Rate of speech: strategies to slow down

Many people are told that they speak too fast and should slow down.  Often they don't realize they are speaking so quickly, and deny it. They also don't realize they are omitting certain sounds in words, or even entire syllables, are repeating some syllables, and speak in sudden bursts of several quick words.

They may have been told to slow down, and did it - for a short time - to please someone else. Then they were back to speaking quickly again.

This type of speech pattern is called cluttering. It is a fluency disorder. It can easily affect social and career relationships.

There are a number of self-help strategies such speakers can try.  The first is having someone record the person speaking and also reading aloud. Then listen to this with someone else and notice the patterns. Awareness of the problem and being willing to work on it are crucial.

Are entire syllables or individual sounds being omitted, such as street becoming seat?  Are there short bursts of speed? Does the speaker realize he or she is going fast when speaking?

Many times people confuse the generic "mumbling" with cluttering. Cluttering has a specific set of symptoms, while mumbling can be any time a person does not speak clearly (or a person with a hearing loss does not understand easily and blames it on "mumbling").

One clutterer reported what it felt like, and how she improved her speech. To read her story, click here.

The cause of cluttering right now is under investigation. Some studies point to possible brain structure differences and also genetics as possible causes.

The speaker should also list the impact of the problem on his or her life. Who has trouble understanding the person? Is this affecting personal relationships, work, or hobbies? How?
The speaker must recognize there is a problem and be willing to work on it before any help can be effective.

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive coaching on speech rate.  An e-book, called How to Speak Slower in Six Simple Steps. is also available.

Speech training and you!

Are you concerned about your speech or the speech of an employee? Speech training provides an assessment and a targeted program designed to make a person's speech as good as it can be, within a certain time frame of instruction. Listen as I explain what services are available from Business Speech Improvement. Business Speech Improvement also offers e-books and other products, for those who prefer them. Think about this: all of business requires some form of communication, whether it be pointing, talking or using electronics. Improve your verbal skills; visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com today!

How to assess your business communication skills

1. Actually listen to yourself talking. Is your telephone greeting automatically cheerful, clear and professional? Can every word be clearly understood by the listener? Do people often look puzzled, or ask you to repeat yourself?

2. When you meet a stranger at a gathering, do you know how to make small talk with him if you choose to do so?

3. How's your hearing? Three groups are most at risk - and one of them is a surprise to many employers. The three are older employees, starting in their late 50's, those exposed to loud noise, and...employees in their late teens and twenties who use earbuds while playing music too loudly. (Twenty percent of teens and those in their early twenties have some signs of hearing loss.) If in doubt, get your hearing acuity checked by a certified audiologist - and wear ear protection when exposed to loud noise (such as lawn mowers).

4. When you try to persuade someone, do you first think of his needs before you plan your reasoning? For example, does he need something done fast, accurately, at less cost, more conveniently or in a simpler manner?

5. If you are an executive, how are your skills in professional listening, delegating, employee retention, leading brain-storming sessions, making employees feel connected to the company and verbalizing ideas concisely?
Most of an executive's work involves professional-level communication skills; do yours need an upgrade?

Business Speech Improvement offers small group seminars, individual coaching, and coaching via telephone or Skype (in selected states only). For details, go here.

E-books on presentation skills, speaking slower, diction, American English pronunciation practice, making small talk,  executive communication skills, or communicating with someone with a hearing loss, click here.

Imagine yourself or your employees with better communication - and visit Business Speech Improvement today!

New Year's Resolution: Speak Better!

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to improve your speech? Do you want to speak slower, use standard American pronunciation, feel more comfortable giving a presentation, be able to make
"small talk" more comfortably, be able to communicate more effectively with someone who has a hearing loss, or something else?

Business Speech Improvement offers a wide variety of economical
e-books on all of these topics! Small group open enrollment seminars and individual coaching are also available.

Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Speech

Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Speech
"Speech" means different things to people. So, the tips below try to cover a variety of needs.
5. When meeting strangers at a party or conference, think about what you have in common with them, and come up with a statement plus a question ahead of time. For example, "This is a great party! How do you know (the host)?" or "What do you do for the organization?"
4. If you give presentations, remember that you have just 30 seconds to capture your audience's attention. Use startling statistics, a surprising fact or a 2-3 sentence story to start your talk. Then say your name.
3. If you have a strong accent that impedes clear communication, speak slower and keep paper nearby to write any words that your listener does not understand.
2. When your speech is not understood, use a synonym, such as "excellent" for "very good".
1. To help you persuade others, remember the acronym WIIFM, "what's in it for me". Why should someone do what you want done? Will it save frustration or money, increase productivity or make it easier to meet goals?

For more great tips, check out Business Speech Improvement's economical e-books! Business Speech Improvement also provides intensive coaching.

Speech and language disorders in adults

Adults can have a variety of speech and language disorders. Many develop after a sudden or chronic illness, such as a stroke or multiple sclerosis. Others may be the first sign of a serious illness, such as Parkinson's Disease.

There are three major types of speech disorders. Speech refers to pronunciation. One type is dysarthria, which involves a weakness of the muscles. There are several types of dysarthrias. For example, speech might sound "slushy", or the rate could be involuntarily increased at times.

A second disorder is verbal apraxia, which involves poor coordination of the muscles due to poor sequencing of the impulses from the brain. A person with this disorder might have trouble saying longer words, but not shorter ones. Others with severe verbal apraxia might not be able to say anything at all.

There are other types of speech disorders as well, involving unknown causes, poor habits, or more.

In addition, language disorders might involve difficulty with understanding, expressing oneself or both.

Stuttering, voice disorders, feeding disorders and related diagnostic and therapeutic services can all be provided by a certified speech-language pathologist.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal communication to employees of business and industry.

Public Speaking and the Scary "Um"

As a speech coach, one of the most common questions I hear is
"How can I stop saying "um" when I speak?"

People say "um" for three main reasons. They are a lack of sufficient preparation, a lack of self-confidence, and a poor level of skill in public speaking in general.

To decrease the "um" factor, be very well-prepared. Know your topic thoroughly, learn your speech through key words (not memorization of the entire speech), and use a moment of silence in place of an "um". For more valuable tips on giving a presentation, get Public Speaking:You Can Do It!, an e-book. Individual coaching on public speaking in general or to prepare for a specific presentation is also available through Business Speech Improvement.

Struggle with saying big words?

Many smart adults have difficulty saying long words. Every time they say the word, it comes out differently. Maybe they omit certain sounds, such as a "t" in an "str" word such as strong. Maybe the vowel comes out differently as they practice.

Sometimes they have had this problem all their lives, or it may suddenly appear after a stroke or head injury.However it appears, it can be so frustrating!

Here are three things people can try. First, listen carefully for the correct pronunciation. Use the pronunciation button on online dictionaries if needed. Second, try to read the word (or visualize it in your mind) to get in all the sounds. Third,
use another word with the same meaning, such as pretend for act, to get the message across.

If none of these help, look for a certified speech pathologist who has experience in diagnosing and treating the speech disorder of verbal apraxia in adults.

Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP is director of Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com). She provides individual and group speech coaching on a wide variety of communication needs.