Fear of speaking (laliophobia)

Laliophobia is a fear of speaking. It may show up as staying quiet in meetings, avoiding phone calls, or feeling the throat tighten when asked a direct question. For some people it is tied to a stammer or to worry about how their voice sounds.

About this phobia

Also written lalophobia, the term is linked to the Greek lalia, meaning speech or chatter. It is rarely used clinically and appears mostly on phobia lists. It overlaps with glossophobia, the far better known fear of public speaking, and with social anxiety.

What it feels like

• A dry mouth or tight throat before needing to speak
• Rehearsing sentences silently and then not saying them
• Letting others order, call or answer questions on their behalf

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is laliophobia the same as a fear of public speaking?

They are related but not identical. Fear of public speaking, or glossophobia, is about talking to an audience, while laliophobia can affect everyday speech, even one to one. Where a stammer is part of the picture, a speech and language therapist can help.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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