How to Stop Sounding Nasal

Co-authored by Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: September 20, 2023 References

Sounding nasal while talking or singing may make you feel embarrassed, but it's likely that other people don't notice it as much as you do. However, you can work on improving the sound of your voice if it bothers you. Hypernasal sounds happen when too much air is going through your nose, while hyponasality makes you sound congested.^{[1]
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Research source} No matter what’s causing your nasal sounding voice, it’s possible to correct it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Yawning to Reduce Nasality when Speaking

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1
Start a yawn with your lips formed like you’re making a “u” sound. Say the letter “u” and keep your lips in this position. Then, inhale through your mouth and make yourself yawn. Do your best to keep your mouth shaped like you’re saying “u” for the entire yawn.
- Keeping your lips in this shape helps push your soft palate into a better position so that your breath can flow in and out without causing nasal sounds.
2
Exhale through your nose with an “m” or "hmm" sound. Once you finish inhaling through your lips, slowly release the air through your nose.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.} As you exhale, hum with a long “m” sound. The vibration from your humming will help close your soft palate.
- Keep your lips in a “u” sound shape, even though you’re exhaling through your nose.
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Your voice may sound less nasal after one yawn, but it’ll likely take a couple of tries to improve your sound. Do the yawn exercise several times to see if it helps you sound less nasal. By alternating your breath between your mouth and nose, you can engage your soft palate so that less air escapes through your nose.
You may be able to temporarily stop sounding nasal using this simple yawning exercise. If you notice an improvement in your voice, do the exercise daily to help you avoid sounding nasal. Additionally, consider using it as a vocal warm-up before public speaking.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Improving Your Singing Voice

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Stand up straight and tighten your core so your posture is good. Maintaining good posture while you're singing helps you control your breath, which will help you reduce nasality. Straighten your spine, engage your core, and lift your chin so you’re facing forward. Maintain this good posture while you’re singing to help avoid nasally vocals.^{[4]
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- If you’re singing while sitting down, sit with your spine straight. As long as you aren’t slouching or hunching forward, you should be able to avoid sounding too nasal.
2
Do breathing exercises daily to learn to control your breath. Your singing voice may sound nasal because you’re not breathing properly while you sing. Fortunately, doing breathing exercises every day can help you learn to better control your voice. Here are some breathing exercises you might try:^{[5]
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- Breathe in through your nose to a count of 5, then hold your breath for a 5 count. Exhale through your mouth as you count to 5, and repeat the exercise 5 times.
- Stand or lay comfortably and place one hand over your chest and the other over your stomach. Slowly breathe in and draw the air down into your lower lungs. Make sure the hand over your stomach rises but the hand over your chest stays mostly still. Then, exhale slowly out of your mouth. Repeat for 5 breaths.
3
Start making an “ng” sound and transition to “ah” to close your soft palate. Your voice may sound nasal because your soft palate is too open and allowing air to escape up into your nose.^{[6]
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Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.} This exercise can help close it so your voice sounds clear. Take a deep breath, then make an “ng” sound. About halfway through your exhale, turn your “ng” sound into an “ah” sound.^{[7]
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- If your voice still sounds nasal, repeat the exercise 3-5 times to see if it helps you.
4
Repeat “kaya” and “gaya” 8-10 times to push your tongue into your soft palate. Hold the first letter for 1-2 seconds before you transition to the vowel sound. This will push your tongue up against your soft palate so that air will stop escaping through your nose while you sing. As you say the words, focus on the sensation you feel in the back of your mouth.^{[8]
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- Your tongue will lift and lower as you repeat the words.
- If you feel like you’re still getting a nasal sound, hold your nose as you repeat the exercise.
5
Try singing “uh” instead of “ah” to counteract nasality. If you’re having trouble getting rid of your nasal sound, it may help to change the way you sing the “ah” sound, which typically comes out nasal sounding. Instead of saying “ah,” substitute the “uh” sound. To listeners, it’ll sound like you’re actually saying “ah” because of the nasality.^{[9]
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- Record yourself singing both an “ah” and an “uh” sound to see if it makes a difference.
If you consistently sound nasal, incorporate these exercises into every vocal warm-up you do. If you sound nasal occasionally, perform these exercises when you think you hear nasality in your voice. They may help you stop sounding nasal while you sing.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Treating Nasal Congestion

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Take decongestants if your doctor says it’s okay. Congestion is a common cause of nasality because it blocks air from passing through your nasal cavity when you’re speaking or singing. If this is the case, over-the-counter decongestants may help. Ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to use a decongestant. Then, take it as directed on the label to help relieve your symptoms.^{[11]
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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
National professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing research

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- For instance, you may need a decongestant if you’ve had a cold or are currently suffering from allergies.
- Decongestants are available at a department store, drug store, and online.
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Use an antihistamine if allergies are causing your symptoms. Allergies may cause your body to produce excess mucus, which in turn causes congestion. In addition to decongestants, an antihistamine can help. Check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to use an over-the-counter antihistamine. Then, try a non-drowsy option that may help relieve your allergy symptoms.^{[12]
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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
National professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing research

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- Aside from congestion, typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and itching of your nose, eyes, and the roof of your mouth.
- You might try alternatives like cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), or fexofenadine (Allegra) for 24-hour relief from allergy symptoms. You can find these at a department store, drug store, or online.
3
Rinse your sinuses with an over-the-counter saline spray. Allergens, germs, and debris might get caught in your sinus cavity, which can trigger congestion. Additionally, mucus can thicken and block your sinus cavity. A saline spray can help clear your sinuses. Follow the directions on the packaging to spray 1-2 spritzes of saline spray up each nostril 2-3 times a day.^{[13]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Check with your doctor before you use a saline spray. They may recommend a brand that’s right for you or could advise you to try a different treatment, depending on your needs.
- You can find saline spray at a department store, drug store, or online.
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Ask your doctor for a steroid nasal spray to relieve sinus inflammation. If over-the-counter medications aren’t helping, it’s possible that sinus inflammation may be to blame. Talk to your doctor to find out if you might need a steroid nasal spray to relieve your congestion. Then, follow your doctor’s instructions for administering your spray.^{[14]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Typically, you’ll spray 1-2 spritzes in each nostril once or twice a day.
5
See your doctor if your sinus infection is serious or persists after 10 days. Most sinus infections will go away with self-care, but you may need additional treatment from a doctor. Consult your doctor if your symptoms become severe or your infection doesn’t seem to be improving.^{[15]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Symptoms of a severe sinus infection include fever, headache, swelling and redness around your eyes, confusion, double vision, forehead swelling, and stiff neck.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Working with a Speech-Language Pathologist

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1
Get a referral to a speech-language pathologist if nasality persists. Your nasality may be caused by abnormalities in your mouth or throat. A speech-language pathologist can figure out why you sound so nasal and will help you choose the best treatment options.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Expert Interview. 28 August 2020.} Ask your primary care provider to refer you to a speech-language pathologist so you can get an evaluation.^{[17]
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- You may be able to visit a speech-language pathologist without a referral. Look for one in your area by checking online or by contacting your insurance company, which may help you find a provider.
- Check your insurance benefits to find out if they’ll pay for your visits to a speech-language pathologist.
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Let your speech-language pathologist do diagnostic tests. Fortunately, the tests your doctor will do shouldn't be painful, though you might experience some minor discomfort. Talk to your doctor about the tests you might need and what treatment options they can provide. Your doctor will likely do the following tests to make a diagnosis:^{[18]
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- A special x-ray called a videofluoroscopy, which records the shape of your mouth and throat while you talk.
- A test called a nasendoscopy, where your doctor inserts a small tube with a light and camera into your nostril to observe your soft palate.
3
Undergo speech therapy to learn how to pronounce sounds correctly. Speech therapy is commonly the first treatment for nasality. Your speech-language pathologist will help you learn how to pronounce sounds properly without sounding nasal. Expect to go to speech therapy twice a week, with sessions lasting about 30 minutes.^{[19]
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Research source} You may notice an improvement to how you sound after 15 to 20 weeks of therapy.
- Everyone is different, so you may need more time to correct your nasality.
- Speech therapy doesn’t work for everyone, but you can still try other treatments.
4
Visit a dentist to find out if a dental plate is right for you. A dental plate helps correct the structure in your mouth by closing your soft palate. If you wear it as directed by your dentist and speech-language pathologist, it may help correct your nasality. Ask your speech-language pathologist to refer you to a dentist who can fit you for a dental plate.^{[20]
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- This treatment might help you avoid surgery to repair your soft palate.
5
Talk to your doctor about surgery if your soft palate didn’t close. You may need surgery if your soft palate is not in the right position. Your doctor can help you decide if this is the best option for you. If so, they’ll do a simple surgery to correct the problem with your soft palate. After your surgery, you should notice a change in your speech.^{[21]
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- Surgery may be your best option if you have a structural problem in your mouth or throat that’s making you sound nasal.^{[22]
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How can you help a child with hypernasal speech?

Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Iddo DeVries is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the Owner and Clinical Director of Speech Therapy of DV Therapy, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California since 2014. Focusing on dynamic therapy for individuals and their families, Iddo specializes in family training and speech therapy for disabilities and delays including, autism, late-talkers, PDD, specific language impairments, articulation and phonological disorders, auditory processing delays, stuttering, pragmatic and social delays, Verbal Apraxia of Speech. Iddo holds a BS in Speech Communication Sciences from Brooklyn College and an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from Adelphi University. In 2011 Iddo was awarded the outstanding achievement award in the field of speech therapy by the New York City Department of Education. He has been an active member of the nationally accredited speech board ASHA since 2006.

Iddo DeVries, MA-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Expert Answer

Hypernasal speech describes when there is too much airflow coming out of the nose. To get help for this condition, you need to rule out whether or not there's something physical going on. Physical causes of the condition include a cleft palate or VPI, meaning velopharyngeal insufficiency. This describes when the back of your throat does not close tight enough and allows airflow to get through. In these cases, surgery may be necessary.

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