflow, and bring more control and ease to speech.
Voice Therapy for Stuttering Blocks?
Voice therapy is often associated with singers, but it can play a critical role in stuttering management. By training breath support, vocal coordination, and speech rhythm, voice therapy can help release tension and create a smoother, more controlled speaking experience.
Releasing Tension in the Voice
Many adults who stutter develop excess muscle tension as they try to force words out. This tension, especially in the larynx (commonly referred to as the voice box), can make blocking worse. Voice therapy exercises focus on:
Relaxing the vocal folds to allow for easier speech onset
Reducing tension in the throat, jaw, and tongue to minimize physical struggle
Using resonance-based techniques to produce a more effortless, open sound
Breath Support and Coordination for Speech
One of the most overlooked aspects of stuttering blocks is breath control. Many adults who stutter hold their breath before speaking or initiate sound with too much force, leading to tension and blocking. Voice therapy addresses this by training diaphragmatic breathing, which promotes a steady airflow, natural pacing, and a stronger connection between breath and voice.
To further enhance breath coordination, therapy introduces:
Flow-based phonation to maintain continuous airflow and prevent breath-holding patterns.
Blending air and sound to create smoother transitions from silence to speech.
Easy onset exercises to gently engage the voice instead of forcing sound out.
Phrasing and pausing techniques to structure speech into natural breath groups, preventing rushed speech or running out of air.
Easing Articulation Tension for Smoother Speech
One major challenge with stuttering blocks is the excessive effort used to transition between sounds. Blocks often involve increased tension in the tongue, lips, and jaw, making articulation feel heavy or stuck. Voice therapy helps ease these transitions by focusing on:
Reducing articulatory tension to prevent excessive force when forming sounds.
Using light articulatory contacts to soften speech movements and ease word initiation.
Encouraging smoother transitions between sounds to prevent abrupt stops.
Developing Vocal Presence and Confidence
Some adults who stutter compensate by speaking more softly or avoiding certain words. This can lead to reduced vocal strength and presence. Voice therapy helps rebuild confidence in your voice by working on:
Resonance training to amplify and strengthen vocal projection
Posture and breath control to support a fuller, more natural voice
Speaking strategies that promote ease rather than avoidance
Speaking with Ease
Speech doesn’t have to feel like a battle. By combining voice therapy principles with targeted stuttering strategies, it’s possible to move past blocks and develop a more natural, controlled way of speaking. Instead of focusing solely on fluency, this approach prioritizes ease, comfort, and confidence in communication.
Take the Next Step at SpeechAppeal
If you’re tired of battling through stuttering blocks and want to try something a little different, meet with our registered Speech-Language Pathologists. Our evidence-based voice therapy techniques combined with a holistic understanding of stuttering and adult-specific learning can help you get back to a voice that feels strong, consistent, and truly yours.
Try a Free Online Meet-and-Greet or Book an Appointment to get started.