Practising safely
Speech On asks you to speak out loud, move your mouth and breathe deliberately. All of that is ordinary and low risk. This page covers the few things worth knowing.
Last updated 16 September 2026
Stop and see a doctor, not this app
Some changes in speech are signs of something that needs medical attention. Practice is the wrong response to any of these.
- Speech that becomes slurred suddenly, or face, arm or leg weakness on one side, or sudden confusion. These can be signs of a stroke. In the UK call 999. In the EU call 112. In the US call 911. Do not wait to see whether it passes.
- A hoarse or changed voice lasting more than three weeks, especially if you smoke. Ask your GP for a referral to an ear, nose and throat clinic.
- Pain when you speak or swallow, or the feeling of something stuck in your throat.
- Speech or voice that is steadily getting worse over weeks or months rather than varying day to day.
- Difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, or coughing and choking when you eat or drink.
- A child not developing speech as expected. Ask your health visitor or GP about a speech and language therapy referral. Do not use this app in place of that.
If you are worried about your speech and none of the above applies, that is still a good reason to see a speech and language therapist. This app is not an assessment and cannot tell you whether anything is wrong.
While you practise
The general rule is comfortable effort. Nothing here should be a strain, and none of it is a strength exercise. If something hurts, stop doing it.
- Stop if speaking hurts anywhere: throat, jaw, face or chest.
- Stop if your voice becomes hoarse, tired or rough during a session, and rest it. Practising through hoarseness can make it worse.
- Use your normal speaking volume. The exercises ask for bigger mouth movements, never a louder voice. If you find yourself pushing for volume, you have drifted off the exercise.
- Breathe normally. Never hold your breath, never try to empty your lungs, and never take repeated fast deep breaths. If you feel light-headed or dizzy, stop, sit still and breathe normally until it passes.
- Sit down for the breathing steps. Do not do them standing, driving, in water, or anywhere a moment of light-headedness would be dangerous.
- Keep jaw movements small and easy. Do not stretch your jaw wide or push on it with your hands.
- Take the rest break. In the longer routine it is there for a reason.
- Drink water if your mouth gets dry.
When to skip particular steps
| Step | Skip or adapt if |
|---|---|
| Relax your face (external massage) | You have had recent dental, facial or jaw surgery; an injury, infection, rash or inflammation in the area; a skin condition on the face; jaw pain, clicking or locking; or any temporomandibular joint problem. Touch only the outside of your cheeks, with clean hands, teeth apart. |
| Lip trills and humming | Your voice is hoarse or tired, you have a throat infection, or you have been advised to rest your voice. Skip entirely if you have had recent throat or vocal fold surgery unless your clinician has cleared it. |
| Breathing steps | You have a respiratory condition that makes deliberate breathing uncomfortable, you are prone to light-headedness, or you are pregnant and have been advised to avoid breath holds. Breathe normally instead and go straight to the phrases. |
| Jaw movement | Your jaw hurts, clicks painfully, or has locked before. |
If you are already under a therapist's care
Follow your therapist's programme, not this one. If you would like to use Speech On alongside it, show them the routine first and ask. Some techniques that are helpful for one person are unhelpful for another, and only someone who has assessed you can tell you which is which.
What this app is not
Speech On is a practice tool. It is not a medical device, not a treatment, not an assessment, and not a substitute for speech and language therapy. It does not know anything about you, it does not listen to you, and it cannot tell whether an exercise is right for you. If you have a diagnosed speech, language, voice or swallowing condition, the right starting point is a qualified speech and language professional. See Terms of Use for the legal position.
Finding a professional
- UK: ask your GP for a referral, or search the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists directory for an independent therapist.
- US: the ASHA ProFind directory lists certified speech-language pathologists.
- India: look for a therapist registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India.
- Elsewhere: your national speech and language therapy association will hold a register.
Telling us about a problem
If something in this app caused you harm, confused you, or seems unsafe, please tell us. The fastest route is to open an issue on GitHub, which is public and gets read. If you would rather not do that publicly, message Vyshak on LinkedIn. We read everything and we would rather hear it.
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