A desire to have a voice that sounds less “nasally” typically refers to changing hypernasality, a resonance issue where too much sound vibrates within the nasal cavity. Resonance describes where sound energy from the vocal cords is directed and amplified. An imbalance can lead to a voice quality that sounds muffled or tinny. For most people, this is a behavioral pattern that can be modified with targeted practice and a better understanding of the underlying physical mechanics. Learning to control the subtle movements of the throat and mouth can help you achieve a more balanced and acoustically pleasing vocal tone.
Understanding the Physical Cause of Nasality
The core mechanism governing nasal resonance is the velopharyngeal port, an opening between the oral and nasal cavities. This port is controlled by the soft palate (velum), the muscular, movable part at the back of the roof of the mouth. When speaking, the soft palate should lift and meet the back wall of the throat to close the nasal passage, directing airflow and sound primarily through the mouth for most speech sounds.
When the soft palate does not close this port completely, sound energy leaks into the nasal cavity, resulting in hypernasality. Conversely, a voice that sounds “stuffy” or blocked, common during a cold, is called hyponasality, caused by too little airflow through the nose due to a physical obstruction. To make the voice less nasally, the focus is on improving the control and strength of the soft palate to ensure proper oral airflow. Although this muscular action is not generally conscious, it can be influenced by specific exercises.
Practical Exercises to Reduce Nasal Resonance
Resonance Placement Shift
A highly effective technique involves shifting the perceived vibration of the voice from the nose to the mask of the face, specifically the lips and cheeks. Begin by using sounds that naturally resonate in the nasal cavity, such as “M” or “N,” to feel the vibration. Once you locate this sensation, immediately transition to sounds that require strict oral airflow, like the vowels in the word “bee.”
Practice alternating between a nasal sound and a pressure consonant, such as saying “Mee-Bee, Mee-Bee.” Focus on the feeling of the sound moving forward and out of the mouth with the “B” sound. Plosive consonants, like “B” and “D,” are helpful because they require a complete seal of the oral cavity and a burst of air that should not escape through the nose. A simple self-check is the “pinch test”: sustain a vowel and pinch your nose shut. If the sound changes noticeably, too much air is escaping through the nasal cavity.
Soft Palate Engagement Drills
To increase awareness and control of the soft palate, use movements that naturally engage the velum. One simple drill involves the feeling of a yawn, as the soft palate automatically elevates during this action to close the velopharyngeal port. Practice inhaling with the feeling of the beginning of a yawn, then exhale while maintaining that lifted feeling in the back of the throat.
Another targeted exercise uses the transition between a nasal sound and a pure vowel. Start by sustaining the “ng” sound, as in the word “sing,” which requires the back of the tongue to touch the lowered soft palate. Slowly drop the back of the tongue and transition to an open vowel like “ah,” aiming for a smooth, clean release without any clicking sound. This conscious movement helps train the soft palate to lift and seal the nasal passage for non-nasal sounds.
Jaw and Tongue Relaxation
Excessive tension in the jaw and tongue can restrict the space in the mouth, which may force sound energy into the nasal cavity. To promote a relaxed oral posture, try exercises to release jaw tension, allowing the jaw to hang loosely. You can gently massage the muscles around the jaw hinge and temples to encourage relaxation.
The tongue should also be relaxed, with the tip resting gently behind the lower front teeth for most sounds. When the tongue is held high or tense, it can block the oral cavity and interfere with resonance. Practicing vowels with a relaxed, slightly dropped jaw and ensuring the tongue body remains low helps maximize the oral space, promoting a clear and forward-focused vocal tone.
Identifying Structural Issues and Professional Guidance
While many nasality issues stem from learned habits or muscle weakness, persistent or severe resonance problems may have underlying physical or neurological causes. Structural differences, such as a submucous cleft palate, a large adenoid pad, or a deviated septum, can interfere with the proper function of the velopharyngeal mechanism. These issues can cause either hypernasality or hyponasality, depending on whether there is an opening or an obstruction.
If consistent practice of behavioral exercises does not yield noticeable improvement, seek professional guidance. A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can perform a detailed assessment to determine if the issue is functional (addressable with therapy) or due to a structural deficit. For suspected physical obstructions or anatomical concerns, a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician is often the next step to explore medical or surgical options.