How does Accent method work?
  • It improves the co-ordination of breathing and voicing using abdominal breath support
  • The goal is for relaxed voicing
Stage 1 exercises
  1. Sit or lie comfortably and focus your attention on breathing.
  2. Take slow, deep breaths in and out, let the air flow in and out without restriction, do not hold your breath at any point.
  3. Place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.  Feel the hand on your abdomen move out as you breathe in. 
  4. Then breathe out. Squeeze your stomach in to push the air out.
  5. Now actively squeeze your stomach muscles in as you breathe out; on each outbreath practice one of the following voiceless sounds.
  • Blowing
  • Ffffffff
  • Shhhh
  • Sssssss

Try to make the sound powerful by using your stomach and diaphragm to drive the air upwards. Don’t push or force the sound; let it fade naturally as you run out of air.

Stage 2 exercises

Once you are comfortable with stage 1, we add the sounds that start to work your vocal cords.

  1. Voiced sounds:
  • Howling gale/ ghostly sound
  • Zzzzz
  • ʒʒʒʒʒ (as in ‘measure)
  • Vvvvvv

Make the sound at a comfortable low pitch

Stage 3 exercises

Now we begin to add “pulses” or “accents” as we breathe.

Think of the long sounds above as a car engine ticking over.  Now we are going to put our foot on the accelerator to rev the engine.  Each rev of the engine is a squeeze of your stomach; an added burst of air. 

Start with one squeeze of the stomach
  • ssssSSSS
  • ShhhSHHHH
  • ffffFFFF
  • zzzZZZZZZ
  • evvvVVVV
  • 3333333 (measure)
Once confident, add an additional squeeze of the stomach
  • assssSSSSssssSSSSsss
  • SShhhSSSSHHHssshhSSSHHHHsshh
  • fffffFFFFFffffFFFFffff
  • zzzZZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzz
  • vvvVVVVVvvvvVVVVvvv
  • ʒʒʒʒʒʒʒ ʒʒʒʒʒʒʒʒʒʒ (measure)
  • Go through all the sounds in a steady relaxed rhythm. 
  • Do the exercises little and often throughout the day.
  • Drop back a level if you are uncertain or feel any strain.
  • STOP and rest if you feel dizzy.  Ensure that you are not rushing the breathing.
  • STOP if you feel any effort or pushing at your throat and check your breathing.      

Please use the following QR code or website link to access the video that accompanies this leaflet:

QRcode

https://youtu.be/0xzt7bCl54M

For further information
Contact details
  • North Cumbria Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department, Room 1450, Lower Ground Floor, Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7HY
    Tel: 01228 608332
    Email: VoiceSLT@ncic.nhs.uk
  • North Cumbria Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department, Level 4, West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road, Hensingham, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8JG
    Tel: 01900 705082 (referral line)
    Email: AdultSpeechTherapy-AllerdaleandCopeland@ncic.nhs.uk
Useful websites

If you would like further information about health conditions and treatment options, you may wish to have a look at the NHS website. 

Visit the NCIC Adult Speech and Language Therapy website.

British voice association has free literature with advice on voice care.

We kindly thank the ENT SLT Team, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for permission to reproduce and share this advice sheet and video link.

Disclaimer: This publication is designed for the information of patients. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the information contained may not be comprehensive and patients should not act upon it without seeking professional advice.

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For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302