Introduction: The Missing Link in Speech Outcomes
When most people think of speech therapy, they think of sounds, words, and language. But there’s a foundational piece often overlooked: posture.
At BreatheWorks, we understand that posture isn’t just about standing up straight—it’s about how the body supports communication. Whether you’re dealing with dysarthria, articulation delays, voice disorders, or swallowing issues, postural alignment plays a critical role in your ability to speak, breathe, and function.
How Posture Shapes Speech Production
Speech is a full-body process. It requires breath support, core engagement, and optimal positioning of the head, neck, tongue, and lips. When posture is poor:
- The diaphragm is compressed, reducing breath support for speech
- The tongue falls backward, affecting articulation and resonance
- Facial and oral muscles become strained, leading to speech fatigue
- Jaw movement becomes restricted, limiting clarity and speed
This impacts children learning to speak, adults recovering from injury, and aging patients working to preserve communication skills.
Posture and Breath Support in Voice and Fluency Therapy
For effective speech, the respiratory system must work in harmony with phonation and articulation. Poor posture disrupts this balance:
- It shifts breathing from the diaphragm to the upper chest, increasing tension
- It limits exhalation control, which is crucial for pacing and intonation
- It strains the larynx, especially in patients with voice disorders or chronic hoarseness
In fluency therapy (e.g., for stuttering), poor posture can increase physical effort and cognitive load, worsening symptoms.
Working with an SLP Who Treats the Whole System
A speech-language pathologist near you might focus on speech sounds but at BreatheWorks, our SLPs are trained to look deeper. We assess:
- Oral rest posture (how the tongue, lips, and jaw sit at rest)
- Breath pattern and coordination during speech
- Head and neck alignment during therapy tasks
- Muscle tone and stability in the core, face, and jaw
We integrate myofunctional therapy with traditional speech therapy to improve muscle coordination and structure—especially for children with articulation issues or adults with motor speech disorders like dysarthria.
Posture Across the Lifespan
Our work spans birth to geriatrics, and posture matters at every age:
- Infants with tongue tie or poor muscle tone may struggle with feeding and sound development
- Children with open-mouth posture or low tone often show delayed articulation or weak voice
- Teens with digital posture may present with vocal strain or poor breath support
- Adults and seniors recovering from stroke, surgery, or neurological changes benefit from improved posture to support speech, swallowing, and cognition
A Collaborative Approach to Speech Therapy
We don’t work alone. BreatheWorks collaborates with:
- Occupational therapists to support motor development
- ENTs and orthodontists to address structural contributors
- Pediatricians and neurologists for developmental and medical insights
- Mental health providers to support self-regulation and therapy participation
This team-based model ensures that postural and functional alignment are part of every treatment plan—not an afterthought.
Key Takeaways
- Posture is essential for speech clarity, voice strength, and breath support.
- Poor alignment disrupts articulation, fluency, and vocal resonance.
- At BreatheWorks, we treat the whole system—from muscles to airway to message.
- If you’re looking for speech therapy near you, choose a clinic that understands posture’s role in communication.
