Stuttering and breathing. What do they have to do with each other?

The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle located between the chest and abdominal cavity, plays a crucial role in breathing. It attaches to some ribs and facilitates most of the breathing movement.

When inhaling, the diaphragm descends, flattens, and pulls air in through the nose or mouth, filling the lungs with oxygen and expanding the rib cage.

During the exhalation, the process reverses: the diaphragm moves up, resumes its dome shape, and pushes the air out of the lungs while the rib cage contracts again.

When speaking, the diaphragm follows the same movement. Speaking requires first inhalation, followed by speaking during exhalation. The distinction between breathing and speaking lies at the larynx, where the vocal cords are located. During breathing, these are open, but when speaking, they close on command of the brain.

The smooth movement of the diaphragm ensures a steady flow of air along the closed vocal cords, producing sounds and flowing phrases.

Stuttering occurs when this smooth movement is interrupted, similar to the reaction to startle, which also involves inhalation. This disruption prevents steady airflow, impeding fluent speech.

The Del Ferro method, focusing on mid-writing training and breathing, enables people to speak fluently from day one of the course by allowing the diaphragm to move smoothly with every speech movement, resulting in fluent sentences.

Instant fluency increases self-confidence and reduces speaking anxiety. By applying the Del Ferro method consistently, speaking becomes as natural and automatic as singing, without the need for further speaking techniques. The diaphragm gets used to the smooth movement, and all related fears and insecurities disappear, effectively solving the stuttering problem.