Public Speaking 101:

Public speaking is hard, speech therapy can help!

Many people have difficulty speaking publicly – e.g., in front a crowd, in meetings at work, giving a presentation at school. People often describe feelings of anxiety, having a “shaky voice”, mumbling, and speaking too quietly. This is not uncommon, approximately 77% of all people fear public speaking to some degree.

Being a confident public speaker is not an innate quality, it is a set of skills that can be learned, practiced, and mastered. If you’re feeling anxious or dissatisfied with your public speaking abilities, talk to your Speech-Language Pathologist!

Why Speech Therapy?

Public speaking incorporates many different areas of communication which can be addressed in Speech Therapy, such as:

• Clarity of speech (mumbling)

• Quality of voice

• Word choice

• Use of filler words (“um” and “uh”)  

• Non-verbal cues (body language)

• Social communication

• Volume and breath support

• Communication confidence

Understanding specifically where you are having difficulty with public speaking can be empowering and it is the first step toward building skill and improving confidence.

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Virtual Communication

Public speaking (virtually) has become increasingly common and comes with its own challenges. “Screen Apnea” is a term that describes the unconscious habit of holding the breath when looking at a screen (e.g., scrolling social media, checking email, participating in a zoom meeting). Unintentionally holding the breath can contribute to a range of symptoms such as: muscle pain, neck/shoulder/jaw soreness, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, feelings of panic and anxiety.

You've been reading this blog post on a screen... check in, are you breathing?  

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Public Speaking - Speech Therapy at Beyond Speech

What would an SLP session look like?

Your first session at Beyond Speech Therapy will be an assessment. During this hour-long appointment your SLP will ask you questions and record samples of you talking (e.g., reading, describing a picture, telling a story). This is also your opportunity to ask questions and share your personal experiences.

How many sessions will I need?

That is completely up to you! Some people may get what they need out of only 1 session after their assessment, others may want ongoing sessions to practice strategies with direct feedback. Your SLP will provide you with specific recommendations based on your goals, after the assessment session.

If you have any additional questions, please contact us @info@beyondspeech.ca

OR

Book an assessment session with one of our Speech-Language Pathologists!