How do I speak louder?

[Anonymous]

I get so frustrated! People never hear what I say, I have to continually repeat myself, over and over. It’s so annoying!

To me it sounds like I’m speaking loud, and that If I speak any louder I'll be yelling! I can’t tell when I’m speaking too quietly, but apparently it’s all the freaking time. Its very embarrassing sometimes and it makes me extremely self conscious during conversations with friends, family and workmates. it tends to be hardest when other people are speaking, it feels harder to make myself heard and I feel like I need to shout but it is still hard to be heard. I think it sometimes can effect me in the way that if the environment is noisy, id rather not speak so people don't have to deal with trying to hear what I say. I don't know what to do! :|

[Anonymous]

Just speak louder. You remind me a lot of my younger sister, she is very softspoken and I'm always telling her "speak up kimmi"

did you grow up in a small household? I noticed a lot of people who talk loud usually had big families so they had to talk loud to be heard.

you probably think a normal tone is loud in your head because you're not used to talking loud. think of the pitch you're at when someone asks you to speak up. then talk louder. think of the pitch you speak at when that person can finally hear you. try to continue talking like that.

ooh also do you have any confidence issues? I noticed your sentence that you'd rather not speak in a noisy environment so people don't have to deal with hearing what you have to say. remember, you and your thoughts are just as worthwhile as anyone else. they deserve to be heard too so don't feel like you shouldnt say anything. you can add positive contributions to a conversation like anyone else so don't let that hold you back

[Asker]

Well yes it was quite small and it was just, me my sister and mother. I'm actually a confident person its just I'm a little self concious when it comes to this issue. I feel like I need to try so much harder than others though just to be heard. I just think if the environment is too loud than it woudl be hard for others to understand me and id keep needign to repeat myself which most likely will just annoy them or bore them, so I mainly keep to when the environment is only off a low level of noisy

[silverapple]

I don't think household size has to do with it. I grew up in a huge family, and people still never hear me when I talk.

Actually, once people acknowledge that I'm talking, they can hear me just fine. But in class, I can call out the answer 3 times, and the teacher still won't hear me...then someone else will call out the same answer, and the teacher will tell them, Yes you're right.

Or if I'm in a group of people with more than 3 or 4 people, they never seem to hear me when I pitch in.

[Asker]

Omg I completely know what you mean, I'm the same way but its so easy for others to talk over me, the environment needs to be just right although I always seem to hear myself speaking louder than I am. is that the same for you?

[PunkRockerTillDeath]

It is almost creepy how much your question reminded me of myself,to be honest.Its like you talk and talk and talk but out of the whole conversation someone may hear two words of what you've said.The only thing I can reccomend is,although you may feel as though you are yelling,you just have to reach a bit of a higher volume.I'm still working on doing that myself.Hopefully,you will have better luck.=P People have told me,though,that they appreciate someone who is a bit quiter in such a loud world so don't be embaressed by it.Being soft-spoken often has it's advantages.Good luck!

[Asker]

Thanks :) , I think it is a bit harder though for a guy though. I think the soft spoken volume coudl be interpreted as unconfident and weak which in general is not so appealing to girls were as a soft spoke girl is cute. thank you for you advice though, do you notice that when someone speaks to you while wearing headphones, you speak much louder than you normally do. maybe I could go about using this method to look for somethign more permanant. good luck to you too though :)

[PunkRockerTillDeath]

Your welcome.And thank you,aswell.=)

[onetwo3]

see an audiologist, it could be a result of some hearing loss, especially since you can't seem to judge how loudly you're speaking. if your hearing is normal a speech language pathologist can diagnose you if something is wrong or help you learn how to project your voice correctly. If you lose your voice easily you can develop nodules or polyps from the way you're speaking so it's best to see someone about it.

good luck :)

[Asker]

Thanks, my hearing is fine though I just don't think I can project my voice correctly. I think I just need to sort it out and it will be fine. I do not lose my voice easily though but what is polyps and nodules?

[onetwo3]

If you strain your voice the wrong way you can develop them on your vocal cords, if you do this enough it could require surgery so it's best to learn the proper way to project your voice. I think even one session with a speech language pathologist would really help. It's my major so I have to observe a bunch of SLP sessions and I've seen it really help people with this

[Asker]

Thanks:)

[Alex_Prower]

You know what, I have a VERY similar problem, except I also have trouble pronouncing words because of my braces/teeth. Maybe you could try to speak clearer and slower rather than louder, it may help. I know what it feels like having someone say "Huh, pardon me?" or "Oh. It's _____ [what I'm trying to say], not ______ [what I say]." Also, when you speak, make sure to breathe from your diaphragm and not your throat because it helps. Don't worry about it too much, you could also try recording your own voice and singing when no one's home.

[Asker]

Yea good ideas, I think if I can't eventually improve it myself I will go see a professional to see what I need to do to imrpove it. I know I can speak loudly because if someone speaks to me while I'm wearing headphones and listening to music. I speak loudly unknowingly but I can't seem to judge how loud I'm speaking :(

[Reeses-pieces777]

just yell then so that people hear you. if it's noisy, sometimes that's the only way.

[Asker]

Well the thing is, I can yell just about as loud as anybody but even so, others seem to be able to yell effortlessly. with me when I have been to parties and I'm yelling to be heard a lot while all they have to do is talk loud, it ended up making me lose my voice for the rest of the day :(

[Anonymous]

Ever heard of a loudspeaker device.