Trauma leaves a mark. The feeling of being ‘different’ or being thought of as
such, always leaves a mark. Multiple studies prove that children who stutter
[https://stamurai.com/blog/five-stuttering-exercises-to-help-your-child/] are at
a higher risk of bullying [https://stamurai.com/blog/reining-in-the-bullies/],
social exclusion, and negative perception of self. Such traumatic experiences
leave their scars. As adults who continue to stutter or who have recovered from
their disfluency, those early rejections and emotional violence color their
understanding of themselves and the world around them.

‘Black Sheep’ of the family
People who stutter have a genetic predisposition towards it or other speech
defects. 

Children born to a parent who stutters have a better understanding of their
condition and how to deal with it. 

However, for parents who don’t, the experience of raising a child who stutters
[https://stamurai.com/blog/parents-guide-to-help-child-who-stutters/] can be
challenging or frustrating. 

The condition is certainly not something that can be remedied by stern force or
intimidation. Neither do children who stutter respond well to parents who though
compassionate, don’t quite know what to do or how to address it. In either case,
the feeling of being ‘different’ or needing to be ‘fixed’ persists.

Distorted Sense of Self
As humans, we are heavily dependent on language and speech to communicate, form
bonds, and develop our own identities. 

With speech impediments like stuttering
[https://stamurai.com/blog/online-speech-therapy-for-stuttering/] comes a sense
of shame [https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/] 
at the inability to communicate or explain oneself adequately, along with a fear
of judgment and rejection. 

Some studies suggest that adults who stutter have internalized the negativity
and the disrespect and have begun to expect and accept it. 

When bad and rude behavior goes unchecked, because one has learned to live it,
trouble isn’t far behind.

Compromised Personal Relationships
A negative perception of self adversely affects one’s relationships with
friends, family, peers, and even intimate & romantic partners. 

The fear of rejection amongst people who stutter has pervasive effects on their
self-confidence which inadvertently affects their relationships. 

Moreover, misinformation or lack of information can create misleading
stereotypes that people who stutter constantly chafe against.

Mental Health Issues
The emotional and psychological
[https://stamurai.com/blog/adolescent-stuttering-psychological-impact/] strain
that dealing with their disfluency puts on people who stutter makes them prone
to depression [https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-depression/] and social
anxiety. 

The damaging assumption [https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-misconceptions/] 
that stuttering is a symptom of mental instability is wrong. Emotional fatigue,
low self-confidence, and social functioning are rather a product of such
destructive and misguided profiling of people with speech defects.

Silver Lining of the Cloud
Having dealt with dismissive or obstructive behavior from a young age, people
who stutter are extremely empathetic towards those who feel themselves to be
marginalized. 

It is their compassionate ability
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-life-lessons/] to pay attention to
everyone’s needs and abilities that make people who stutter loyal and resilient
friends, partners, and employees
[https://stamurai.com/blog/what-employers-should-know-about-candidates-who-stutter/]
. 

Each and every one of us is a myriad number of things and has varying ambitions,
interests, reactions, and emotions. How terrible to be defined or let our lives
be defined by a singular label?! For that label, the past, or someone’s
misinformed opinion dictates our present and misshape our future.

If you stutter, consider opting for online speech therapy for stuttering
[https://stamurai.com/blog/online-speech-therapy-for-stuttering/] as early as
possible. A cutting-edge speech therapy app [https://stamurai.com/] like
Stamurai can help you manage stuttering in numerous ways. 

Children who stutter can benefit a great deal from early intervention
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-in-childhood-early-intervention/]. Speech
therapy exercises for adults
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-exercises-for-adults/] and children
[https://stamurai.com/blog/five-stuttering-exercises-to-help-your-child] can now
be practiced at home.

The Lasting Effects of Stuttering

Did you know that over 70 million people worldwide stutter? That amounts to one
in 100. And in the US alone, there are over 3 million people who stutter. 

Stuttering will not fit into any one particular age group or time frame. Some
people stutter a little while some have more, some people have stuttering over a
longer time, while some stutter for a shorter duration. 

It can gradually develop over the years and can appear out of the blue
[https://stamurai.com/blog/the-unexpected-development-of-stuttering-in-adulthood/]
. There are many misconceptions and poor reputation about stuttering. But people
who have stuttering can live a very healthy and wholesome life. 

Read on more as we bust the 11 most popular misconceptions or myths associated
with stuttering.

Stuttering Misconception #1: Anxiety and Nervousness Cause Stuttering


Absolutely not! While stressing about situations can worsen stuttering, it is
not the root cause of it. Researchers are yet to find the exact reason for
stuttering but have linked it to be a more neurological issue.

Telling a person to relax or calm down, may affect them negatively, and puts an
increased pressure to speak normally. And children who have negative experiences
with peers, grow up to have a lot of insecurities. 

A little bit of encouragement and patience
[https://stamurai.com/blog/parents-guide-to-help-child-who-stutters/] can go a
long way in easing them into holding a good conversation.

Read: Different Approaches For Treating Preschool Kids Who Stutter
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-treatment-preschool-kids/]

Stuttering Misconception #2: Stuttering is Purely Psychological


If someone is genetically predisposed
[https://stamurai.com/blog/cellular-causes-of-stuttering-in-adults-and-children/] 
to stuttering, a constantly stressful environment at home and sudden changes can
precipitate a stutter. 

However, that is not reason enough to believe that stuttering is completely 
psychological
[https://stamurai.com/blog/is-stuttering-biological-or-psychological/].

Emotional factors are involved with stuttering, but they are not the primary
causes of the disorder. Anxiety and fear of talking and social situations can
develop in adolescents
[https://stamurai.com/blog/adolescent-stuttering-psychological-impact/] and
adults, who have been stuttering for a prolonged period.

So, psychological counseling
[https://stamurai.com/blog/psychotherapy-and-stuttering-treatment/] and 
cognitive behavioral therapy
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-and-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt/] 
(CBT) are parts of the stuttering therapy recommended for high-school children,
young adults, and adults who stutter.

Stuttering Misconception #3: People who Stutter Have Low IQ


This is one of the most blatant and common myths about stuttering. There is no
correlation between condition and intelligence.

Research conducted by the British Stammering Association reveals that people
have the ‘same range of intelligence’ irrespective of whether they stutter or
not.

They might be a little bit slow in conveying the message, but they are clear in
their thoughts.

People who stutter have gone on to become writers, actors, scientists, and even
politicians. Some of them are Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Marilyn
Monroe, Bob Love, and US President Joseph Biden
[https://stamurai.com/blog/joe-bidens-stutter-and-life/].

Stuttering Misconception #4: Kids will Outgrow Stuttering


Many adults and teenagers keep believing or hoping that one day they might
overcome this issue completely. That’s not always possible and gives false hope.

Usually, children between 18 months and 5 years start showing symptoms of
stuttering [https://stamurai.com/blog/what-is-stuttering/].

And if there is an early intervention
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-in-childhood-early-intervention/], through 
online speech therapy for stuttering
[https://stamurai.com/blog/online-speech-therapy-for-stuttering/] or a speech
therapy app like Stamurai [https://stamurai.com/], it can help them solve this
issue completely.

Sometimes, it can even go away on its own. But, for many, the symptoms do not
start until they are older (between 7 to 12), and it becomes difficult to
reverse them.

Stuttering Misconception #5:  Stuttering is a Result of Past Trauma


There have been instances where severe emotional and/or physical trauma has
caused stuttering in a person. These could have been examples of psychogenic
stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/neurogenic-stuttering-vs-psychogenic-stuttering/].

Psychogenic stuttering is rare and is typically seen in young adults or adults.

Children who stutter typically exhibit signs and symptoms of developmental
stuttering.

Developmental stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/causes-of-stuttering-in-adults/] coincides with the
child's rapid learning of new language skills. Recent research shows that
anomalies in brain structure and function predispose a child to stutter.

Stuttering Misconception #6: You Can ‘Catch’ Stuttering from Hearing Other
People


Again, definitely not. You cannot get stuttering by imitating or spending time
with a person who does. It is not the flu or fever.

This condition can be because of family dynamics, neuromuscular development,
genetics, and even their environment.

If your child is imitating the stuttering by talking to a family member/friend,
they will eventually be bored with it. But, if they do continue to stutter, it
might be because of their genes or anomalies in their brain
[https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200922-why-some-people-suffer-from-a-stutter]
structure.

Read: Stuttering In Adults: Treatment, Diagnosis, Symptoms & Causes
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-treatment-for-adults/] 

Stuttering Misconception #7: Bad Parenting is to Blame for Stuttering


Several people believe that stuttering is a result of emotional instability or
constant fighting at the home of a child. The truth is, stuttering has its cause
in the genes. And there is little parents can do to stop or alter genetic
expression.

Yes, undue stress, like watching parents fight a lot, or an overly competitive
household, can increase a child's stuttering, but stress can never cause a child
to stutter. Stuttering is NEVER the result of bad parenting.

Read: Best Stuttering Exercises To Help Your Child
[https://stamurai.com/blog/five-stuttering-exercises-to-help-your-child/]

Stuttering Misconception #8: It’s Okay to Complete Other Person’s Sentence


This is even more hurtful than asking them to take a deep breath before talking.

Dr. Drayna quoted, “Would you tell someone walking with a brace on their leg to
just walk better?”.

Similarly, you cannot complete the sentence on their behalf. This will affect
them by making them shy, hide their condition, and eventually become introverts.
Rather, understanding their condition can help them be open and assertive.

Read: For Parents: Steps To Help A Child Who Stutters
[https://stamurai.com/blog/parents-guide-to-help-child-who-stutters/]

Stuttering Misconception #9: Labeling a Child as ‘Someone who Stutters’ May
Worsen their Stutter


Stuttering cannot be made better or worse by identifying or labeling a child who
stutters.

Contrary to an infamous study that says otherwise, identifying someone who
stutters in their early years actually increases their chances of overcoming the
shame, fear, and anxiety related to stuttering.

Talking about stuttering openly can allow the child to learn more about speech
disfluency and speech disorders. It can allow them to grow as human beings and
not be defined by a speech disfluency.

Stuttering Misconception #10: Stuttering is Just a Bad Habit


Stuttering is not a habit. Chewing nails or cracking knuckles are habits!

Stuttering is an involuntary speech fluency disorder that a person cannot
control. Decades of research show that stuttering arises due to mutations in
multiple genes that cause multiple anomalies in the speech processing and
production centers of the brain.

Stuttering therapy involves weeks of intensive speech fluency techniques and
speech modification strategies, along with psychological counseling.

Admonishing someone for biting their nails may work, but scolding a child or
humiliating them for stuttering will only make them retreat from speaking.

Stuttering Misconception #11: PWS Always Stutter


Stuttering is not a binary condition. People who stutter (PWS) don't stutter
constantly or similarly all the time.

There may be times when a person doesn't stutter at all. These may include
instances like when they are talking alone
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/why-dont-we-stutter-when-talking-alone/], reading
out loud, or talking to a pet.

Then, there are people, who have become quite the perfectionist at hiding their
stutter.

They substitute words, avoid high-octane situations, and choose to remain quiet
to avoid stuttering. They practice covert stuttering and they mostly pass as
fluent!

Stuttering is a spectrum. Not everyone who stutters shows it at all times.
However, that does not make them "fake stutterers" or fluent.

Final Words


Stuttering is far more common and complex than you can imagine. 

But, when handled properly, given proper speech therapy, and practice sessions,
it is easily manageable and increases fluency. 

Check out our Stamurai app [https://stamurai.com/], which is a convenient way to
practice speech therapy whenever you want.

Read: Top Questions About Stuttering Treatment
[https://stamurai.com/blog/stuttering-treatment-faq/]

Stuttering: 11 Common Misconceptions Busted

An act of aggression need not be verbal or physical to be bullying. It can be a
vindictive, non-verbal act of condescension and intimidation. Silent knives cut
the deepest and as a child the cross of social and peer alienation is heavy
indeed to bear. As a child who stutters, social interactions in school and on
the playground are difficult as it is. But if further complicated by bullying
and teasing, it can make them retreat into a shell of loneliness and isolation.
As parents of children who stutter, these interactions can further frustrate the
progress you have made with your child in accepting their speech defect.

We can hope and envisage a future where children do not have to deal with the
trauma of bullying but as things stand now, we can’t eliminate bullying. We can,
however, empower children who stutter to respond with confidence to such crude
behavior. Parents and speech therapists can help stutterers acknowledge being
bullied and help diminish its adverse effects.

Acknowledge and Educate
Acceptance is the first step towards improvement. As parents of a child who
stutters, you must first acknowledge your child’s speech defect. Only through
your acceptance and encouragement will he/she acknowledge it and learn never to
be ashamed of it. Secondly, as parents, teachers or speech therapists of a child
who stutters, it is your job to provide a safe environment for the child to
admit that he/she is being teased or bullied.

Educating a young child about his/her stutter and how it is simply a result of
their genetics and in no way their fault is extremely important. As teachers in
a classroom setting, it is important to educate the other students about
stuttering and speech defects. This reduces the confusion and sense of
alienation that surrounds it and can reduce bullying. It certainly helps the
young child feel as though he/she can confide in their teacher without fear of
ridicule.

Seek Help
It takes a village to raise a child, especially if the child is highly
intelligent and sensitive as most children with speech defects tend to be.
Trained and experienced speech therapists who work with young children can
notice and recognize signs of bullying. Teachers can notice a child’s inclusion
in his/her peer group. As parents of a child who stutters or stammers, it is
important to build a healthy social network amongst the various adults who play
significant roles in your son/daughter’s life. Lead by example and surround your
child with self-assured adults who value his/her opinions. Build his/her
self-esteem and arm your child with the tools to face the harsh realities of
life.

Humor as a weapon
Bullies are cowards at heart. And the best way to deal with a coward or display
his/her cowardice is with humor. Speech therapists and parents can work with
children and teach them how to use wit as a weapon. Humor can help a child who
stutters overcome his natural shyness in social interactions and handle peer
pressure better.

Reining in the Bullies

Case 1
Ever since he was a child, he was aware of his stuttering. So much so, that
whenever his parents took him to a pool party for neighbourhood kids or a
birthday party, he could feel his chest tighten and breathing stop. Saying his
own name in front of a bunch of strangers was always the worst! His lips would
twist, his face would scrunch up and throat would close as he tried to let the
first syllable flow out of his mouth.

On such days, lying in bed at night, he would dream about a future when he would
have completely fluent and “normal” speech as an adult. He was aware that almost
all the role models of his life – Bruce Willis and James Earl Jones had one
thing in common – they no longer struggled with stuttering. So he had hoped that
his stutter would disappear magically once he reached adulthood.

Little did he know that the fear of speaking in front of strangers and the
anticipation of a block would chase him through high school into college and
well into his professional life. As he grew older, his aversion increased and
then followed the overwhelming shame of not being able to say the most common
words even 3-year-olds could say without thinking twice.

He shut himself up. Began working from home. Limited communication to emails and
messages, and avoided phone calls altogether. Going out for groceries and paying
bills was just too much! So he chose to get all essentials delivered at his
doorstep and paid bills online.

He had always been suspicious of speech therapists and self-help groups. At 31,
he prefers to live alone, hide away from gatherings and has dedicated his life
to working from his home. On some nights, he still wonders about a magic pill or
potion that can cure stuttering overnight. On other nights he fantasizes about
how his life would turn out without stuttering.

Case 2
She was a bright and outgoing kid who was never afraid of new adventures. She
was chatty and always at the top of her class. Her speech disfluencies never
seemed to get in the way of her achievements till she was out of middle school.

In high school, she quickly realized that speaking differently was a quick
ticket for a one- person lunch table in one corner! She was a smart kid, so it
didn’t take her long to understand that getting stuck on every day-words can
make one the attention of bullies.

She began suppressing her emotions and her stutter. In fact, she made a list of
all the words that she was afraid of and avoided saying them at all costs. She
pretended to not know the answer when the teacher called her up to the board.
Her grades dropped quickly, but she was successful in hiding her stutter almost
completely.

She was so good at it that her parents weren’t even aware that she was still
stuttering. She was superbly covert and stuttering was indeed a foreign concept
to her because she refused to accept her speech disfluency. Her shame kept her
from accepting the help she needed years ago for a speech disorder that affects
7 million people across the globe.

Instead, she found herself sinking deeper into despair, fear and the stress that
comes from hypervigilance. It wasn’t until her 23 rd birthday when she found
herself at the office of a psychological counsellor that she finally found the
courage to face the fear that had been chasing her since her early teens.

Her counsellor helped her accept her speech disfluency and helped her get in
touch with a renowned speech therapist. Along with regular therapy, and practice
she is now able to steer clear of the hyper-vigilance that almost ruined her
life.

She is now able to understand that the journey for advanced stuttering towards
fluency is a long one. However, she no longer feels the necessity to hide her
stutter. Yes, she still stutters! But she does so with flair and confidence. She
has found new friends through support groups and she has found happiness since
she shunned her avoidance and escape behaviours.

At 28, she has earned a second master’s degree in clinical psychology and she is
successfully using her experience with the shame she had experienced as an
adolescent and a young adult to guide others towards recovery.

Decoding Shame: our response to trauma
Trauma doesn’t have to be physical or life-threatening. The very fear of losing
the respect of our peers or having adults think anyone who stutters is less
intelligent than their classmates or friends is sometimes enough to contribute
to a life-long trauma. Like in Case 2, feeling different from the others and the
fear of being singled out by bullies was enough to drive the person into a
shell!

For many who stutter, trauma exists on a wide spectrum and doesn’t stem from a
particular incident only. The inability to communicate or use the very words we
want to use create repeated experiences of trauma. And this is true for both
children and adults.

One should not think that going into speech-language therapy will absolve them
of the shame (in case they are feeling it) instantly. Since the shame is only a
reflection of the trauma, sometimes, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is must
alongside speech therapy to face the trauma. Only then can a person rid
themselves of the shame that may come from it.

Bidding adieu to shame
Stuttering is nothing to be ashamed of. Yet the shame of stuttering can manifest
in different psychological and physical forms, which are mostly negative coping
mechanisms for the individual.

Speech therapy and CBT are extremely helpful, but advanced stuttering typically
comes with complex secondary behaviours (avoidance and escape). Self-awareness
and honesty are the two most important factors that can help you on your path to
freedom from shame.

Apart from sleeping well, eating well and taking care of your health, you will
need to put in an extra bit of effort to recover from the effects of the trauma.
We have seen that mindfulness practices like yoga, breathing exercises and
meditation always help in catalysing the progress of an individual on the path
to recovery.

Stamurai is a speech therapy app that can help you will regular speech
exercises. You can also find the latest findings on yoga, meditation and
breath-work that can help you with your fluency. Apart from being regular with
your therapist’s appointments, you can turn to similar speech therapy apps to
accelerate your healing process.

Share your story!
We know how difficult and daunting it can be for you to go out there and tell
your story on a forum filled with strangers. That’s precisely why Stamurai has a
video conferencing mode which will put you in touch with others who have
struggled with stuttering. You can share your stories and find inspiration where
you least expect it!

Across the world, there are several stuttering associations, support groups
(online and in real-life setups) and discussion forums that can genuinely help
you find people, who care. You can even ask your SLP for the location and
timings of support groups in your area. Support is crucial for fighting shame
successfully. People who stutter often cite support as an important factor on
their path to self-improvement and fluency.

Of course! There’s a side effect – you might end up with a bunch of life-long
friends.

If you feel ready, you can go ahead and share your story with us. Write to us at
speechtherapy@stamurai.com

Stuttering in Children : Understanding Shame

Stuttering is classified as a speech disorder. People who stutter usually repeat
sounds, syllables, and words. Or they tend to have uneven speech rate or have
difficulty in communicating thoughts in a flow. It is more common than you
think, and about 70 million people worldwide get affected by the same. About 5%
of children stutter at some point, and from that, 1 in 5 will stutter in their
adulthood.

Stuttering can become a hindrance to daily life. Traditionally, only speech
therapy was used in treating stuttering. Over time, there have been treatments
like psychological counseling, assistive devices, and prescription medication,
which are less effective than speech therapy. Speech therapy involves changing
their breathing patterns, controlling the speaking rate, pausing when necessary,
practicing word lists, and reading aloud. A lot of times, speech therapy can be
really beneficial for children and adults, but then the relapse happens.

It is really devastating when relapse happens. If you are one among the people
who got relapsed or seeing your loved one go through, have you wondered the
reasons?

 * Failing to Practice: Speech therapy can be taken from an experienced and
   certified practitioner. But the time given by them is limited and can be an
   expensive affair, whether you are paying from your own pocket or your
   insurance. The ideal thing is to learn the techniques, come back home, and
   practice every single day. Our Stamurai app helps you keep up the practice
   with different sets. And, you can set a reminder which works for you, or
   better yet, we shall send you reminders anyways.

 * Lack of Motivation and Interest: Speech therapy does not work like magic for
   stuttering. It is a long process of learning and practicing. But, without
   proper motivation or the thought of doing the same thing over and over again
   for a prolonged time, can make one lose interest. To fight it, try and make
   it interesting. You can try playing while practicing like shooting hoops or
   solving a puzzle. And, if you want to keep your interest in children, then
   make it an adventure game. Pair an activity you love that does not need too
   much focus with speech therapy to keep it light.

 * Lack of Self-Correction and Monitoring: When not in a professional setting or
   guided by professionals, sometimes what you think is right can be a wrong way
   to do it. But this is a strange territory, as worrying too much also does not
   do any good. Only way is to strike a balance by seeing you are on track on
   and off. Also, it is always good idea to include new things or phrases to
   increase your confidence level.

These three are very crucial if you want your speech therapy to be a success.
But one must remember that other factors that contributes to failure as well.
Such as:

 * Gender: According to research done in 1983, females who have stuttering
   problem recovered, and was able to maintain success than male.

 * Genetics: Family history matters in the outcome of the treatment. People who
   have stuttering in their family history have high chances of relapse.

 * Relationship with Support Group and Therapist: If you do not have a good
   relationship with your therapist, do not hesitate to look for another. Or if
   your support group is not as supportive, it is time to give up and look for a
   different group.

 * Neurological Load: Whether it is kids, teens, or adults, everyone is burdened
   with their set of jobs to do apart from the practice. So, most of the time
   they are worn out before starting practice.

Check out our Stamurai App that can be downloaded for Android and Apple devices.
It is easy to use, simple, and makes practice fun. We also have incorporated a
tracker, which will hold you responsible for the amount of practice, just like
your fitness trackers. Have any questions? Talk to us at support@stamurai.com!

High Relapse After Stuttering Speech Therapy : Understanding the reason

A genetic pre-disposition along with various neurophysiological reasons are
attributed as the cause or onset of stuttering. The speech impediment in most
cases presents itself early, usually between the ages of two and five years. A
significant amount of research has been done to study and treat stuttering in
infants and children. Speech therapists are trained to understand and guide
children who stutter through both the technical and emotional aspects of
disfluency.

However, not much is discussed about the sudden onset of speech impediments in
adult or senior (over 55 years) individuals. There can a number of reasons for
the disfluency besides a family history of it.

Changes in Brain Structure
Trauma in form of a stroke or aneurysm can alter brain structure and
motor-neuron pathways. The part of the brain that controls how language is
processed and speech formulated when damaged causes disfluency. A concussion
caused by a fall or head injury can lead to structural changes in the human
brain.

Degenerative Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders that over time damage multiple brain functions like
Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Epilepsy are cause the
onset of stuttering and other speech impediments in adults. It makes it
extremely difficult to form, arrange, and speak words. This form of the
disfluency can range from not being able to verbalize words to an inability to
construct a sentence.

Changes in Medicines
With age come a plethora of ailments and an equally high concentration of
pharmaceuticals to combat them. A negative reaction of one or more of these
medications can be changes in speech patterns, diction, and fluency.

Drug Abuse
The abuse of narcotics like heroin, cocaine, and LSD can cause trauma and
deoxygenation in the brain leading to the onset of disfluency. Abusing and
overdose of barbiturates (medicines that treat seizures, headaches, and
seizures) can also traumatize the brain and lead to speech impediments.

Emotional Trauma
Anxiety, depression, and emotional distress brought on by increasing financial
pressures, uncertainty and fear about one’s mortality, confusion, loss of memory
and autonomy can trigger impairment in self-expression. The sudden onset of
stuttering due to underlying psychological distress isn’t exactly sudden and
occurs with a genetic history of the impediment.

Age has emerged as one of the strongest factors of risk for speech defects. The
accumulated evidence suggests that stuttering when it develops later in life is
both persistent, aggravated and difficult to recover from. More can be learnt
about persistent stuttering by studying the adults afflicted by a sudden onset
of stuttering that continues into advanced years. The differences between these
cases and those of young children can help understand the impediment more
extensively.

The Unexpected Development of Stuttering in Adulthood

Stuttering is a complex disorder. It is variable.

You may have noticed that sometimes your child stutters more than usual, while
at other times s/he might sound fluent.

You must have realized that stuttering in teens is involuntary.

The intensity of stuttering in teens can vary with the level of stress, anxiety,
fear, or even physical fatigue.

However, since your child is already in teenage, you should know that it is
almost impossible for them to “grow out of it.”

An adolescent who stutters should receive speech therapy and practice speech
exercises [__GHOST_URL__/five-stuttering-exercises-to-help-your-child/] to
become more fluent in his/her speech.

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]Causes of Stuttering in Teens
The first thing you must remember is that stuttering is not a sign of low
intelligence. Secondly, your child’s stuttering isn’t your fault.

Here are some of the scientifically proven causes of stuttering
[https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935336&section=Causes#Stuttering] 
in teens –

Stuttering Cause #1 in Teens: Genetics
Scientists have linked [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370225/] 
multiple genes to speech disfluencies. Children of parent(s) who stutter are
indeed more likely to stutter.

Stuttering has nothing to do with how a child is raised.

It is just like any other genetic condition that may or may not pass down from
one generation to another.

Since these genes are connected to language processing & production, auditory
processing, and other similar functions, there is currently no medical cure
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-medicine/]for stuttering.

Teenage stuttering treatments [__GHOST_URL__/treatment-for-stuttering/] that
include speech therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may work wonders
for an adolescent child struggling with speech disfluency and self-confidence.

Stuttering Cause #2 in Teens: Differences in Brain Structure & Function
Existing research suggests
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4233907/] that people who stutter
(PWS) have structural abnormalities in the Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area –
the two areas associated with language processing and production in the brain.

The areas connecting the two are also different in both structure and function.

Brain imaging studies have also revealed anomalies in the areas associated with
auditory processing.

The fiber tracts connecting areas responsible for language, speech, and auditory
activities are also less dense.

A recent study shows
[https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/brain-cells-underlying-stuttering-identified-mice] 
that the corpus callosum that connects the right hemisphere with the left in PWS
has fewer astrocytes.

The structural differences in the brain create functional differences that
result in stuttering.

Stuttering Cause #3 in Teens: Family History
When children continue to stutter into their teens, they will likely stutter in
their adulthood, unless they get speech therapy.

In such cases, scientists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have noted
that one or more members of the family (related by blood) of the teens also
stutter.

Stuttering is often familial
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/genetic-and-neurological-factors-stuttering#:~:text=Genetics%20and%20Stuttering&text=The%20evidence%20for%20genetic%20factors,are%20more%20likely%20to%20stutter.]
and it should prompt you to seek the advice of an SLP before your teenager’s
stuttering becomes worse.

Stuttering Cause #4 in TeensEnvironment
Children who are already susceptible to stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/what-is-stuttering/] due to genetic or familial factors often
react to a drastic change in their environment with stuttering.

Changes may include moving to a new neighborhood, changing schools, separation
of parents, or the birth of a new sibling.

These changes only precipitate a stutter in children between the ages of
approximately 2 and 4 years old if they have a predisposition.

According to experts like Dr. Van Riper and Dr. Barry Guitar, the environmental
factors interact with
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225289735_Genetic_and_environmental_effects_on_stuttering_A_twin_study_from_Finland] 
genetic factors to produce stuttering.

Although high-octane situations like a viva voce, class presentation, or talking
to a new person may worsen the symptoms, emotions are NOT the cause of
stuttering.

In fact, stuttering is not the disorder itself. The symptoms result in
structural differences in the brain.

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]How to Talk to a Teen Who Stutters
A teenager who stutters already knows that s/he sounds different from their
fluent peers.

They already have access to the web and other sources of information where they
can learn about speech disfluencies.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to learn the correct facts about
stuttering and guide your teenage child in the right direction.

Although a teenager who stutters is likely to speak less, even to his/her
parents, you should ensure that your child feels safe talking to you and sharing
with you.

That is the first step towards establishing two-way communication with your
teenage child.

Here are 5 things you can follow to strengthen your communication with a
stuttering child –

1. Learn More about Stuttering
You already know about the causes of stuttering.

Next, learn more about how stuttering affects a teenager’s life.

Studies show that stutter affects
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330549548_Self-esteem_and_anxiety_in_stuttering_children_and_attitude_of_their_parents]
an adolescent’s performance in school, social life, and public-speaking
situations.

A child may face bullying [__GHOST_URL__/reining-in-the-bullies/]or teasing in
school because of stuttering but not share it with their teachers or parents due
to embarrassment.

A study on teenagers who stutter by Keylonda Granger, John A. Tetnowski, the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, & Jim McClure, Albuquerque, NM, indicated
that their stuttering had more impact on their lives than their parents
fathomed.

Sadly, during the teenage years, the impact of stuttering may be the greatest.
However, during these years, parental involvement in therapy and CBT is
typically the lowest.

2. Talk To Your Child about Stuttering
As a teenager, your child already has tons of new feelings to deal with.

So make it easier by talking to him/her directly about the causes and effects of
stuttering.

However, make sure they are willing to talk and you are not pushing them out of
their comfort zone.

It may take time, but they will gradually open up. Teenagers are not the most
communicative or easy to talk to, and we get that!

You have to be superbly patient while trying to create a safe space
[https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Parenting-Preparing-For-Adolescence-056.aspx] 
where they can spontaneously talk and share about stuttering.

Make sure your child knows s/he is not alone in this struggle. Share credible
sources of inspirational stories
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/joe-biden-stuttering-journey-and-struggles/], career options, and
positive therapy results with them.

3. Empower Your Child
Empowering a teenager is not easy, especially when social media and popular
media sets unrealistic standards for them.

To empower your child, begin by reinforcing that stuttering is not a defect. It
is also not a limitation.

You can seek the help of a professional counselor and SLP to help your child
regain lost confidence. Empowering your kid will help him/her embrace their
stutter.

Embracing one’s speech disfluency can empower him/her to believe in his/her own
decisions later in life as well.

4. Choose the Right Therapy
While your teenage son/daughter may be old enough to choose the weekend movies
or dinner, choosing the right therapy and therapist is still your
responsibility.

Look for speech therapists in your area. Check their reviews online. Search for
recommendations. You may get some help from the school authorities or the
appointed counselor at your child’s educational institute.

Combining speech therapy with CBT
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-and-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt/] can be
efficient in decreasing one’s stutter and reducing one’s fear of stuttering.

You can also help your teenager use a speech therapy app such as Stamurai
[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb], available for both Android
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stamurai.stamurai&hl=en] and 
Apple [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stamurai-stuttering-treatment/id1488071175] 
devices that combines fluency shaping and stuttering modification techniques.

Stamurai speech therapy app is already used by thousands of teenagers around the
world. Many teenagers and adults have been able to significantly reduce their
stuttering with this app.

5. Stay Connected
Today, you can find websites and pages dedicated to parents of teenagers who
stutter.  Join these groups to find out more on the latest information on
stuttering.

You can learn about new research, therapy techniques, and technology that can
help your child stutter less.

Sign up for newsletters from the likes of the National Stuttering Association (
NSA [https://westutter.org/], US), Stuttering Foundation
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/], The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY
[http://say.org]), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA
[https://www.asha.org/]).

Attend webinars on stammering and related topics.

Read up published research and authentic material to keep yourself updated on
stuttering treatments and opportunities for children who stutter.

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]Is It Normal to Stutter During Puberty?
If you or your loved one has been stuttering since childhood, then stuttering
during puberty is nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary. However, if the
signs of stuttering have appeared suddenly without any history of speech
disfluency, you need to act fast.

 The sudden occurrence of stuttering during puberty may be because of one or
more of these factors -

 Neurogenic

Traumatic brain injury including concussions, brain tumors, neurodegenerative
diseases and even cerebral strokes can lead to stuttering in teens. Damage to
the areas of the brain responsible for language processing and speech formation
can cause the sudden incidence of stuttering in teens. The attention of
neurologists and other medical professionals may be necessary if the teen’s
stuttering turns out to be neurogenic in nature.

 Psychogenic

 An individual may begin stuttering suddenly after a traumatic event or
prolonged psychological/emotional turmoil. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
is known to cause stuttering in a few instances. In such cases, psychological
counseling, psychotherapy and CBT may be necessary to address the root of their
speech disfluency.

 Pharmacogenic

 Have you or your teenager started taking a new medicine? Some medicines,
especially the psychoactive ones, have the side effect of inducing speech
disfluencies. Even some antidepressants that do not typically have profound side
effects may cause stuttering in a small percentage of the population. Speak to
your doctor and a speech therapist if you think your medicines may be
contributing to your stuttering or making it worse!

The Take-away Message
Being a parent is a colossal task, but being a teen isn’t exactly easy either.

While you have to deal with your own feelings of anxiety, protectiveness, and
fear for your child, you will also have to be strong for him/her.

You may consider talking to the counselor of your child to see if s/he can help
you with your emotional and mental wellbeing as well.

In the meantime, be supportive.

Talk to your child openly about stuttering and keep educating yourself on the
complex disorder and the ways you can help your teenage son/daughter.

Teenage Stuttering: How Can Parents Help

Being a millennial has its perks, but access to speech therapy right when we
began stuttering wasn’t one of them. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) weren’t
very common back in the late 80s and early 90s.

If a child began stuttering, his/her parents either ignored it or tried to treat
it at home. Taking children to the SLP for speech dysfluencies wasn’t common
practice back then.

I grew up in a bustling city, yet my parents never deemed it necessary to seek
the help of an SLP or a cognitive behavioral therapist when I was a child. They
did ask their friends and friends-of-friends who were aware of the ongoing
research on speech dysfluencies and received the advice to ignore my stutter.

So, that’s how it was. My parents and extended family knew I stuttered, but no
one really spoke about it. Since none of my cousins stutter, I often felt like I
was alone in my suffering. Stuttering and fear
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728710/] shared a strong bond in
my mind.

Only when I was in high school and already in my teens, I sought and received
speech therapy [__GHOST_URL__/treatment-for-stuttering/]. I shall always be
thankful for it since it has helped shape who I am today and given me a voice. I
won’t say I don’t stutter. I do stutter, a lot, sometimes, but speech therapy
has taught me that stuttering and shame need not go hand-in-hand.

Breaking the Bond between Stuttering and Fear
You stutter. And that’s alright. It bothers you. And that’s alright too because
you are here to look for a solution.

You can begin your search by locating the right resources. The resources can be
professional SLPs, self-help groups for speech dysfluencies or apps/websites
dedicated to people who stutter (PWS).

Since there are more SLPs available online and in person, you have a better
chance at therapy [__GHOST_URL__/how-to-stop-stuttering/] than I had when I was
young. If someone has told you that speech therapy doesn’t work for adults, this
is your chance to prove them wrong!

Most importantly, now you have apps like Stamurai
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stamurai-app-to-stop-stuttering/] that provide speech therapy in
the comforts of your home. You can consult professional SLPs and practice your
speech exercises regularly while at home or during your lunch break.

As long as you have a smartphone, you will have access to speech therapy.

Taking Account of the Challenges of Stuttering
The next step is taking stock of your dysfluencies. Stuttering is heterogeneous
[https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/understanding-mystery-stuttering-0]
. Repetitions, blocks, and prolongations may characterize stuttering, but each
person who stutters has a different list of feared words.

For example, “stuttering” itself was a feared word
[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/word-less/201904/feared-words-and-free-words] 
for me. While you may say it fluently only to get stuck on “language” or
“pathologist”.

What’s your story? Before we can explore the different ways you can potentially
overcome stuttering-related insecurity
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/message-stutterer], we need to explore your
story. So, get a journal and begin writing the answers to the following
questions –

 * How has stuttering influenced my life and life choices?
 * What have I given up for stuttering?
 * How much am I willing to spend to get professional help for my stuttering?
 * Who will support my decision to get help from an SLP? Who wouldn’t and why?
 * Have I received help to improve my speech fluency?
 * What has worked in favor of my speech fluency and what hasn’t?
 * Who criticizes my stuttering and why?
 * Am I ready to take the full responsibility of seeking help for my speech
   dysfluency even though I might not become 100% fluent?

Even if the answer to the last question is a “no”, it doesn’t mean you are weak.
It means you possibly need the help of an SLP
[https://speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114:findslpslt&catid=11:admin&Itemid=122] 
on your journey towards fluency and you are not ready to undertake the
responsibility entirely on your own.

Reducing the Burden of Stuttering and Fear
If your answer’s “yes”, then it’s time to move on to the next step – reducing
the burden.

Just for this step, ignore the feelings and attitudes that come bounding once
you think about stuttering. Try to cover things you actually do, such as –

 * I repeat the first syllable of every hard word at least six times.
 * I always blink when I stutter.
 * I can’t make eye contact with the person I’m talking to.
 * I am terrified of public speaking.
 * I become easily frustrated while talking on the phone.
 * I don’t receive calls or leave voice messages.

It should be a straightforward list of actions you take
[https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Childhood-Fluency-Disorders/Characteristics-of-Typical-Disfluency-and-Stuttering/]] 
while talking. It’s a necessary step towards overcoming your fear and insecurity
stemming from stuttering.

Overcoming the Stuttering Challenges – One Step at a Time
The list should show you exactly what is keeping you from doing things you would
love to do including meeting new people, talking to someone at any time of the
day, and even leaving voice messages.

Initially, it might feel awkward or, even, weird, but it becomes easier with
practice. Here are a few techniques that have helped me despite not receiving
professional therapy for years –

Making eye contact
Most listeners don’t know how to react to your stutter. You may find them to be
fidgety or distracted.

They are simply wary about making eye contact. It is not always a sign of
disrespect.

You can put them at ease by making eye contact.

Stutter on purpose
You should try this one. Begin stuttering on simpler, monosyllabic words. For
example “I cuh-cuh-cuh-cuh-uh-not (real) spuh-uh-uh-speak (fake) without
stu-uh-uh-uh-uh-ttering (real)”

It’s like a game, but one that gives you a sense of control. Instead of focusing
on NOT stuttering, you should focus on trying to stutter deliberately
[https://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad8/papers/reitzes8.html]. Repeat this around
20-times per day.

See if listeners can tell the difference between your real and faked stuttering.
Doing this put me at ease with myself. After all, people expected me to stutter,
so I was providing them with a few extra instances of stuttering.

Speak to strangers
Go up to strangers with a simple line, such as “pardon me, what’s the time?” or
“when does the next bus to XYZ leave?”

Tell them explicitly that you stutter. You will be surprised to see how many of
them actually listen to you patiently and don’t mock at all.

Going out and interacting with strangers
[https://stutteringtreatment.org/7-ways-feel-comfortable-talking-stuttering-others/] 
can boost your confidence to say what you want, whenever you want and to
whomever you want!

Challenge yourself
Do things you normally wouldn’t do.

Go to a Starbucks and place your order verbally instead of using the app. Give
an order at a drive-through. Leave a voicemail for your friends. Volunteer at
your workplace or school for giving a presentation.

Transitioning to this step might take weeks if not months, and that is perfectly
fine. Our goal is to NOT overcome stuttering but to embrace it as a part of who
we are and overcome the insecurity that stuttering has imbibed within us.

Change the Way You Stutter
Once you significantly reduce the burden, you will be talking more, socializing
more, and taking more chances. You may even consider making a new career move or
joining a college course that requires you to talk a lot more.

You will find that although you are more outgoing in comparison, you still
stutter significantly. Now, that’s alright too. Stuttering is a part of who we
are.

If you want to become a more effective communicator, you should think about 
changing the way you perceive
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/changing-the-perception-about-stuttering-5-tips-for-talking-to-someone-who-stutters/] 
your stutter instead of looking for a cure for stuttering. The first step to
achieving it is by not trying to NOT stutter.

In our effort to hide our stutter we have picked up habits like blinking, lip
twitching, raising eyebrows, rapid and shallow breathing, and head jerking. It’s
time to say “goodbye” to these habits and adopt a new viewpoint.

Stutter all you like and all you can, but do so smoothly.

Make the prolongations unforced and the repetitions slow. Don’t hold your breath
and don’t try to breathe rapidly and slowly. Take a deep breath and make strange
sounds to overcome a block!

It may sound strange, but it’s not stuttering. You are in complete control of
the sounds you make and the words that leave your mouth. This is what SLPs refer
to as “stuttering more fluently”.

If you are able to stutter more fluently, you will be able to shorten your
stutters and simplify your repetitions.

The Final Few Words on Overcoming Insecurities Related to Stuttering
Stuttering is not a habit. It is a symptom of a neurobiological condition
reinforced by emotional and environmental factors.

However, rapid blinking, twitching, head jerking, and shallow breathing are
habits that we have picked up
[https://speech.steinhardt.nyu.edu/blog/anticipation-stuttering/] over several
years of dedicatedly trying to avert stuttering.

Since old habits die hard, we need you to not give up
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/high-relapse-after-stuttering-speech-therapy-understanding-the-reason/]
.

You should practice deliberate stuttering at least once a day initially, and
once a week after you attain noticeable fluency. You should keep working on your
speech without trying to avoid stuttering.

In the next few years, your goal should be to modify your stuttering so that
speaking is less of a hassle for you.

You are your own master and you are in control of your stutters.

You don’t have to be fluent like the majority of your friends and family.

You need to be you – complete with your blocks, repetitions, and prolongations.

Don’t practice fluency. Practice stuttering. Regularly.

How To Overcome Stuttering Related Insecurity

The beginning of the school year is an exciting and happy time.

For young students who stutter (CWS), however, it can also be a time of anxiety
and fear. It is especially difficult for a child if s/he is the only one who
stutters in their grade.

The information on stuttering is readily available today. Still, only a handful
of teachers know how to support a stuttering student
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/teachers-guide-to-helping-stuttering-student/].

Stuttering is a complex speech disorder and every person stutters differently
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/understanding-degrees-of-stuttering-severity/]. So, you might
think that putting a stuttering kid at ease is difficult.

Well, that’s not the case.

No matter how severe the condition, you CAN work with a stuttering student.

Here in this post, we will shed light on the top nine ways teachers can work
with students who stutter.

1. Let Them Know That “It’s Okay to Stutter”
Sounds pretty basic, right?

Well, when a child refuses to participate in a discussion or oral quiz, simply
telling them that stuttering in class is alright can help allay their fears.

Some stuttering kids will avoid answering questions.

So, they may pretend to not know the answer to avoid speaking in front of the
entire class.

Let them know that it’s the content of their speech that matters and not how
they say it.

2. Foster Good Communication
Set a good example
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/notes-teacher-child-who-stutters-school] as the
teacher.

Maintain eye contact with a kid who trips on some words or phrases. It should be
comfortable and natural.

Try to speak at a relaxed pace. Good communication includes not rushing the
child.

Do not finish their sentences.

You should also not speak on their behalf. Let them answer questions and
participate in group discussions.

3. Treat Students Who Stutter Like Every Other Kid In Class
You should expect the same level of dedication and performance
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/the-positive-aspects-of-stuttering/] from CWS as you do from your
other students.

Allowing CWS to opt-out of presentations or oral tasks may encourage avoidance
behavior.

You can, by all means, offer help during the preparatory phase.

Before a stuttering student begins speaking, you can request the class to be
quiet and patient.

4. Make Small Changes
Many of us still suffer from anxiety and self-doubt when we have to present in
front of an audience.

Stage fright is something most of us have experienced at some point in our
lives.

For CWS, stuttering or stammering adds an extra layer of the anxiety to stage
fright.

Allow them 5 to 10 minutes of extra to finish their speech.

Encourage voluntary communication and discourage quick call-out answers.

You can adopt a random pattern of turn selection for students to reduce the
anticipation among CWS.

5. Inform Other Students
Talk to the child who stutters in your class first. Find out if it is alright to 
discuss their stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/] in front of their
classmates.

Tell the class to not be impatient when a child who stutters is speaking. Stop
others from finishing their sentences.

Urge students to support and not mock someone who stutters.

Set up a model wait-time. Make it a practice to wait around 2 seconds to answer
a question. Don’t reward students based on who answers the fastest.

6. Talk About Stuttering And Bullying
Introduce life stories of inspirational personalities
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/famouspeople] like Charles van Riper, Joe Biden,
Ed Sheeran, and James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) to normalize speech
disfluencies.

Let your students ask questions freely about stuttering and its effects.

Talking more about stuttering is the only way to destigmatize it.

Let everyone know that stuttering doesn’t make
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/changing-the-perception-about-stuttering-5-tips-for-talking-to-someone-who-stutters/] 
a child any less capable or less intelligent.

Make your class a no-bullying zone. Foster an inclusive environment for all
students.

Every child needs a safe space to be themselves.

Let your class become that safe zone for everyone, including the kid who
stutters.

7. Offer Additional Support
Sometimes, children don’t speak up even when they know the answer. That may be
because they are conscious of how they sound.

It can affect their overall performance.

You can become the source of additional support
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/faqs-teachers] for CWS.

You don’t have to be a speech therapist or a speech-language pathologist in
order to be a good listener.

Let your actions show that you care.

A word of encouragement and a positive attitude can make a world of difference.

A child who constantly struggles to express what they think and feel needs all
the support they can get.

Seek permission from their parents to introduce them to an anti-stuttering phone
app like Stamurai [https://stamurai.app/0F5N64cpm5].

Children can become more fluent and confident in communicating through exercises
and techniques.

Yes, a speech therapy app [__GHOST_URL__/stamurai-app-to-stop-stuttering/] can
make a real difference.

8. Don’t Offer Unsolicited Advice
For a stuttering student, nothing’s worse than hearing a teacher repeat “slow
down” or “take a deep breath.”

You might think you are being helpful when you offer such advice.

However, it’s beyond annoying
[https://isad.isastutter.org/isad-2018/papers-presented-by/stories-and-experiences-with-stuttering-by-pws/stuttersplaining-nina-g/] 
to someone who has stuttered for as long as they can remember.

They have heard such advice thousands of times.

They already know that such advice does not work.

By offering such advice while a student is talking, you are merely interjecting.
It may distract them from the topic.

Such incorrect and untimely advice can also leave them frustrated if you don’t
let them finish their sentences.

9. Foster a Positive Learning Environment for Stuttering Students
Becoming a good teacher is easy.

Becoming a great teacher, however, is nothing short of a challenge.

Make sure every child in your class gets the same opportunities.

On many occasions, some children will require extra care and attention. Children
who stutter may need your support and encouragement to communicate without fear
and hesitation.

Establishing a no-bullying rule will help CWS regain confidence and be
themselves. It will also help children, who may have other disorders.

Devote extra time to a stuttering student after class if necessary.

On all other occasions, when accommodations aren’t necessary, never treat a
stuttering student any differently from others in the class.

9 Ways to Work with Students Who Stutter

Megan Washington is a popular name in the genre of jazz, indie pop, and
alternative rock. She’s a brilliant singer and songwriter. Washington recently
appeared on TedTalk
[https://www.ted.com/talks/megan_washington_why_i_live_in_mortal_dread_of_public_speaking/transcript] 
to talk about her stutter.

In her own words, “I spend a lot of my life on the stage. One would assume that
I’m comfortable in the public sphere…but I’ve spent my life…living in mortal
dread of public speaking”

And that’s what happens to many of us. When we were kids and people would tell
us that we’d grow out of our awkward skinny legs, or our acne would disappear
when we grew up. We often dreamt that like the other “problems” that plagued our
lives, our stutter, too, would disappear when we’d become adults.

Only when we either entered high school or college we realized that despite
therapy and spending all those years hoping, our stutter was a part of us
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/].

Many of us already know that we are more than our stutter. Stuttering is only a
small part and it doesn’t define us. However, when we have an audience, we often
face intense fear and anxiety.

Are We Afraid of Our stutter?
Are we afraid of stuttering? Turns out most people who stutter (PWS) are afraid
of their listeners’ reactions than they are of stuttering.

Susannah Parkin [https://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/recipient] gave the
graduation speech at Hamilton College, NY in 2013.

She too stutters and during her speech, she said something that I find
interesting and important for fellow PWS. “…we should do things in spite of our
fear…sometimes we have to go even further. We have to do things because we are
afraid.”

How to Overcome Fear of Stuttering?
Fear is something all of us have experienced. Some of us are afraid of darkness,
others are afraid of the ocean.

Then there are people like us who are afraid of speaking
[https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/fear-of-speaking-chronic-anxiety-and-stammering/3159744DE5296FF7A614C4C8267DEC90] 
in front of people. The thought of addressing an audience causes stress. And
needless to say, stuttering and stress don’t mix well.

Fears
[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happens-brain-feel-fear-180966992/] 
and phobias are not easy to overcome. We know that all too well. However, it is
also necessary to not let our fear of speaking overpower us at all times.

Here are a few strategies I have employed to trick my brain into not feeling
fear. It has gradually helped me build my confidence while speaking in front of
people.

I Practice Deep Breathing
I fill my lungs with as much air as possible and then exhale it all out before I
begin speaking.

Don’t try to talk like you swim – with your lungs filled with air.

When our lungs are full, the air pressure inside our thorax is high and our
vocal cords become tense. It becomes difficult to talk
[https://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad15/papers/quesal15.html].

Try speaking once you finish exhaling.

Deep breathing relaxes the muscles and the mind. It’s a brilliant way to fight
the stress we often feel before facing an audience.

I have tried several deep breathing or costal breathing techniques.

I have found the following video to be most helpful while learning how to master
it to manage my stuttering.

How to breathe deeply and stutter smoothlyI Pause, Frequently
I owe my understanding of the importance of pausing during speech to Hugo H.
Gregory [https://www.stutteringhelp.org/two-sides-coin].

While reading his works I came across the fact that the more we try to mask our
stuttering, the worse we stutter.

Instead of trying hard to hide it, I started pausing
[https://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad12/papers/therapy12/reitzes12.html] every time
I anticipated a block.

According to him, stuttering more fluently is possible only when we accept our
stutter.

Stuttering easily involves relaxed speech beginnings, smoother word transitions,
and adequate pausing time between two phrases.

I Have Stuttered On Purpose
Stuttering on purpose serves two goals – it desensitizes a person to their own
stutter. It also gives them a sense of control.

When I began stuttering on purpose
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/admitting-you-stutter], I saw that people
couldn’t tell the difference between my actual stutters and faked stutters.

I also began to notice that many of my listeners simply did not care how much I
stuttered. They were interested in what I had to say.

The more I stuttered on purpose, the more I began to understand the mechanics of
my involuntary stutter.

It gave me the confidence to approach more people. And it reduced my fear of 
stuttering publicly [__GHOST_URL__/public-speaking-with-a-stutter/].

Today, I stutter much less frequently and intensely than I used to even a year
before I tried stuttering on purpose.

I Meditate Regularly
If you have never meditated before, feel free to use an app for guidance.

I have used several apps over the years and the result has been astounding.

Meditation has helped me calm my thoughts and channel my emotions
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/channel-your-emotions-to-reduce-your-stutter/] in the right
direction.

Stuttering isn’t stressful. The anxiety and fear preceding every stutter are.

Begin meditating to brown noise if you have a short attention span. Your focus
will improve and so will your control over your thoughts.



You will feel calmer each day. As you feel the stress ebb away, you will find
that you are stuttering with less effort and less fear.

I Have Opted For Speech Therapy
When I was a child, there weren’t too many speech therapists around. Moreover,
they were costly!

So, I began seeing my speech therapist in my early 20s. It’s only been around 2
years and we both believe there is a lot I still have to achieve.

I have come to realize that stuttering therapy isn’t about finding a cure
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/how-to-stop-stuttering/] for my speech disfluencies. It’s about
finding a solution to my fear of stuttering and confidence issues while talking.

Nonetheless, therapy has helped me beyond my imaginations.

To be completely honest. I also go for cognitive behavioral therapy
[https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/] or CBT. The
frequency of our sessions have decreased in the past year, but the positive
impact has been tremendous.

If you have access to CBT or psychological counseling, you should absolutely opt
for it. We all know that the impact of stuttering is long-term
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-and-lasting-emotional-effects/].

I Use Speech Therapy Apps
Today, I can confidently introduce myself even though I always stutter on my
first name.

I know that stuttering is a part of my speech. Everyone is different in one way
or another. I am unique because of my speech! And that’s absolutely alright.

Apart from CBT and speech therapy, speech therapy apps
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stamurai-app-to-stop-stuttering/] have played a huge role in
helping me understand what my feared words are, why anticipation is worse than
stuttering, and how we can control our fluency every time we speak.

Speech therapy apps can complement your SLP sessions or they can work alone to
help you reduce tension while speaking.

In fact, you can also refine your breathing skills, learn how to manage
stuttering through meditation, and monitor your speech improvement on the app.

What I find particularly motivating is that I can track my progress on one
dashboard.

I Introduce Myself as a Stutterer
I stutter and it’s no secret. I may be a writer, thinker, avid blogger, and
animal lover, but I am also a stutterer.

It is a part of who I am, but it’s not all I am.

So, whether I am sitting down for an interview or talking to a crowd, I
introduce myself as a stutterer
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/overcome-stuttering-fear-and-insecurity/].

Once I have done that, I don’t feel the anxiety or tension I used to feel. I
know that people don’t expect me to be fluent. Yet, they are still sitting down
looking at my face because they want to hear what I have to say.

I might take a couple of seconds (minutes on my bad days) more than the fluent
speakers. Nonetheless, what I have to say is important.

That gives me confidence. And that is how I have almost conquered my fear of
public speaking.

Are Stuttering and Stress Related?
The human brain is a mysterious and complex organ. The secrets of stuttering
hide in the brain [__GHOST_URL__/is-stuttering-biological-or-psychological/],
and so does the cause of stress and fear.

Maybe ever since you were a kid, other children and even adults have made fun of
you when you tried to speak. Maybe the last time you tried speaking to a big
audience, you failed.

Now, your brain recognizes certain signs or patterns that precede your stutters.
Your mind makes you believe that if you try again, you will meet with failure.

That is what happens when anticipation kicks in. We already know which words are
difficult. For me, these can be words that begin with “w” or “t.” For you, words
that start with “s” or “d” can be difficult.

Nonetheless, we already know when we are going to stutter. We can feel it at the
back of our throats, tightening our vocal cords. So, we either replace the word
or avoid speaking altogether.

Even so, the fear doesn’t go away. We have learned how to “postpone” our fear
[https://www.say.org/blog/i-know-the-fear-stutterers-face/] of stuttering.

Stress does not cause me/us to stutter. It can definitely make an oncoming
stutter much worse.

It’s Time to Find Our Voices
Stress, anxiety, and fear keep getting the better of us despite months or even
years of therapy.

Along with speech therapy, we need to understand how stuttering works and how
our fear influences our speech.

Stress and fear work hand-in-hand to worsen our stutter. In a way, stuttering
and anxiety share a strong relationship.

The only time I found respite was when I embraced my stutter. I realized it’s
alright to take more time than the person next to me. I don’t have to sound
fluent to deliver my opinion.

I just have to sound confident. And the fear of stuttering can no longer take
that away from me!

How to Overcome Fear and Tension If You Stutter

In less than a month, the world’s oldest democracy will exercise their
democratic right to choose their next leader.

Presidential debates are an integral part of the electoral procedures in the
United States of America. On 29th September, more than 70 million people watched
the first [https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54331319]of three debates
for the 59th quadrennial presidential election.

However, this debate did not exactly pan out as people expected. Majority of the
population concluded that it was the worst presidential debate of all time.

Some eminent personalities did not hesitate in sharing their honest views. CNN’s
Dana Bash said the debate was a “shitshow”, while a panelist in ABC News said it
was the “worst presidential debate I’ve ever seen,” on air.

Abrupt interruptions, chaotic situations, rhetorical arguments – there was
plenty wrong with the debate. However, beyond all the wrongs was the righteous
fight of a person with stutter (PWS).

Biden, dodging through a series of interruptions, held fast to his ground and
did not let his disability come in the way of what he needed to address.

The Story of Joe Biden’s Stuttering
Around six decades before Joe Biden became the vice-president, he was called
“Joe Impedimenta.”

Biden started stuttering [__GHOST_URL__/joe-bidens-stutter-and-life/] when he
was four years old. “Stutter Boy” to some and “Dash” to others, he was 
mercilessly name-called [__GHOST_URL__/reining-in-the-bullies/].

Not only the class bullies, but even a nun made fun
[https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/joe-biden-stutter-profile/602401/] 
of his speech impediment.

After stuttering on a word during a reading lesson, she called him
“Buh-Buh-Buh-Biden.”

Little Joe darted out of the room
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/].

With an indomitable desire to fight back, Biden promised himself that he will
never let his disfluency define him.

He found solace in the works
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/joe-biden-stuttering-journey-and-struggles/] of great poets like
Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Butler Yeats.

Biden did not receive speech therapy, but on the advice of some nuns, he started
speaking in a rhythm.

Though he still stutters occasionally, the speaking technique worked wonders for
him.

How Biden Fought Against Two Adversaries At Once
During the debate, Biden was not justlooking to win against Donald Trump.

He was also trying to win his fight against his fear of public speaking, which
is a highly feared activity [__GHOST_URL__/public-speaking-with-a-stutter/] 
among PWS.

Various factors curb the fluency of an individual with stutter while speaking.
Abrupt interruptions, sudden change of conversational subject, personal attacks
and bringing up past trauma are all trigger points of stuttering.

On 29th September, not one factor from the list was missing.

Throughout the debate, Biden had to deal with abrupt interruptions.

Such was the frequency of interruptions that moderator Chris Wallace had to
intervene on multiple occasions. The Fox News host lost their patience on one
occasion. He told the President “Frankly, you’ve been doing more interrupting.”

There was no dearth of personal attacks as well. He saw his academic record
[https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/US-elections-2020/Trump-vs.-Biden-Five-things-we-learned-from-first-debate] 
being ridiculed, as the President said: “You graduated either the lowest or
almost the lowest in your class.”

His intelligence quotient [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering-misconceptions/] was
questioned, as Trump said “There’s nothing smart about you. (sic) 47 years
you’ve done nothing.”

Biden’s family was also brought into the conversation.

The President tried to attack his family by talking about the international
business ventures of Biden’s son, Hunter.

The continuous interruptions and personal attacks are open to interpretation.
Some might feel they were spontaneous. Others might opine they were pre-planned,
to make Biden nervous on stage.

However, that calls for another debate which we don’t fancy. What was the most
important takeaway from the debate was how Biden handled the situation.

Despite being knocked down on multiple occasions, he came back fighting.

As a kid, his parents told him “The measure of a man isn’t how often he is
knocked down but how quickly he gets up.”

Perhaps, amidst the halts and hollering on 29th September, this bit of advice is
what kept him going.

Biden – A Synonym of Hope for PWS
Time will tell whether Biden will become the hope of 332 million Americans.
However, he already has established himself as a hope for 70 million PWS across
the world.

As a kid, little Joe fought with bullies and nuns who bullied him. As a young
adult, he fought with employees who declined him a job because of his
disfluency.

At 77, Joe Biden is still ever-so-stern in his relentless fights against anyone
and everyone who tries to attack his disfluency to bring him down.

His perseverance and unremitting comebacks are bound to inspire many. As he
wrote in a letter [https://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/joe-biden] to
Stuttering Foundation of America –

“When you commit yourself to a goal and when you persevere in the face of
struggle, you will discover new strengths and skills to help you overcome not
only this challenge but future life challenges as well. I promise you – you have 
nothing to be ashamed of
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/overcome-stuttering-fear-and-insecurity/], and you have every
reason to be proud.”

Biden’s performance in the debate may or may not help him gain some votes.
However, he surely did gain a lot of respect and admiration for his valiant
fight against disfluency and demeanour.

Joe Biden’s Performance in Presidential Debate Inspired Millions Who Stutter

Presentations! OMG. The word still sends chills down my spine. Although I have
probably given over a hundred counting my school, college, and office days.

There was something I learned pretty fast during my school days. If I
volunteered to go first, the anticipation was significantly less. It didn’t give 
fear [__GHOST_URL__/how-to-overcome-fear-and-tension-if-you-stutter/] a chance
to take over. I didn’t have to listen to how fluent my classmates were.

I got to stutter as much as I liked, and people were typically more patient
since I was the first speaker.

Volunteering to go first is really a win-win for anyone who stutters.

However, in college, uni, or at the workplace, you may not get to choose when
you get up on the dais. That has happened to me as well. That’s when I employ
the strategies I will now mention.

Hopefully, once you practice and apply these in real life, you will also find
more confidence and freedom from fear while giving presentations –

1. Select a Topic That You Care About
If you are at liberty to pick a topic, choose one that you are passionate about.

I have had to give presentations on the genetic factors and proteomics of
early-onset Alzheimer’s. And holy moly! Was it a disaster?!

Even to date, I cannot go through the first introductory slide without stumbling
and blocking.

The reason? Well, I simply wasn’t interested in it.

Next, I chose to give a presentation on the genetics of Stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/what-is-stuttering/] and the neurological differences between the
brains of PWS and neurotypicals.

I went first. If I say I didn’t stutter at all, that would be a lie.

I did stutter, but significantly less.

Talk about something that moves you and inspires you
[https://medium.com/speech-language-pathology/tips-on-public-speaking-with-a-stutter-8457a891446]
! It can be the history of hip-hop or the mechanism of a V12 engine.

You will find speaking to be less of a chore. Your passion for the subject will
grab the attention of the audience with much less effort too!

2. Do Your Research
When I did my research for the presentation, I also included my observation of
the presentation space.

I go to the room or auditorium. Check out the acoustics, seating, and light
options.

Pace up and down while rehearsing my speech while including fluency shaping
strategies
[https://medium.com/@stamuraiapp/fluency-strategies-and-techniques-for-stutterers-3905f1b6b92e] 
on the main stage.

On the day of the presentation, I check out the sound equipment.

I consider it important since I already have a speech disability. I don’t want
additional glitches to make it even more difficult for my audience to understand
what I’m saying.

3. Add Some Humor into the Mix
No matter what topic you pick, you should think about adding a couple of
anecdotes.

One of my favorite speakers is a standup comedian. When she’s not performing on
open-mics or for TV, she’s out there talking about stuttering and spreading
awareness.

I love borrowing a quote from her when I find the audience to be particularly
serious and impatient.

Nina G is an icon. She speaks to educate people
[https://ninagcomedian.wordpress.com/2019/01/13/transforming-how-we-think-about-stuttering/] 
on stuttering and dyslexia.

One of her signature catchphrases inspires millions – “I stutter…wait patiently
for all my brilliant ideas.”

You can come up with something similar. It will give you the chance to own your
stutter [__GHOST_URL__/public-speaking-with-a-stutter/].

It will introduce you as someone who stutters. And it tells that you have some
great ideas in store for those who are ready to wait.

Something like this is great for breaking the ice. It tells people that I have a 
speech disfluency
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/]. However, it
also subtly guides them as to how to react to stuttering.

4. Communication Isn’t About Fluency
Think about it! We know hundreds of people who are fluent. Are all of them great
communicators?

Then, why should stutters make you a bad communicator?

Today, we have successful entrepreneurs, politicians
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/joe-bidens-stutter-and-life/], actors, singers
[https://medium.com/@stamuraiapp/do-you-know-about-ed-sheerans-stuttering-journey-40740d8589e5]
, and comedians who stutter.

Addressing the world with a stutterStrong communication includes multiple
factors – confident body language, eye contact, and using the right tone of
voice.

Practice confident delivery of your points in front of family and friends. Ask
for feedback. It is one method I used during the initial days of my preparation.

Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself on video. Go back and check the
different hand gestures, body language, and voices you are using.

Note the changes you need to make.

Remember to use every mode of expression you can, such as visual and auditory
cues.

Do not neglect your presentation (slides or video) while preparing the speech.

5. Channel your nervous energy
The mind is complex and beautiful.

There used to be times when I was so nervous I could barely get a word out
without blocking.

Then I learned to channel
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/channel-your-emotions-to-reduce-your-stutter/] my nervous energy.
It has little to do with control.

A lot of people will tell you to “control” your fear, anxiety, and stress.
However, it makes little sense to me since I never found out concrete
descriptions of how to control the negative energy.

So I found a way to channel them.

If you ever hear someone who stutters and they speak confidently in front of
people, you will notice that they move a lot, and use a lot of hand gestures.

This reminds me of Drew Lynch. He begins slowly without a lot of movement of
hands, but once he’s into his material, he begins using hand gestures.

Although his stuttering may have a different nature
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/the-unexpected-development-of-stuttering-in-adulthood/], it is
quite apparent that he channels the extra energy through body movements.

And boy! Does he do a great job of making every audience member laugh?!

6. Breathe and Then, Breathe Some More
This one isn’t just for right before the presentation.

I have found out that breathing exercises work in favor of my fluency. I
practice them daily for at least 20 minutes.

If you have never practiced deep breathing exercises
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/how-to-overcome-fear-and-tension-if-you-stutter/] before, you can
seek guidance online, on YouTube or from a dedicated stuttering therapy app like 
Stamurai [https://stamurai.com/features].

Deep breathing or costal breathing
[https://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad15/papers/quesal15.html] can relax your
articulators. I almost always find it easy to initiate a particularly difficult
word when I empty my lungs completely.

If you can manage to incorporate costal breathing into your daily speaking, you
might be able to employ fluent and easy onset during your presentations and
speeches.

7. Spend Time on Speech Exercises
Speech exercises recommended by speech therapists can work wonders. They can
teach you light articulatory contact, easy onset and super-fluency techniques.

If you have been to speech therapists or speech-language pathologists (SLPs),
you may already know a few exercises.

You can keep at them. Or, you can practice more with Stamurai.

While using Stamurai [http://stamurai.app/uSL8fLtzO4] you will receive a
detailed analysis of your speech improvement and performance.

It is an excellent way to boost your confidence in the long-term.

Stamurai doesn’t offer a short-cut to fluency or a cure for stuttering. However,
you will begin to understand your stuttering much better, like I do with daily
practice.

Final words
In conclusion, you should not aim to stop stuttering at all. Don’t try to hide
it. Don’t feel ashamed of it. You speak in your unique and beautiful way.

Keep the seven points in mind to ace your next presentation or speech.

We have standup comedians who stutter. Their pieces don’t always feature pieces
on stuttering. However, they deliver the joke complete with involuntary stutters
and make us laugh nonetheless.

Then there’s LeRon Baron, Megan Washington, and Joe Biden
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/joe-biden-stuttering-journey-and-struggles/], who all have
commanding stage presence despite their speech disfluencies.

Instead, think about letting it flow out without any difficulty. Aim to stutter
with ease and fluency. Download [http://stamurai.app/uSL8fLtzO4] and use
Stamurai to know more about stuttering with confidence!

It’s about delivering your message to the people. They are here to listen to
you! So, tell them what you have to say, in your unique and beautiful way.

How to Stop Stuttering When You Give Presentations: 7 Tips

“The world is in your palm” sounded like a clichéd quote until this year. A
global epidemic has forced almost everything to go digital. Education has not
been an exception to this.

There can hardly be any argument on the various benefits of remote learning.
However, there is no rose without thorns.

From technological limitations to connectivity issues, online education has its
fair share of problems. While these are mostly mechanical and universal issues,
there are a few specific & humanitarian problems.

Currently, more than 70 million people stutter worldwide. It is most common in
kids between 2-6 years old. 5-10% of all children are likely to stutter
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/what-is-stuttering/] at some point in their lives.

Children with stuttering (CWS) are not very confident about how people will
react to their stutter. As a result, they often fail to engage in class
discussions.

With classes going digital, CWS neither have adequate time to share their views,
nor are they getting an all-inclusive environment to participate. Subsequently,
the rate of participation has decreased.

It is essential to ensure that a child does not feel left out because of his or
her stuttering. With a few simple steps, we can create a stutter-friendly
environment.

Here, we will look at some of the best ways parents, schools, teachers, and
other institutions can create a stutter-friendly e-learning environment:

1. Letting People Know
Change always starts with one’s self. We will be able to create a
stutter-friendly virtual environment when we are aware of someone’s disfluency.

It does not necessarily mean treating someone specially.

Instead, we need to ensure that the environment is inclusive and the child feels
he or she is a part of it.

As children try to hide their stutter, they evade participation in discussions.
This nolens volens isolate themselves from their classmates. 60% of teenagers
[https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2019.00153] rarely talk about
their stuttering with people.

Hence, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) encourage children to open up about
their stutter. It requires courage, but there are various ways of doing it.

One can choose to inform the teacher, who can subsequently convey it to the
class. Others might do it themselves.

A child can use a humorous way of disclosing it. For example –

“I would request the moderator to allow me an extra minute for my debate
argument because I stutter.”

Different people find different options comforting, but the underlying aim
remains the same. Our speech mechanism works in such a way
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/admitting-you-stutter] that it fails to operate
smoothly under tension.

By letting people know about your disfluency, you are getting the fear of
public
reaction [__GHOST_URL__/how-to-overcome-fear-and-tension-if-you-stutter/] out of
the way. With reduced tension, speaking becomes much smoother.

2. Being a Patient Listener
Once a child has disclosed his or her stuttering, it is up to the teachers to do
their part.

In the times of online education, we might confuse someone’s stuttering as an
internet issue. Some might even think that the speaker does not know what to
say.

In reality, CWS knows perfectly well what to say. Only that they take a bit
longer than usual to say it. To make the classroom environment inclusive, we
should be patient listeners.

The “seven-second rule” is a common practice in use. It says – once you ask a
question to a CWS, wait for seven seconds for the response.

Ensure that your non-verbal cues show you’re interested in what the child has to
say. In this way, we can make the classrooms stutter-friendly
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/work-with-students-who-stutter/].

3. Allow Different Ways of Class Participation
Adherence to rigid rules of physical classes might deter a child’s
participation. The teachers should allow and encourage different ways of
engaging in online class discussions.

For example, if a child is not confident about speaking during an online
session, teachers can let them use the chat function. If someone does not feel
comfortable presenting something to an online audience, teachers can encourage
use of pre-recorded videos.

Not all vases are cast in the same way. By encouraging different ways of
involvement, we take a significant leap towards an all-embracing milieu.

4. Understanding Technological Know-how
In most platforms, the person to feature on the screen is the speaker. This
makes it difficult for a CWS to be on the screen.

Firstly, if a CWS pauses on a word and someone interrupts, the screen will
switch to the new speaker. To prevent this, we need to ensure that we don’t
speak unless the child has finished his statement.

Also, since we will be on-screen only when we speak, it might be difficult for 
a child who stutters to get their points in. The solution to this technological
problem is the technology itself.

The most commonly used platform for hosting online classes, Zoom has a “
hand-raising [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzUZeN2DGKE]” feature. By using
it, we let everyone know that we have something to say.

Every platform has features to make people know someone wants to speak. By using
them, we are ensuring everyone gets a chance to speak.

Inclusion Is the Only Solution
Eminent influencer and social commentator Verna Myers once said –

“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”

With online education being the new normal, the feeling of being left out among
CWS has increased. Our solitary goal should be to make our virtual learning
environment stutter-friendly and all-inclusive.

When the children feel they truly belong to the class, they are more likely to
engage in various learning activities.

A teacher’s job isn’t easy in the current times. However, by taking a few steps,
we can ensure that a young mind does what it is meant to – express freely
without any inhibition.Parents, too, can play an important role. Besides
creating a stutter-friendly online learning environment at home, they can
encourage kids to practice stuttering exercises
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/five-stuttering-exercises-to-help-your-child/] to reduce their
stutters.

How to Make eLearning Stutter-Friendly

It’s been a long day working from home. You have had to attend meetings and meet
deadlines. Now, it’s time to place an order at your favorite restaurant – you
can either walk there or place a call.

For fluent speakers, the choice is an easy one. Why walk when one can call? But
we all know, people who stutter (PWS) will sometimes choose to walk for 10
minutes to place an order, wait and carry it back home rather than place the
order over the phone.

Phone calls can be nightmarish for PWS. Making and receiving phone calls can be
dreadful for anyone who stutters.

Some say that in face-to-face conversations, 30% of the communication is verbal,
and 70% is non-verbal. For PWS, that is incredibly good news. We rely majorly on
the non-verbal part of daily communication. A simple nod, head-jerk, or
thumbs-up can save us from saying a few extra words!

However, there’s no escape plan when it comes to telephonic conversations. We
have to talk!

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]Why Do I Stutter Worse on the Phone?
As adults, we have to make phone calls, sometimes, several, in one day. Here are
some reasons your stutter becomes worse during a phone call –

1. You feel the pressure of responding immediately after the person has stopped
talking, or they have asked a question. You believe that you cannot risk a block
or prolongation during a conversation where the listener cannot see your face.

2. You are afraid of making a bad first impression whether you are calling a
restaurant or a client. You are scared that the person on the other side might
perceive you as “slow” because you take time to talk.

3. Maybe you have had a bad experience in the past. The memory and the negative 
emotions [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering-and-lasting-emotional-effects/] surrounding
stuttering add to the anxiety and make your stuttering worse than it is.

4. You cannot replace a feared word with expressions, hand gestures, or body
movements during a phone call. That can put extra pressure on anyone who has
disfluent speech.

How Do I Stutter Less on the Phone?
Those who stutter employ several tips and tricks while talking on the phone to
stutter less. Some of these tricks stem from pure belief.

For example, one man prefers to take his phone calls at the bottom of the stairs
with his right foot up one step. He believes it helps him articulate.

Other techniques [__GHOST_URL__/how-to-stop-stuttering/] include pausing
strategically, breathing out while speaking, and using a list of topics while
making a call. These are some techniques that are based on stuttering therapy.

Make A List
When on a call, we tend to meander from the topics, especially when our
disfluencies take over.

It will help you tremendously if you can make a list of the topics you want to
discuss. It can be a list of items you want to order, or health concerns you
want to talk about.

This practice will ensure that you don’t have to remember the points while you
are trying hard to not block or prolong.

You will always have a visual cue. While making the list you will also get the
time to think about how to approach each topic by avoiding your trigger words
during the phone conversation.

Practice Making Phone Calls
Have an important call? Make a practice call before that.

A practice call can be a call you make to your local store to enquire if they
stock a particular item. You can call your friend or mum to have a brief chat
about your upcoming call.

You can also call numbers that use a voice-activated system.

Try to be casual about it. The more you practice, the less stressed you will
feel during the actual phone call.

Introduce Yourself as Someone who Stutters
When you are calling a new place or person, tell them that you stutter
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/]. It’s not
something you do voluntarily, so any adult should be empathetic and patient
towards your speech disfluency.

Many of us are already pretty used to being hung up on, especially when
blocking.

So, instead of waiting for someone to hang up on us, we should just go ahead
with a “hello, I’m John, and I stutter. I may take up more time than the average
caller, so please be patient.”

You can frame it any way you like. Avoid your feared words. However, you will be
surprised to see how many people will show patience and not hang up once you
introduce yourself as someone who stutters.

Apply Speech Therapy Techniques
Have you already attended speech therapy? If so, you should be familiar with the
practices of easy onsets, pull-outs, costal breathing, and beginning speech
while starting to exhale.

If not, you can try using a stuttering therapy app like Stamurai
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stamurai-app-to-stop-stuttering/]. It is a speech therapy app
that can teach you fluency techniques
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-fluency-shaping-techniques].

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]It is not like you stutter only on the phone.
You stutter while talking, and that’s alright. You have applied speech therapy
techniques IRL, so why not try them while you are on a call?

Speech therapy can help make phone calls less intimidating for you. It can also
help you stutter less while on the phone.

Record and Listen To Yourself
It might feel awkward in the initial days, but you need to record yourself while
on the phone. Playing it back, you will be able to understand how your speech is
different from a face-to-face conversation.

A video recording is often more helpful since you will be able to see the
changes in your body language and movements.

Note your rate of speech and blocks. Make a list of words that lead to blocks or
prolongations during each call.

Learn from the recording. Prepare for your next call. It might feel weird
listening or watching yourself talk on the phone, but it will help you beyond
your imagination.

[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb]Will You Ever Stutter Less During a Phone
Call?
Practice can make phone calls easier and less scary for you. Once you find a way
to control the negative emotions and bad memories, it can help you stutter less
during a phone call.

Take time to answer a call, but also try to be the person who answers every
call. Those “annoying” sales calls might be the right practicing opportunity for
you.

Give your listener the benefit of the doubt. Always admit that you stutter at
the beginning of a call. It is indeed trying, but you will find a script that
you can stick to while starting a phone call.

Don’t let a piece of tech dominate your fears. It is much better and easier to
use the phone and stutter than avoiding it entirely.