Talking As Fast As I Can Mentality: How to Dial Back Speaking Speed

Throughout my life, at least when I really started to speak, I’ve been talking as fast as I can. It’s like an engine revving up in my mind, and words just spill out at times, especially when I’m passionate about a certain topic or feel I have something to say.

The problem with speaking too fast is that my speech rate is so rapid that people oftentimes don’t understand me. Then I have to repeat myself, sometimes multiple times, sometimes even talking like I’m in slow motion, and that can be highly annoying. My adult self has realized that it’s really not their problem, however, it’s mine. That means it falls to me to self-correct my rapid-fire speech pattern to enhance communications and comprehension.

Avoid the talking as fast as I can tendency if you are autistic, and slow down to boost your communication effectiveness.Many people across the autism spectrum tend to speak faster than the average person, especially when they are discussing something of strong interest to them.  That is certainly the case for me when I begin talking as fast as I can.

While a quicker speaking pace is not inherently problematic, it can make it very difficult for listeners to fully understand what the speaker is saying. When words are uttered in rapid succession without pauses in a fast-paced speech rate, the meaning can get lost. This ends up hindering clear communication. And since social skills and meaningful communication is already a challenge for individuals on the spectrum, speaking too fast only hurts us in making connections.

For those with autism who want to communicate their thoughts, ideas and needs more effectively, learning techniques to slow down their speech can be extremely beneficial. With conscious effort and consistency, including the advice of being “quick to listen slow to speak, ”it is possible for faster talkers to regulate their pace and be better understood.

This is an area I am constantly working on with my goal of being my very best self. I have to re-set my mindset of being annoyed that others don’t understand me, and realize that I can do more to be understood. I’ve also had to grapple with losing patience with others, realizing that my impatience with not being understood only hurts me in the end.

Here are some effective suggestions for controlling your talking pace, and I hope some of these may help other fast talkers as well.

7 Tips for Slowing Your Talking As Fast As I Can Tendencies

  1. Monitor Your Natural Pace of Talking Too Fast

    This is one I really try to utilize on a daily basis. Start by paying close attention to your typical speech tempo. You may not even realize you have a “talking as fast as I can” mentality.

    Set aside some time to record yourself talking. Listen back while focusing on your pace and cadence. Take note of areas where your speech seems hurried.

    You can also ask a close friend or family member to monitor your speaking speed when you are conversing with them. Have them discretely signal to you (perhaps with a gentle hand gesture) any time your words become rushed. Their feedback will help you recognize in real-time when you need to slow down instead of talking too fast.

    With consistent monitoring, you’ll gain greater awareness of your natural pace.

  1. Use a Timer or Metronome for Speech Rate

    Setting a timer or metronome (many phones have an app that can do this) to tick slowly can provide a steady rhythm for you to follow when speaking. Allow the consistent, paced tempo to guide your speech to a slower rate.

    Make sure to set the ticks slow enough to feel almost awkwardly slow at first. With practice, this slower rhythm will begin to feel more natural.

    Aim for around 2-3 ticks per second to start with. You can adjust the speed as needed. The goal is for the metronome tempo, not your speech, to dictate the pace. Let the ticks remind you to pause between sentences and thoughts and avoid speaking too fast.

    Avoid the urge to rush your words to “beat” the metronome. Remember that it is not a competition, and the goal is better communications. Allow it to stretch out your speech instead. 

  1. Record Yourself Reading Out Loud to Hear Yourself Speaking Too Fast

    Reading out loud is another great way to avoid speaking too fast and adopting a more comprehensive speech tempo. Pick an article, book, speech or other written material. Set a recording device nearby and read the text out loud at an even, slow pace. Speak clearly and take natural pauses between sentences and paragraphs.

    After you’re done, play back the recording and take notes on your pace and cadence. Identify any areas that sound rushed where you could slow your speech tempo down even more.

    Repeating this exercise is fantastic practice for getting comfortable speaking at a more measured tempo. It also helps train your mouth and vocal cords to move slower while speaking.

  1. Ask Someone to Give You Feedback

    Your speech rate greatly influences how well you communicate with others. Have a close friend, family member or speech coach provide real-time feedback as you practice speaking more slowly. As you are talking to them naturally, have them signal to you if your pace becomes rushed and unintelligible.

    This immediate input will help you recognize when you need to slow down in the moment.

    Make sure to practice this when talking about casual topics, not just scripted speeches. The feedback needs to be on your regular conversational speech patterns. Be sure to have them include your favorite topics of discussion as well.

    Don’t get frustrated if feedback indicates you are still talking too fast or are slurring your words and not enunciating properly.

    View their reminders positively as they are trying to help you become an even better communicator. Be sure that you are also adopting the quick to listen slow to speak response as well.

  1. Try Over-Enunciating Your Words to Avoid Your Tendency of ‘Talking As Fast As I Can’

    One technique that can naturally slow speech is over-enunciating your words. When you clearly pronounce and stress each syllable and sound, it forces you to slow down a bit. This is because it takes more mouth and vocal cord control to carefully enunciate instead of slurring sounds together in a hurry.

    Sometimes I do this with others, especially when I am losing patience, and while I admit it can come across somewhat “snarky” it isn’t meant to.

    Start by picking a few sentences. Read or say them out loud, but over-stress each syllable in a very exaggerated manner. For example, read the sentence “How are you today?” as “Howwww…aaaare…yoooouuuu…tooooodaaaay?” Drawing out all the syllables in this way makes it nearly impossible to speed talk.

    Practicing this over-enunciation in both scripted and conversational speech can help condition your mouth to move slower. Just be careful not to over-do it to the point of seeming condescending, like I sometimes appear.

  1. Allow Yourself Pauses Between Thoughts to Avoid Speaking Too Fast

    The speed of our speech often increases when we ramble from one thought or idea to the next without taking breaks. To slow your pace, remember to purposefully pause between sentences, main ideas and topics.

    Remember the practice of “quick to listen slow to speak.” These pauses give both you and the listener a moment to process the information before continuing.

    It understandably feels awkward at first to pause within a conversation. We’re conditioned to think it signifies confusion or forgetting our train of thought. However, brief pauses are completely natural, even for neurotypical speakers.

    Autistic individuals just tend to require the pauses more frequently in order to prevent speed talking. Allow yourself 3-5 seconds of silence to gather your next thoughts. It will begin to feel more natural with practice.

  1. Use Calming Strategies to Control Anxiety

    Many autistic individuals experience high anxiety during social situations and conversations. This anxiety can often accelerate speech patterns, resulting in rapid fire or pressured speech. By incorporating calming strategies, both prior to and during a conversation, you can help regulate emotions that influence speech pace.

    Deep breathing exercises are one of the easiest ways to reduce anxiety quickly. Take 5-10 long, slow breaths before and during a conversation to curb anxious energy and slow yourself down.

    Other options include listening to calming music, utilizing fidget toys, diffusing calming essential oils or employing positive visualization techniques right before a social interaction. The more regulated your emotions, the easier it will be to control your pace.

Additional Tips for Slowing Your Speech Rate

Below are some more tips that can help people on the autism spectrum learn to speak at a more moderate tempo:

  • Listen to audiobooks that are read at a slow, even pace and try to mirror that in your own speech. Exposure to slower speaking styles trains your brain over time.
  • When feeling rushed, take a few deep breaths before responding to intentionally slow yourself. Rushing is contagious, so resist the urge to match the hurried energy.
  • If you stutter or get tongue-tied when speaking too fast, use it as a reminder to slow down and properly enunciate. Stumbling over words is often a sign of an unsuitable pace.
  • Set a goal to leave 3-5 second gaps between responses in a conversation instead of immediately replying. This pause buys you needed processing time.
  • Speak a little quieter than your natural volume. Lower volume makes it hard to speed talk and helps you to overcome your talking as fast as I can mentality. You have to speak slower for listeners to hear you clearly.
  • Avoid caffeine, energy drinks or sugar before social situations as they can accelerate your heart rate and speech. Opt for calming teas or water instead.
  • Intentionally speak in incomplete sentences or fragments to force your brain to slow down. Just say the core idea, then wait before providing more. Keep repeating to yourself: Quick to listen slow to speak.
  • If you rehearse speeches or talking points, read them slowly and deliberately during practice. Don’t memorize a rapid-fire delivery.
  • Some people find that holding a small object like a worry stone helps them consciously slow down as they fidget with it while speaking.
  • Apps like SpeechTrainer use voice recognition to monitor and provide real-time feedback on your speech rate as you read passages aloud.

Be compassionate with yourself on days when your pacing feels impossible to control. Simply communicating openly is a success. With time, the strategies of avoiding talking too fast will start to click and become more natural. You’ve got this!

Be Patient and Celebrate Small Speech Improvements

Quick to listen slow to speak is a skill that can help you at work, in social environment, and even in gaming!Like any new skill, learning to speak more slowly and avoiding the tendency of “talking as fast as I can” will take time and consistency to master. It’s easy to get frustrated by occasional slip ups or impatience from listeners.

Be patient and compassionate with yourself throughout the process. Also proudly celebrate even small improvements in your speech rate. Every step in the right direction is progress!

Finally, remind family, friends, teachers, coworkers and others you converse with regularly to also be patient. Let them know you are actively working on slowing your speech and avoiding talking too fast so they better understand you.

Most will be supportive of your efforts. Offer gentle reminders as needed, and don’t let those unwilling to accommodate get you down. With continued techniques and encouragement, your communication abilities will only improve and you’ll be better at avoiding speaking too fast and enhancing comprehension overall.

I’d love to hear your comments about talking too fast and any tips you can offer to individuals with autism about these behaviors or mental health in general.

I hope we can connect.  Just leave a comment below, or feel free to email me directly at connor@myautismmind.com.

Other Common Autistic Behaviors

There are many behaviors associated with having autism. Keep in mind that everyone presents differently, which is why it is caused a spectrum disorder. However, there are common autism behaviors. Learn more about them. 

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Connor McClure

I'm a young adult navigating life with autism. By sharing my experiences and views, I hope to create a better awareness, understanding, and compassion for those on the spectrum. Let's connect!
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