Speech and Soft Pallet Exercises

There are targeted speech therapy exercises that can help strengthen the soft palate (velum), improve airflow control, and enhance your ability to pronounce consonants more clearly.


When ALS affects the muscles controlling the soft palate, nasal air escape can make speech sound “nasal” or cause certain sounds like p, b, t, d, k, g, s, z, sh, ch to be unclear. While ALS is a progressive condition, consistent, gentle practice can help maintain strength and coordination for longer.


Goals of Therapy

  1. Strengthen the soft palate so it lifts and seals better during speech.

  2. Improve breath support for stronger, clearer sounds.

  3. Increase articulator precision (tongue, lips, jaw).

  4. Train compensatory strategies to make speech more understandable.



Exercises for the Soft Palate

(Do these slowly, without strain. If you have a speech therapist, review them first to ensure safety.)

1. “K” and “G” Repetition

  • These sounds naturally lift the soft palate.

  • Say: "kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh" and "guh-guh-guh-guh"

  • Do 2–3 sets of 5–10 reps, focusing on crisp, strong contact at the back of the mouth.


2. Nasal–Oral Contrast Drill

  • Alternate between nasal and oral sounds to feel palate movement.

  • Example: "nah-nah-nah" → "dah-dah-dah", or "mee-mee-mee" → "bee-bee-bee".

  • This helps train your brain to lift the palate when needed.


3. “Ah” with Yawn

  • Start a gentle yawn (soft palate naturally lifts during yawns).

  • Hold the lifted position and say “ahhhh” clearly.

  • Repeat 5–10 times.


4. Straw Phonation

  • Speak or hum through a narrow straw.

  • Focus on steady, even airflow without nasal air leakage.

  • This promotes better breath control and palate closure.


5. Nasal Occlusion Practice

  • Lightly pinch your nose and say non-nasal words (e.g., "puppy, table, cookie").

  • This gives sensory feedback if air tries to escape through the nose.


Breath Support Exercises

Since ALS can weaken breathing muscles, these help maintain stronger voice production:

  • Diaphragmatic Breathing: Inhale into your belly (not chest), exhale slowly while speaking a short phrase.

  • Sustained Phonation: Take a deep breath and say “ah” for as long as you can. Track your time daily to monitor changes.

  • Phrase Practice: Speak in shorter bursts rather than long sentences to reduce fatigue.


Daily Communication Tips

  • Slow your rate of speech.

  • Over-articulate consonants slightly.

  • Use pauses for breath more often.

  • Face your listener so they can see visual cues.

  • Consider voice banking early (if you haven’t yet) to preserve your natural voice digitally.



Daily Speech Exercise Plan (10–15 minutes)

1. Warm-Up (1–2 minutes)

Purpose: Gently wake up your speech muscles.

  • Lip Trills (buzz lips while exhaling) — 10 seconds × 3 reps

  • Tongue Pops (click tongue off roof of mouth) — 10 pops

  • Gentle Yawn–Sigh — Yawn to lift the soft palate, then sigh out “ahhhh” slowly × 5 reps


2. Soft Palate Strengthening (3–4 minutes)

Purpose: Train the velum to close and reduce nasal air escape.

  1. K & G Drill — “kuh-kuh-kuh” then “guh-guh-guh” × 10 reps each

  2. Nasal–Oral Contrast — Alternate: "mee-mee-mee" → "bee-bee-bee", and "nah-nah-nah" → "dah-dah-dah" × 5 sets each

  3. Yawn & Hold — Begin a gentle yawn, hold palate up, then say “ah” for 3–5 seconds × 5 reps


3. Breath Support & Airflow Control (3 minutes)

Purpose: Keep your voice strong and steady.

  1. Diaphragmatic Breathing — Inhale deeply into belly, exhale slowly for 4–6 seconds × 5 breaths

  2. Sustained Phonation — Take a deep breath, say “ahhh” for as long as possible (track seconds daily) × 3 reps

  3. Straw Phonation — Speak or hum through a narrow straw, 10 seconds × 3 reps


4. Articulation Precision (2–3 minutes)

Purpose: Improve clarity of consonants.

  • Over-Articulation Drill — Read a short sentence slowly, exaggerating mouth movements.

  • Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

  • Repeat 3–4 different sentences.


5. Functional Speech Practice (2–3 minutes)

Purpose: Apply the skills to real-life speech.

  • Pick 5–6 phrases you use daily (e.g., “Good morning,” “Can you help me with this?”).

  • Say them slowly, clearly, and with strong consonants.

  • Record and listen once a week to track progress.


Tips for Success

  • Do exercises once a day — more often can cause fatigue.

  • Rest if you feel strained — quality matters more than quantity.

  • Use a mirror for feedback (check mouth opening, not nasal escape).

  • Work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for tailored adjustments.

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