06/04/2025
SINGING YOUR WAY TO FLUENCY: THE ROLE OF RHYTHM IN SPEECH FLOW
Why People Who Stammer Can Often Sing Without Issue
One of the most fascinating aspects of stammering is that many people who struggle with speech fluency in everyday conversations can sing fluently without hesitation. This phenomenon has puzzled both researchers and speech therapists for years, but science provides several compelling explanations.
1. Singing Uses a Different Brain Pathway
Speaking and singing involve different neural circuits in the brain. While speech is primarily controlled by the left hemisphere (particularly in the Broca’s area and motor cortex), singing activates a more distributed network across both hemispheres.
✅ Key Difference:
a) Speaking relies on rapid motor planning, which can be disrupted in people who stammer.
b) Singing engages broader neural connections, including the right hemisphere, which is linked to melody and rhythm.
✔ Why It Helps: When someone sings, they bypass the speech pathways that cause stammering and tap into a smoother, rhythm-driven process.
2. Singing Follows a Predictable Rhythm
Unlike spontaneous speech, singing follows a fixed rhythm, melody, and timing, which provides structure and reduces the chance of stammering.
✅ Key Factors:
a. Syllables are stretched in a controlled manner.
b. Breath support is naturally built into singing phrases.
c. No time pressure—unlike in conversational speech, where the brain has to construct sentences quickly.
✔ Why It Helps: The predictability of lyrics and melody removes the stress of forming words on the spot, allowing for fluent vocalization.
3. Continuous Vocalization Eliminates Speech Blocks
Stammering often involves sudden stops and blocks in speech flow, especially at the beginning of words or sentences. However, singing requires continuous airflow and sustained vocalization, which prevents these disruptions.
✅ Key Difference:
a) Speech: Words are produced in short bursts with pauses, increasing the risk of blocks.
b) Singing: Words are connected smoothly through sustained sound, preventing abrupt stoppages.
Let's see why it helps...
This is just a pinch!
