Practical articulation exercises and speech training tools for adults and children for everyday use

Every year on 14 November, speech therapists, teachers and special needs teachers celebrate their professional day — International Speech Therapist Day. This date is intended to draw public attention to the importance of timely support for children and adults with speech impairments, as the ability to express thoughts freely and clearly is the foundation of social adaptation, learning and professional fulfilment.

Modern speech and language therapy has long since moved beyond simply working on children’s pronunciation of individual sounds. Today, specialists help patients recover their speech following strokes and injuries, treat swallowing disorders and stammering, and also assist journalists, teachers and public speakers in improving their diction and vocal endurance.

Basic articulation warm-up to improve muscle flexibility

The clarity of speech depends directly on the tone and coordination of the muscles of the tongue, lips and lower jaw. Speech therapists recommend doing a short set of articulation exercises in front of a mirror for 5–7 minutes every day:

• ‘Delicious Jam’

Using the broad front edge of your tongue, slowly lick your upper lip from top to bottom, trying not to use your lower jaw, and then tuck your tongue back into your mouth. This exercise strengthens the muscles at the tip of the tongue, which are needed for the correct pronunciation of sibilant sounds and the ‘R’ sound.

• ‘The Clock’

Open your mouth, stretch your lips into a slight smile, and, at a steady pace, move the tip of your tongue alternately to the left and right corners of your mouth, without touching your lips.

• ‘The Little Horse’

Press your broad tongue against the roof of your mouth and click it sharply, imitating the clatter of hooves. Your lower jaw must remain still whilst doing this; only your tongue is moving.

• ‘Hobotok — Fence’

Alternate between two lip positions, holding each for 3–5 seconds: first, push your closed lips forwards into a tube shape, then stretch them as wide as possible into a smile, revealing your closed teeth.

Unusual diction exercises for adults and public speaking

For those who wish to get rid of a ‘slurred’ speech, relieve jaw tension and make their voice clearer, speech therapists recommend more advanced exercises:

Exercise with a wine cork (or a pencil)

A clean, natural cork is clamped between the front teeth (to a depth of approximately 1–1.5 centimetres), after which the person reads tongue-twisters or a complex text aloud for 2 minutes. When the cork is removed, the now-released muscles of the lips and tongue begin to work much more actively and with greater precision.

Clusters of complex consonants

Slow, exaggeratedly articulated recitation of sequences of consonant sounds with a gradual increase in tempo, for example: ‘PTK — PTKO — PTKU — PTKI — PTKE’ or ‘BDG — BDGO — BDGU — BDGI — BDGE’.

Reading in a single breath

Take a deep breath in through the nose, engaging the diaphragm, and recite a long phrase or a few lines of verse smoothly and evenly without taking a breath, whilst maintaining the resonance and clarity of the final consonants in each word.

Doing these exercises regularly not only improves your diction but also relieves tension in the facial muscles, helping you to feel more confident during any negotiations or presentations.

This material is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice or a diagnosis. If you notice persistent speech disorders in children or adults, you must consult a relevant specialist — a speech and language therapist or a neurologist.

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