Some, and I say that as someone who stutters. A slow exhale before speaking is built into most fluency-shaping therapies, and it helps me, especially the release of bracing in the chest and throat before a first sound. What does not help is using breathing to hide the stutter; the trying-not-to is part of what makes it worse. The book has an FAQ entry on this, and a note about going to speech therapy as a kid and finding I was fluent by the time I reached the therapist’s chair, because for once I was not trying to hide it.
The steps
- Before a feared word or first sound: one easy exhale, jaw and tongue soft. Do not take a big breath.
- Start the sound on the exhale already in motion rather than from a held breath.
- Release the brace in the chest rather than pushing through it.
- If a block comes, let it come; a block fought is a block lengthened.
- Disclose when it helps: I stutter sometimes, bear with me. It lowers the pressure on both sides.
- Practice the exhale when speech is easy, so it is there when it is not.
When not to, and when to get help instead
Breathing is not stuttering therapy. A speech-language pathologist who specializes in fluency is the professional, for children especially, where early intervention matters. If a child has started stuttering, that is a referral, not a breathing exercise.
What the research says
The book’s Notes on stuttering cite the clinical literature: stuttering varies with situation and listener, concealment and avoidance add to the burden, and speakers who disclose report being more confident and less inclined to hide. Fluency-shaping programs use controlled exhalation and gentle onsets. None of it is a cure and the honest clinicians say so.
Other methods people use
Fluency shaping and stuttering modification are the two therapy families; many clinicians blend them. Self-help communities and the National Stuttering Association have real value. Devices that alter auditory feedback help some people. The slow exhale sits inside all of these as one small part.
Questions people also ask
Why do I stutter less when I'm relaxed?
Stuttering varies with situation and arousal; pressure and the effort to hide it both add to blocks. Lower arousal and less concealment usually mean more fluency, which is why disclosure helps.
Should I take a deep breath before speaking if I stutter?
A small, easy exhale is better than a big inhale. A big breath builds pressure behind the block; starting on a moving exhale lets the sound ride out.
In the book
Techniques
Rooms
Two rules, no exceptions
Never practice any technique on this site while you are driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that needs your full attention. The slow ones can make you drowsy, faster than you’d expect. And never practice a breath-hold, bellows breath, or any vigorous breathing in or near water. Read Before you begin for the doctor’s list and the rest.
More in “Life”
- Is there a breathing practice for grief?
- What breathing helps new parents at 3 a.m. with a crying baby?
- How do I breathe through money stress and bad financial news?
- How do I teach a child to calm down with breathing?
Written by Eric Bradley. Last reviewed October 2026. One performer’s craft, offered for general information; not medical advice, mental health treatment, or a substitute for care.