What are soft starts in speech therapy?

Soft starts (also called easy onsets or gentle onsets) involve beginning voicing with relaxed vocal folds and a gradual buildup of airflow. Instead of a hard, abrupt start, you ease into the sound gently, reducing the likelihood of a block or repetition at the beginning of a word.

How do you practice soft starts?

Begin by exhaling gently, then gradually engage your voice with a breathy, relaxed quality. Start words with a soft, easy initiation rather than a forceful or sudden onset. Practice first on isolated words, then phrases, and eventually in conversation.

Are soft starts only for words that begin with vowels?

No. While soft starts are most commonly associated with vowel-initial words (where hard glottal attacks are common), the principle of gentle initiation applies to all sounds. For consonants, you use light articulatory contact in combination with the soft onset.

Soft Starts

Fluency Shaping › Soft Starts

Begin words gently with easy onset of voicing instead of forcing sounds.

Practical Description

Soft starts involve beginning words with a gentle, easy onset of voicing rather than a hard, tense attack. You start with the vocal folds slightly apart and gradually bring them together as you begin phonation. This reduces tension and makes speech initiation easier.

Objective

To reduce tension at the beginning of words and phrases, making speech initiation easier and more fluent.

How to Practice

Take a comfortable breath before speaking
Start with your mouth/lips in position for the first sound
Begin phonation gently, like a soft whisper
Gradually increase volume to normal level
Practice on words starting with vowels first (easier)
Then practice on words starting with consonants
Use soft starts at the beginning of sentences and after pauses