Job interviews are arguably one of the most stress inducing moments in anyone’s
life. More so if you feel or think that you are unable to represent yourself to
the best of your abilities. In a culture where articulation is heavily equated
with intellect, the obsession with the appearance of skill can rob people with
speech defects of significant opportunities. The employer’s concerns might be
about the efficient communication between the team members. The best approach is
to ascertain the practical requirements of the job and what it entails in terms
of communication related issues.

Good communication is about more than just fluency. Fluency can be attained and
mastered. To be able to communicate is about one’s ability to listen and
empathize with people from different walks of life. It is about thoughtfulness
and sensitivity in both speech and actions. And who better to understand and
manage sometimes clashing personalities than someone who has learnt patience and
hard work through his/her life’s experiences.

Be honest with your interviewer
Stutterers should honestly address their speech impediment with the prospective
employer and discuss the various ways that might make them perform their duties
better. The impact if any that the speech disfluency might have on certain areas
of their job and how they might tackle it. People with speech disabilities can
have varied professions including high pressure jobs in sales, medicine, public
relations. One’s skills and intellect are certainly not defined by their speech
defect. However, hiding one’s stuttering can create a vicious and toxic cycle to
anxiety and fear that shall push back any progress made to attain fluency.

Approach the interview with confidence
Studies suggest that people who stutter are less likely to apply for a job that
they think will trigger their stuttering adversely. 70% believe that their
capabilities are misjudged and 28% strongly liken their not receiving a
promotion to their speech defect. In moments of self-doubt, it is pivotal to
remind oneself of the perseverance and diligence that you bring to the
workplace. The intuitive understanding of non- verbal and emotional
communication that makes stutters naturally superior managers.

Plan for the interview
While displaying your qualities and skills required for the position, an
interview is also an opportunity to learn more about the organization. A chance
to know about the energy and goals of the company and if it aligns with your
vision of yourself in the future.

Homework isn’t just for school anymore
Research the company or organization that you are interviewing for. If possible,
try to learn more about the person most likely to interview you whether it is
via a phone call or an in-person interview. You will know you are fully prepared
when you have a couple or more questions for the interviewer. This works as both
a brilliant presentation of your attention to detail and provides a framework
for your working relationship if hired for the job.

Employers who appreciate honesty and conscientiousness in their employees will
find in stutterers keenly intelligent and insightful members for their team.

Stuttering and Jobs - It’s what you say, not how you say it

Our well-being, our happiness, and our sense of self is intrinsically tied to
being able to express our emotions, our anger, experiences and memories. And
knowing that someone is listening, who holds it in regard, is interested, cares.

The human need for love and acceptance resides in everyone. So does the fear of
embarrassment, exclusion, and depression. For people with speech defects like
stuttering, the fear of isolation from family and friends and the possibility of
depression is further exaggerated by the constant threat of not being able to
communicate.

The first step towards recovery perhaps is the acceptance of one’s problems.
Identifying it and allowing yourself to seek a life that doesn’t feel numb and
isn’t dictated by fear. The stigma that society unfairly associates with speech
defects and with depression can be crippling and can stop people from
acknowledging that they need help.

It is okay to need help. It is okay to ask for it. Whether from a speech
therapist, a therapist, family member or a friend. No one simply snaps out of
depression. It takes time, might take years. Be kinder to yourself. You need not
feel guilty and it most certainly is not your fault. As difficult and painful as
it might be, talking about depression takes the hurt and shame out of the
condition. Afterall, it is a clinical/medical condition. One that can be cured.

As children who stutter transition into adolescence, they become more vulnerable
to depression and other psychological difficulties. The fear of bullying,
negative reactions from their peers keep them from seeking help. Adult
stutterers suffering from depression have carried this habit of stifling their
emotional needs to ‘fit in’.

Do not be stifled by your need to conform to what society deems suitable. Do not
let your mind imprison your future. Because, irrespective of how you tell your
story, the people who love you, will listen. They do care.

Stammering - Step Back from the Abyss of Depression

Addressing a crowd, holding their attention, and introducing or explaining an
idea is frightening as it is. But, for someone who stutters, their anxiety about
their speech can amplify the fear and difficulty
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/overcome-stuttering-fear-and-insecurity/].

After all, despite numerous public figures acknowledging their disfluency, the
sense that stuttering is less than permissible in public persists. Whether
speaking on stage at a conference or presenting a project in a classroom, public
speaking can be a daunting task.

How to Stutter Less During Public Speaking?
1. Don’t try to hide your stutter
What happens when you stutter publicly? According to Lon L. Emerick, he once
worked with a student in Lansing, Michigan. She had a debilitating stutter that
kept her from speaking in a group.

He told her to find and approach as many people in the next week and show them
her stutter. Essentially, it was a voluntary stuttering
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15129746/] exercise. By the end of the week,
she had approached 947 listeners and she had stuttered as much as she could.

She was exhausted, yes. However, her stutter had completely evaporated too. She
could no longer stutter involuntarily!

According to Emerick, trying to keep your stutter a secret from the audience is
a burden. The harder you try, the more difficult it becomes to proceed with the
speech smoothly.

2. Note the reactions of listeners
When you are approaching new listeners, you will notice a wide range of
reactions.

Studies show that most people may feel visibly uncomfortable when the speaker
begins to stutter, but they are also empathetic. As per the experience of
speech-language pathologist (SLP) Nichole Lowenbraun, when she followed her
professor’s instructions to stutter on purpose in a public place, she found that
listeners were encouraging, helpful, and patient.

Overall, people showed tremendous empathy and patience.

If you ever decide to try this exercise, you will realize that listeners don’t
care that you stutter as long as you have something meaningful to say to them.
They may even try to help you by completing your sentences or trying to find the
right words. It’s not an insult, especially, when you are talking to a stranger.
It shows how much they are trying to understand the daily struggle you face
during communication.

3. Own your Stutter
Even when all eyes are on you, you are the one in control of the room. 
Acknowledging your stutter
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/] 
allows you to relax into the presentation or speech without the fear of losing
the audience’s attention.

Audiences, small or big, want you to succeed when you have the floor. You can
capitalize on it.

Show them that irrespective of your disfluencies and pauses you will say what
they have come to hear. Don’t feel guilty if you need a moment to gather
yourself. Everything good in life comes after a brief period of waiting!

4. Passion Trumps Fear
A great idea that excites you is infinitely easier to talk about and discuss
than something prosaic and irrelevant. 

Being passionate about a subject doesn’t mean that your stutter won’t resurface.
However, it can ensure that the conversation will be more enjoyable. It shall
certainly be memorable.

5. Ashes to Gold
What is the worst-case scenario? A slip of the tongue, a mistake in your speech,
or a hostile audience can be handled with humor and sincerity.

Get comfortable in the room where you are to give the presentation (or speech)
and practice in it.

Good communication skills are more than just fluency. It is about eye contact,
voice modulation, posture, and confident body language. Fluent speakers aren’t
necessarily good communicators. When speaking in public, people with or without
speech strive to engage their audience.

6. Practice Positive Visualization
Positive visualization can help you overcome stage fright before a big event.

Several studies show that when PWS visualize themselves giving a smooth
performance on-stage, they are more likely to talk with higher fluency than
those who don’t use positive visualization.

You may try another form of positive visualization that’s similar to Sherlock’s
“Mind Palace” technique.

Create a mental space that makes you feel safe, comfortable, and confident. It
can be the visuals of your pets, children, or friends. Anything that can calm
your nerves before the speech can help in positive visualization.

7. Practice Giving the Presentation
When at home, create an audience for yourself. Ask your friends to give you 20
to 30 minutes per day. Request your family to be present when you speak.

Most of us who stutter, don’t stutter while speaking alone
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/why-dont-we-stutter-when-talking-alone/]. So, we
need an audience, whether real or virtual to create the right ambience. Speaking
in front of more than one person can trigger our stutter.

You can get constructive feedback on many things such as the contents of your
speech/presentation as well as your body language and communication style. . You
can also ask for feedback on your fluency after you have rehearsed your speech
for a couple of days.

Asking for feedback right away might dampen your spirits
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-and-lasting-emotional-effects/], because
none of us can truly give the perfect speech on the first try.

Our suggestion is - practice a couple of times out aloud before you go on Zoom
or Duo, or invite your family for a sit-in.

8. Record Yourself Giving the Speech
Are you curious about how the audience may perceive your speech? The best way to
test it is by recording yourself
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/why-dont-we-stutter-when-talking-alone/] at home.

Once your speech is almost ready, whip out your phone and turn the video
recording on. It may feel a little weird at first. However, it is one of the
best ways to evaluate one’s speech and delivery style.

Record yourself after you have rehearsed your speech a few times.

Go through the recording to identify the words that make you hesitant/nervous
and trigger your stutter. Apply techniques
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-exercises-for-adults/] like easy onsets,
light articulatory contact, and deep breathing to make your speech more fluent
the next time.

Record yourself once you have applied these techniques. Mark the differences.

Make notes in your speech which detail the pauses, inclusion of pacing or
rhythmic speaking and other fluency techniques.

Maybe, take a page out of Biden’s
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/joe-bidens-stutter-and-life/] speech material that
he shares with Brayden Harrington
[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/when-joe-biden-met-brayden-how-chance-meeting-led-stirring-n1237705] 
during his tour.

9. Familiarize Yourself with the Presentation Space
‘Winging it’ is something even the best of the best speakers and stage
personalities DON’T do during events.

Everyone tries to squeeze in a “dress rehearsal” just like the old times in the
theatre. It is not paranoid to want to check out the presentation space before
the big speech.

When you stand on the dais, you know exactly how many steps to the right or left
will make the audience feel seen. You will know how to utilize the entire stage
especially if it’s big and you are expecting a larger than regular audience.

Nothing is worse than sound problems on top of speech disfluencies. When you
have put in so much of hard work to smoothen out your speech, then why not make
sure your sound equipment doesn’t malfunction while you are addressing the
crowd?

10. Exercise Patience
On some days, stuttering seems to be worse and each person who stutters knows
that.

If you are having such a day, just remember to be kind to yourself. Have a
little patience
[https://www.stutteringhelp.org/blog/stuttering-requires-patience-and-adaptation]
.

Do some breathing exercises, meditate and do something that relaxes you. You can
take your dog for a walk, cook or bake something at home, read your favorite
book, or watch an inspiring movie.

Don’t just give up right away.

After you have relaxed a little, get back to practicing stuttering exercises.

Once you have finished your exercises and warm ups, try rehearsing your speech
again!

11. Practice Body Movements That Channel Nervous Energy
Even when you have your speech memorized and the kinks in your speech smoothened
out, you may get the jitters.

Nerves can take over irrespective of how well you have prepared your speech. You
may realize that even when testing your speech in front of your friends and
family.

Butterflies in your stomach. Blood rushing to your face. Cold and clammy hands.
These are the typical signs of feeling tension before a performance. And that’s
perfectly alright. Even the best speakers and performers get them!

So, what can you do to stop your nerves from interfering with your speech?

Try channeling
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/channel-your-emotions-to-reduce-your-stutter/]your
energy through movements instead. Practice pacing, and using one or both hands
(depending on the type of microphone you will be using) to let the excess energy
flow out.

Getting a little exercise every morning, and some meditation can also help you
channel the nervous energy right out of your body before it interjects your
speech.

12. Get Enough Rest on the Days before the Presentation
We have all pulled all-nighters before our finals in high school or grad school.
However, that was quite a while ago.

If we try the same today, we will be tired and that will reflect on our speech.

Studies
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289182077_Rest_and_reaction_time_to_speech_Comparison_of_stuttering_and_fluent_speakers] 
show that our fluency depends on how much rest we allow ourselves the night
before the event. Nothing can replace 8-hours of sound sleep. No amount of
coffee can make up for a jittery night that you have spent going over your
speech time and again.

Make it a habit to go offline as soon as you finish office work. Don’t drink
caffeinated drinks after 7 pm. Rest your eyes by keeping the TV switched off and
using a blue-light filter on your phone. You can also get blue-light blocking
glasses for yourself.

Minimizing your exposure to blue light will help you fall asleep faster. You
will sleep more soundly than before.

Keep an alarm exactly when you intend to wake up and refrain from hitting snooze
too many times.

You will be amazed to see how much of a positive impact a good night’s sleep can
have on speech fluency.

13. Keep Notes Handy When You Go on Stage
No speaker goes on stage without a set of notes. You may have your speech
memorized, but keeping cue cards handy can help you pick up if there’s an
unexpected interruption on-stage.

Highlight the important portion of your speech, and print cards out for each
slide. Using images, slides and videos during your presentation will keep the
audience engaged.

Keeping your notes handy will help you minimize the effort of memorizing every
small bit on your part. You can focus on your fluency, body language and
delivery since you know you have the cues to fall back on!

Which Exercises Can Help You Speak Fluently and Confidently During a Public
Speech or Presentation?
Out of the several exercises you can do to reduce your stuttering, these are a
few you can master and practice regularly at home. These are parts of any 
treatment for stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-treatment-for-adults/] and they can help
you stutter less during your big speech -

1. Deep Breathing or Costal Breathing
Costal or deep breathing can help you relax. It can reduce the tension in your
vocal cords and articulators.

What we typically do is breathe shallowly. Only our shoulders move when we do
so. Costal breathing means you take a deep breath in and exhale slowly.

One of the easiest ways to master costal breathing is by placing one hand on
your belly and the other on your chest.

When you inhale, you should feel your belly rise significantly. This happens
because the intercostal muscles expand.

Exhale slowly. Try to feel your belly fall and chest rise when you let the air
out.

You can apply this technique during easy onsets, continuous phonation, and other
stuttering techniques to maintain fluency during your speech.

Dedicate 10 minutes every morning to practice deep breathing. It will induce
fluency and it will calm your nerves by enabling you to focus on your breathing
pattern.

2. Speaking After Exhaling A Little
Couple your costal breathing exercises with this technique. When air is
naturally flowing from your lungs through your larynx, your vocal cords should
be relaxed.

It is much easier to speak with fluency when your vocal cords and articulators
are relaxed.

Try to inhale till you feel your belly rise to its fullest extent. Then exhale a
little bit slowly and begin talking.

Practice this every time after costal breathing.

Include pauses and breaks in your speech where you can breathe deeply, and begin
speaking once you have exhaled a little bit.

3. Rhythmic Speaking
Speaking with a rhythm is a popular technique among many speech therapists and
speakers who stutter.

It’s almost impossible to stutter when one is singing. Rhythmic speaking is
similar in concept. You need to find and apply a constant rhythm to your speech
while speaking. You can choose to add a subtle melody
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-and-singing-what-we-understand/] as well
if you think speaking in a sing-song voice is something you can pull off.

The relevant information is shared at 2:09 minutes in this video.You need to
maintain a regular beat. You can tap your foot, hand, or even a finger to each
syllable. It is a fluency-inducing exercise that can help you reduce or even
overcome your stuttering while speaking.

Practice this every day during your speech. Mark the syllables and feared words,
if necessary. Putting some rhythm into your speech may be all you need to remain
fluent and confident during your speech.

4. Easy Onsets
Easy onsets are particularly useful for words that begin with a vowel. When
saying a word that begins with a vowel, you can try to add a small /h/ sound
before it. For example, instead of saying, “apple” you can try saying
“hhh-apple.”

When you do that, you will notice that you need less force to get the word out.
That happens because when you add the /h/ sound your vocal folds are far apart,
allowing you to phonate easily.

Gradually shorten the /h/ sound like this – “hhh-apple” to “hh-apple” and
eventually, “h-apple.”

Adding the small /h/ sound can make all the difference. It will allow the air to
pass from the lungs through your larynx.

You should also try this when you are exhaling after a deep breath. It will help
your vocal cords relax and make vowel sounds with lesser effort. Keep practicing
this and soon you will see that you can apply easy onsets to particular words in
your speech that you find difficult to pronounce.

5. Light Articulatory Contact
Light Articulatory Contact (LAC) is a useful technique for pronouncing words
that can stop the airflow. For example, words with b, p, d, g, t, and so on.

You can apply LAC to words that begin with a hard consonant like Permit, Top,
Dump, Gut, and Bottom.

You may get stuck on a word like “permit” if you press your lips too hard. Try
to take one deep breath and initiate the word while making a light contact on
“p.”

LAC should work on all words in your speech that begin with hard consonants. You
may even be able to pronounce your most feared words without any block during
your public speech.

6. Bouncing
Bouncing is effective as a stuttering modification technique
[http://www.stutteringsource.com/blog/the-411-on-easy-bouncing] that you can use
on-stage. People who stutter often repeat words or parts of words with hard
consonants.

For example, while saying “tomato” you might get stuck on the initial “tuh”
sound. Such that the word comes out as “tuh-tuh-tuh-mato.”

As per this technique, instead of avoiding the stutter, you gain the impetus
from the repetition to move forward. All you have to do is instead of making the
“tuh” sound you need to try to make a “taa” sound.

Combine it with speaking while exhaling to successfully say “taa-taa-taa-mato”
instead of becoming stuck on “tuh.”

This technique will help you slide into difficult, and feared words
effortlessly, even when speaking in front of people.

7. Use an App to Monitor Your Speech and Progress
Stamurai [__GHOST_URL__/stamurai-app-to-stop-stuttering/] uses
analytics and machine-learning algorithms to offer users customized training
plans. You can use the exercises daily to improve your speech.

Stamurai is a speech therapy app that allows users to track their progress.

It is a state-of-the-art stuttering therapy app that features practice sessions,
breathing exercises, customized training plans, and guided meditations.

Join group video calls to test your improvement and gain valuable feedback on
your progress. Stamurai can help boost your confidence before the big event.

You can also opt for online speech therapy for stuttering if you want 
one-on-one
therapy [https://stamurai.com/blog/online-speech-therapy-for-stuttering/] from
the comfort of your home.

Public Speaking With A Stutter: Tips & Exercises

Not being able to say what you want to say is bad enough! Sometimes, this
includes one’s name, address, and contact number.

Whenever we talk to someone who stutters, we hear a lot of complaints including
missed job opportunities, messed up conference calls, fear of answering the
phone or even talking to a brand rep at the mall. Stuttering makes one’s life
difficult. It brings about a flurry of negative emotions that range from
embarrassment to anger.

Yet, research shows that there might be some benefits to stuttering.

Right now, if you are struggling with the lack of fluency in your speech, you
might find it difficult to believe us right away. That’s why we are bringing
forth research materials and surveys from the last decade which go on to show
that stammering has its own advantages.

You are a perfectionist!
You may not have explored your entire potential if you don’t yet know that you
have a perfectionist personality. According to published research by Paul H.
Brocklehurst, people who stutter are more aware of the mistakes they make (not
only in speech), and they are more eager to correct their mistakes.

It makes them keen workers, eager learners and automatically, more driven
towards perfection than their more fluent counterparts. When you perceive
yourself to be significantly error-prone it’s your inner perfectionist talking!
You strive for perfection in work and daily life.

You can channel the same love for perfection and begin practising speech
exercises. Whether you are working with a speech therapist and a psychological
counsellor, or you are alone on the path of self-improvement, you can consider
befriending an app like Stamurai to help you practice daily for attaining the
fluency you desire in your speech.

Your emotional intelligence is more developed
It’s easy to see stuttering as a drawback. When you can’t even say your name in
front of the entire class or a panel of interviewers, that makes it incredibly
difficult to believe that it might have some positive impact on your life.

However, research shows that people who stutter typically have a higher
understanding of others in suffering. Thousands of those with fluency problems
go onto becoming scholars and researchers in the field of speech pathology to
understand themselves better and to help the millions out there.

Surveys and studies show that people who stutter may have a significantly higher
level of empathy, patience and listening intelligence during emotionally
stressful situations. You have the hidden ability to be more understanding of
other’s shortcomings and differences.

You are likely more sensitive towards the necessities and feelings of others in
difficult situations.

Stuttering gives you the scope for personal growth
With the right help (from your SLP and CBT counsellor), you can pave the way for
personal growth. Visiting a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or a good and
experienced therapist is essential in this journey. Once you begin to see that
stuttering does not define you, there is no stopping you!

Studies by Stephanie Hughes, Ph.D., CCC-SLP & Edward Strugalla, M.H.S., show
that a person who stutters has immense potential for growing and strengthening
their character. You have more determination, patience and tenacity that you
probably give yourself credit for.

You work really hard to compensate for your stuttering
People who stutter are not just emotionally intelligent and perfectionists, but
they also strive to compensate for their speech disfluencies by giving
additional effort in other areas or skillsets. In most cases, people who stutter
have very specialized skills in other areas and once they begin to explore these
skills, they can become highly successful.

For example – many people who stutter are gifted musicians and singers. Singers
who stutter while talking rarely ever do so while singing. Sometimes, some have
to work a little hard in polishing these skills, but most are already born with
these special skillsets which include a gift for music, arts-and-craft, and
writing.

Stuttering actually gives you the chance to plan what you want to say and how
you want to say it well in advance. So, it has probably already given you strong
language skills. Or, you are on your way to developing that pretty soon.

If you think you don’t have enough skills, you just haven’t found the
opportunity to explore all your talents yet!

The take-home message
Thousands of renowned researchers and therapists in the field of speech and
language have speech disfluencies including stuttering. Contrary to what you may
think right now, a speech therapist with the first-hand experience of speech
disfluency may be more capable of helping someone who stutters.

Never forget how Charles Van Riper was one of the revolutionary researchers and
therapists, and the father of speech pathology although he stuttered throughout
life!

It is quite evident that stuttering is not all negative. It brings along unique
aspects of intelligence, skills, talents and character strength that no one can
deny!

The Positive Aspects of Stuttering

People who stutter can be highly successful in their jobs and in their lives. We
have met with professors, researchers and academicians, who still struggle with
stuttering. We know about actors, directors, poets, authors, entrepreneurs and
politicians who have speech dysfluencies.

Do you believe it was always easy for these highly successful and popular people
to socialize or express their thoughts?

Whether you come from an affluent background or a humble one, the struggles of
stuttering, the frustration of not being able to express your own thoughts
remains the same. As children, most of us have been bullied by students and
sometimes by our teachers. High school was no different – lunch hour was always
lonely! Each time we got stuck on a word, the burden of shame and anxiety seemed
to increase till it held our tongue down like a lead anvil and we went home
feeling like a failure.

Sadly, for the many of us, who love to speak with ourselves during our “alone
time”, or read poetry when no one’s listening, such feelings of failure are
still real. Personally, I find it difficult to identify when the cumulative
trauma actually began. However, I know for sure that it would have continued
till today had I not found the help I needed.

Today, you might find it difficult to leave your house or speak to a stranger,
but that does not mean, you cannot overcome the hardships and meet success on
your way!

Here are some of the practices that have helped me over the past few years to
take control of my negative emotions and reduce my anxiety –

 1. Include 5 minutes of mindfulness to your day – When you are just sitting
    around at home, or waiting for the reply to an email, you can practice
    mindfulness. You can use guided meditation if you are a first- timer. The
    goal is to not judge or justify your emotions. Mindfulness is about
    accepting whatever emotion you are feeling and increase your tolerance for
    all sorts of emotional pain. Mindfulness will also help you feel less
    afraid, anxious and embarrassed when it’s your turn to speak. Once you are
    the master of your emotions, there is no stopping your fluency!
 2. Practice grounding – We practice grounding only when emotional pain becomes
    too difficult to bear. It works by focusing on the exterior world, for
    example, the work you may be doing right now. It is only a technique that
    allows us to distract ourselves from the harsh emotions of anger, sorrow,
    disappointment, and anxiety for a period. Grounding is what allows us to be
    in touch with the realities that surround us rather than the negativity that
    tries to take hold of our minds. Grounding can be a physical exercise or a
    mental one. For example, it can be as simple as touching the pen in your
    pocket before you start speaking or making a mental note of all the colours
    your listeners are wearing today. You can also choose to think about your
    favourite animals, birds or flowers to ground yourself to what is real and
    far away from the rage, fear or aversion you are feeling within.
 3. Use resourcing to feel better – Everyone has at least one good memory or a
    happy place that they go to when they feel troubled or despaired. Resourcing
    is the method of using happy or positive memories to reinstate a positive
    emotional state despite the sadness, disappointment or frustration you might
    be feeling. Sometimes, it can be the memory of a sunny afternoon you spent
    with your dog at the park, or a lazy Sunday spent on the couch with nothing
    but chips and diet coke for dinner. This exercise helps build resilience.
    The resilience zone is what helps in managing strong negative emotional
    responses and brings calming sensations.

According to experts including Charles Van Riper and Barry Guitar, stuttering is
a problem that has multiple unknowns. That is precisely what makes it extremely
difficult to cope with the emotions the bubble up once a person who stutters
begins to face criticism, mockery and discrimination.

Accumulating trauma often contributes to crippling anxiety made worse by peers
lacking empathy.

The treatment for stuttering is not uni-dimensional. Moreover, it is not the
same for every individual. Your speech-language pathologist or speech therapist
should be able to guide you towards fluency through speech exercises. However,
for many adults emotions play a strong role due to the accumulated trauma,
embarrassment and anxiety that has controlled their fluency for years, or even
for decades. Therefore, you might want to seek the help from a cognitive
behavioural therapist, along with the support of modern technology (mobile apps)
that can help you focus all the energy towards a more positive direction.

Channel your Emotions to Reduce your Stutter

“It’s dementia”, “it’s the fear of public speaking”, “he’s just not a good
candidate” – a lot of comments and opinions have tried to take charge of Joe
Biden’s narrative ever since Biden called himself a “gaffe machine” on the
debate stage. While there were rumours about Biden losing his edge and falling
victim to old age, it is no longer a secret that Joe Biden
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden] has struggled with severe stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering/] since early childhood.

In Detroit when it was finally Biden’s chance to take control of the narrative
something unexpected happened. The entire nation of the United States of America
saw Biden freeze, stumble and struggle to get the words out. Biden was
experiencing what he had experienced as a child and an adolescent – his 
stuttering [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering/] was taking control of the narrative
instead.

This continued to happen multiple times – in fact, every time Biden went up on
stage on November 2019. So, the world was more than glad when Joe Biden stood up
to talk about his struggles with stammering.

Every time we look at the US presidential campaign we are struck by his
impeccable demeanour and well-strategized choice of clothing. So, when Joe Biden
says, “I haven’t stuttered in so long…but I remember the feeling…”, it indeed
offers a view of his very human and vulnerable side. It is evident that Biden’s
memories of childhood stuttering make it a difficult and emotional subject for
him to talk about. However, that imbibes hope in the millions of people out
there who are currently struggling with their speech dysfluencies.

Humiliation and shame come with stuttering says Biden
Nicknames like “Stutter boy”, and “Stut” didn’t leave Biden either during his
adolescence although he was popular in school and a prolific athlete. He clearly
remembers being bullied [__GHOST_URL__/reining-in-the-bullies/] by one of his
teachers at the Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. When people see him on
TV and glossy magazine covers right now, they mostly see his white privilege –
growing up in a wealthy family and attending college on scholarship. It is
indeed difficult for anyone to realize that he has to win a small battle
multiple times every day even now when he has to face debates and interviews.

According to the presidential candidate, “shame comes with stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/]”. Although he hasn’t
felt it in a long time, it has part of his life back in elementary school and
high school. He went to an all-boys prep school which meant showing any sign of
weakness was nothing less than a liability. And even modern society sees
stuttering as a weakness.

Joe Biden went on record stating that “stammering is not a sign of low
intelligence [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering-misconceptions/]. It is the only handicap
people still mock.” Humiliation and shame is something every person who stutters
has felt at least once in their life. That is one of the primary reason Biden
took time to meet with 12-year old Brayden when he was in Concord this February.
Biden showed Brayden his speech complete with the markings that showed where
Biden should pause to ease his stutter. He showed a strategy to Brayden and
helped him normalize his speech dysfluency with that small step.

Stuttering doesn’t define or limit a person
Joe Biden, the 47th Vice President of the US, could come this far because he 
didn’t let his stutter define him
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/]. He credits
his mother for that. “Don’t let it define you. You can do it. Remember who you
are, Joey” she said every time Biden was about to face a new challenge. She was
the person who reinforced the belief that a person is more than their speech
dysfluency and that was crucial for his self-confidence.

Biden still finds it difficult to pronounce all the words, especially when he
feels the pressure mount. He hasn’t had professional speech therapy
[https://stamurai.com/]while growing up, but only his teachers (nuns) who taught
him to put a cadence to his speech. It has inspired his love for poetry, but it
has also helped him stutter more fluently.

How did Biden manage to stutter almost effortlessly for decades?
He tried to control his stutter and speech by reciting poetry in front of a
mirror at home, studying every expression closely. Not stuttering and just
saying the feared words gave him the confidence to carry on as a popular student
who would later go on to become the Vice President of one of the most powerful
nations of the world. His small everyday achievements filled him with empathy
and understanding for other people’s handicaps that we clearly see when he
interacts with his fans and interviewers off-stage.

Speech therapy is important for anyone who faces speech dysfluencies,
especially, since people rarely have understanding friends or compassionate
family members. For any adult who stutters, the ultimate goal is not 100%
fluency, but stuttering with ease.

Joe Biden's stutter - How it shaped his life?

“Stuttering is the only handicap that people still laugh about”

Joe Biden was absolutely correct when he pointed this out.

Yes! The former vice president of the US and a candidate in the 2020 US
presidential election has a stutter.

Joe Biden’s stuttering is no secret.

In 2020, Biden is an expert in maneuvering the words and clearing the blocks
smoothly on most days.

Even with decades of practice in avoiding stuttering, Biden sometimes gets
caught on certain words.

His lingering stutter on the debate night in Detroit is hard to miss.

How Has the Political World and Media Reacted to Joe Biden’s Stuttering?
The first [https://globalnews.ca/news/6321381/key-takeaways-democratic-debate/] 
and second debates in June and July had been disasters, which prompted Biden to
call himself a “gaffe machine
[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/25/joe-biden-2020-public-gaffes-mistakes-history]
”.

During his first debate, he was quite unprepared when Senator Harris questioned
his collaborations with segregationist senators.

His answers that night weren’t just meandering, but also quite difficult to
follow due to his repetitions and blocks.

Opposing party politicians and even journalists didn’t think twice to criticize
Biden for his inability to express himself on stage and defend his point of
view.

Popular personalities took to Twitter to mock him and question his ability to
run a country when he seemed to lose control of his speech during a mere debate!

Yes, even a popular politician was mocked due to widely held misconceptions
about stuttering [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering-misconceptions/].

His speech disfluency was not only ridiculed publicly for the world to see, but
his integrity, self-control, and capabilities were questioned by extrapolating
his presumed inability to control words.

Fox News took this a step further
[https://video.foxnews.com/v/6072239429001#sp=show-clips] and created a
mini-montage of the moments Biden stuttered, stopped, and faltered.

And that wasn’t
[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/sarah-sanders-joe-biden-stutter-mocking-backlash] 
the end of it. More material surfaced all across the internet as Biden stuttered
more during the Atlanta debate in November.

Media moguls, reporters, and politicians took the opportunity to ponder about
his mental and physical health.

There were reports on his degenerating memory, the onset of neurodegenerative
diseases, and so on for months.

Interestingly, even a month ago, there were more articles on the web about Joe
Biden’s aging and dementia
[https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/07/2020-dementia-campaign-123106]
, than his childhood stutter.

Do You Know about Joe Biden’s Stuttering?
Childhood is always difficult when you are different from the other kids in your
class or block.

Biden was smart, intelligent, and emotionally mature. However, he wasn’t spared
from bullying [__GHOST_URL__/reining-in-the-bullies/] either.

The first blow came from one of his teachers, who was also a Catholic nun.

Biden had to recite a passage from The Soul of America by Jon Meacham.

He still remembers the passage, a clear sign that his memory has not been idled
by dementia.

As a child, Joe Biden found it much easier to memorize an entire poem or a
section from a story and recite it from memory.

That’s what he was doing on that day when he said, “Sir Walter Raleigh was a
gentle man”, but the teacher wanted him to say “gentleman”.

“Mr. Buh-buh-buh-Biden, what was that word?” – she asked.

Biden left the classroom and walked home that day.

Joe Biden still thanks his mother for being supportive and standing up to his
teacher that day.

“You are more than your stutter. don’t let your stuttering define who you are”

And that stuck with him years later when he was a teen.

In high school, Biden was a popular athlete and the class president.

At Archmere Academy in Delaware, Biden received the nickname “Dash”. Sadly, it
didn’t refer to his speed, but his speech.

His classmates thought his speech was similar to that of Morse code “dot-dot,
dash-dash-dash.”

It was no relief that Biden had already begun to overcome it by then.

Being a strong athlete and a good student didn’t help with shame
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/].

According to Biden, shame is a big part of growing up with a stutter, even when
there’s a support system.

Old classmates and neighborhood kids forget the cruel nicknames, but names like
“Stut” or “Stutterhead” stick around forever in a person’s memory.

Did Joe Biden Receive Stuttering Therapy?
Biden tried and failed at conventional speech therapy when he was in
kindergarten. One more testament of speech therapy not being effective for
everyone.

However, personally, he never gave up.

He recited Yeates and Emerson before bedtime all by himself and noticed how the
rhythm helped him remain fluent.

Although he couldn’t have known it at such a young age, he was already
practicing a form of speech therapy that a lot of speech-language pathologists
(SLPs) recommend.

Interesting research
[https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00777/full] published
in 2013 in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience by Fujii and Wan states the role
of rhythm in recovering from speech disfluencies like stuttering.

Joe Biden Denies Claim that Verbal Missteps Were Due to Stuttering
In politics and life, speech disfluency is perceived as a weakness.

That night in Detroit, Biden was targeted by Kamala Harris when she began with
the words, “I’m not saying you are racist, but…”

The words pushed
[https://www.850wftl.com/biden-stuttering-not-to-blame-for-verbal-screw-ups/] 
the already tired Biden off track and the sudden attack triggered his verbal
misfires throughout that debate.

It wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time politicians target Biden
for his speech disfluencies.

Over the months following the Detroit debate he has been criticized and mocked
on Twitter and during public campaigns by Trump.

His son Eric Trump, daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and American talk-show host Sean
Hannity made fun of his stuttering openly on public platforms.

Sadly, for Biden, his opposition sees his stutter as a vulnerability.



Several members and supporters of the Republican Party have seized the
opportunity to question Biden’s cognition and sentience citing his advanced age.

Why A Stuttering Presidential Candidate Is A Big Deal?
A lot has gone down in 2020, but one of the best things to happen was we got a
US presidential candidate who stutters.

He has served as the Vice President of the US for 8 years between 2009 and 2017.

Before that, Biden was the US Senator for Delaware from 1973 to 2009.

Why do we think that’s important? Simply because Biden is the living proof that
you can achieve [__GHOST_URL__/joe-bidens-stutter-and-life/] whatever you set
your mind to despite your speech disfluencies.

Some countries like the US classify stuttering as a disability, but it doesn’t
have to be an impairment.

The choices you make should never be driven by how you speak!

We have Joe Biden who goes around the country inspiring hundreds of thousands,
delivering public speeches [__GHOST_URL__/public-speaking-with-a-stutter/],
interacting with children who stutter, and motivating them to not limit
themselves.

The world needed someone like Biden to show that people who stutter (PWS) are
just as intelligent and capable as the ones who speak fluently.

What does Biden Say About His Stutter?
According to Biden, who mostly speaks about his stutter in the past tense, “I
find myself caught on certain words when I’m tired or stressed out.”

It is only natural for PWS.

Even those who have received extensive speech therapy and have moved past their
major blocks and fear of speaking can find themselves “stuck” on old,
feared-words when they are going through an emotionally or physically
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4317269/] trying time.

During a speech at the American Institute for Stuttering in 2016, he said that
he overcame his stuttering problem without formal speech therapy.

His interactions contribute significantly towards the normalization of
stuttering.

Joe Biden’s Advice to Those Struggling with Stuttering
Over the years, Biden has made several appearances on TV and given several
interviews that covered the subject of his childhood stutter.

Biden never really claims that he has had professional therapy, but he does
attribute his fluency to his teachers, who were also nuns at his prep school.

During the 25th anniversary celebration of The Lab School of Washington, Biden
said, “God’s gift to me was my stuttering.”

He embraced [__GHOST_URL__/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/] 
his stuttering completely and he has since inspired hundreds of kids to do the
same.

Recently, Biden’s conversations with a teen Brayden Harrington went viral for
all the right reasons.

Biden showed the kid his speech which had the notes on where to pause, where to
exhale, and where to stop.

He took stuttering and normalized it for a teenager who has trouble saying his
own name!

We need more people like Biden who inspire children and adults alike.

According to Brayden’s father, his son has been struggling with speech
disfluency and he has been bullied on multiple occasions.

You can see Brayden thank
[https://people.com/politics/13-year-old-boy-who-stutters-makes-touching-speech-about-how-joe-biden-made-him-feel-confident/]
Biden for boosting his confidence regarding something that has bothered him his
entire life.

Biden’s advice to people struggling with stuttering is “don’t let your stutter
define you or limit you,” which is exactly what his mother used to tell him
every time he headed out the door.

Do You Know about Joe Biden’s Struggle with Stuttering?

Saying “hi” to someone in the school corridors, picking up the phone to order a
pizza or answering the doorbell to receive a package from UPS shouldn’t be a
difficult task. So, why do we shy away from the simplest and common form of
communication – talking?

I have always been described as a quiet and introverted person in school. My
teachers even commented on my report cards how well behaved and quiet I remained
in class during lessons. Little did they know that there was a talkative child
inside, wanting to pass notes, whisper little jokes, and make my classmates
laugh.

The only thing that kept me from being myself was my stutter.

Now, I kind of identify as a quiet and introverted person. I have come to terms
with the fact that I have very few friends who know and accept my “weird” way of
speaking. I do like loud parties and pubs, because my stutter nearly vanishes in
the chaos.

My acceptance [__GHOST_URL__/should-you-accept-your-stuttering-yes-absolutely/] 
of who I am, complete with the stuttering and all, has come after years of
speech therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Not being able to speak my mind for decades had wreaked havoc on my
self-confidence, self-worth and happiness [__GHOST_URL__/stuttering-depression/]
.

One day, my therapist asked me about the positive
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/the-positive-aspects-of-stuttering/] lessons I have learnt from
my stuttering.

My first thought was, “Are you kidding? I’m here because of my stutter.”

Then she told me to think a little longer; to look beyond my anxiety, fears,
broken dreams, and frustrations. Finally, it dawned upon me that stuttering has
indeed taught me some very important life lessons.

So, here’s a list of the life lessons stuttering has taught me –

1. Nothing Is More Important Than Empathy and Compassion
Empathy did not come as a “free gift” with my stutter. In fact, it took years of
work to overcome my envy, fear, and tinges of unconscious hatred towards the
fluent speakers to actually feel empathetic towards other people.

Getting the support and therapy I needed helped tremendously in this case. Right
now, I am not just more empathetic towards others who stutter; I am genuinely
sympathetic for people in general.

I find myself standing up for others [__GHOST_URL__/reining-in-the-bullies/] 
with speech disfluencies and other disorders. I can connect with most people I
come across every day, whether they stutter or not. My own struggles have made
me more aware of what other people go through.

2. Everyone’s Time Is Valuable
People are always in a hurry. Stuttering slows everyone down! While it doesn’t
sound like a virtue, it is. Stuttering slows the speaker as well as the
listener.

It takes the listener’s mind off the multiple tasks circling in their head and
their eyes off their phone.

When I begin talking, and stutter, people almost always pay more attention to
what I am saying. They try harder to understand me. It makes them focus. Both
the speaker and the listener
[https://mashable.com/2016/05/09/stuttering-listening-tips/] give up other tasks
to simply sit down and communicate for a while.

I have noticed this only recently after I finished an exercise that involved
‘advertising my stutter and stuttering voluntarily.’ Truth be told, it has
worked superbly in restoring my faith in humanity.

3. What Others Say Is Important Too
When someone has been stuttering for a long time, it can be difficult for them
to see things from a new perspective. For example, it was almost impossible for
me to accept that what others had to say was equally as important as what I had
to say. It wasn’t being fair when I assumed that they had an advantage,  simply
because they were fluent.

Accepting my stutter has made me a better listener.

Now, it’s not because I cannot say what I want to say instantly. I choose to be
a good listener because being the “quiet kid” has taught me to recognize the shy
or introverted ones who need a pair of listening ears.

4. Patience Is a Virtue
Sometimes, saying “Good morning” to my boyfriend can take two extra seconds. He
doesn’t mind and I have come to not care about it either.

Everything good in life comes after a period of waiting. At least that’s how I
see it now.

My own stutter and stuttering treatment has made me a more patient person. I
have learned that it is possible to become fluent even in adulthood, after years
of stuttering, but it takes immense work, daily exercise, often with Stamurai
app [https://stamurai.com/], and loads of patience.

5. Bravery Doesn’t Hide Behind an Armor
Earlier, I would go to Burger King and point at something on their menu. Or,
order off the Starbucks app instead of walking up to the counter.

Now, I take my chances. I smile, tell the person behind the counter that I
stutter
[https://stutteringtreatment.org/3-basic-rules-of-self-advertising-your-stuttering/] 
and although I’m trying, it might take a while. Then, I get on with the order.

I volunteer to give presentations
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/public-speaking-with-a-stutter/], and speak at our support group
[https://stamurai.com/sessions]. I cannot change how I speak, but I can
definitely change how I perceive my stutter. If I can normalize stuttering to
even ten people, I’d like to think I’m making a positive change in the world.

6. Taking Chances Are Easier Than You Think!
Not caring about what others think of my stuttering has made me a braver and
jollier person. I no longer feel the pressure to be perfect while ordering my
cuppa joe or making reservations at a new restaurant for weekend dinner.

I have almost never faced a negative reaction from the person taking the order
or from the people waiting in queue. If anything, they have been superbly 
supportive
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/changing-the-perception-about-stuttering-5-tips-for-talking-to-someone-who-stutters/]
.

Many baristas even remember me and greet me by my name before asking me if I
want my usual. A little meaningful human contact makes a lot of difference in
repairing the dents my own self-doubt has created on my confidence and
self-worth!

7. Honesty Is Refreshing
Joining stuttering support groups and attending virtual stuttering support group
meets has put me in touch with several people who are open about their daily
struggles.

I have also made some genuine friends who have helped me see how stuttering has
shaped my life, my career choices and guided me where I am today.

In the last few years, I have made it a point to state that I struggle with my
speech when I meet someone new. Hiding my stutter only makes it worse
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/channel-your-emotions-to-reduce-your-stutter/] and my friends
have given me the courage to be myself no matter where I am or who I am talking
to.

Stuttering is a part of who I am and there is no way I can avoid it. It is
indeed refreshing to be honest about myself.

8. Stuttering Has Helped Me Grow
Growing up is easy, but growing as a person can be a challenge for many.

Stuttering has helped me become less judgmental, more empathetic and sympathetic
towards others, and more tolerant towards others’ opinions.

Yes, in one way I couldn’t do a lot of activities I wanted as a kid. However, as
an adult, after rounds of speech therapy and CBT, I have come to realize that
stuttering didn’t keep me from participating in quiz club, debate club or music
club. It was me all along! I was too worried about whether other kids would
laugh at my disfluencies.

Well, guess, we’ll never find out if I’d at all fail, because I never tried any
of it.

This has made me see things in a different light. Stuttering has shaped my life
and I am where I am because I sound different from the others.

Everyone has their personal struggles, even if they don’t stutter.

So, I have nothing to be ashamed
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-in-children-understanding-shame/] of, nothing to
regret or resent right now.

Last but not the least

I am here, sharing my thoughts, with a hint of confidence thanks to everyone who
loves me and supports me. Without my speech therapist and counselor it wouldn’t
have been possible to complete this personal journey and find the state of
quasi-peace I am in.

In fact, who knew this list could be so long! However, I do secretly wish that
with everyone’s help it keeps growing each year as I grow as a person.

8 Great Life Lessons Stuttering Teaches You

What happens when you stutter?

During a repetition, block, or prolongation, you may feel embarrassed, tense up
and break eye contact. It's common for anyone who stutters.

However, these reactions to your stuttering prompt the listener to react in a
similar fashion. Your listeners will react to your stuttering the same way you
do.

If you are anxious, tense, and apprehensive, they will also feel anxious, tense,
and apprehensive. They will mirror your emotions and body language. That is one
of the primary reasons you may find it difficult to hold a conversation or
communicate successfully.

Whether you are receiving speech therapy from a qualified speech-language
pathologist or using a cutting-edge speech therapy app such as Stamurai
[https://stamurai.app/z4HKmlNXigb] to learn how to stutter less, it's important
that you focus on achieving some basic goals.

Here in this post, we will shed light on the four basic goals that you should
try to achieve.

Goal #1: To Rediscover Confidence
As someone who stutters, one of your basic goals should be to find the
confidence to speak without any sign of tension, anxiety, and hurriedness. That
will eventually make it possible for you to converse better in social and
professional settings.

Stuttering with less tension may not always mean speaking more fluently. The
goal is not to avoid stuttering entirely, but to speak with less physical
tension and anxiety. The idea is to speak at a normal rate. However, when you
feel a block coming, you should slow down, and take your time to say the word.

You should not avoid or replace a feared word. Instead, relax and keep going.
Take a deep breath. Feel your jaws, tongue, lips, and throat muscles relax as
you approach the word. Begin saying the word after you exhale a little bit.
Remember that there's no rush. Keep moving forward till you know that the block
is behind you.

Several techniques can help you overcome stuttering blocks. You can find all of
them right here [__GHOST_URL__/overcome-stuttering-blocks/]. Begin with step 1
and progress to the subsequent steps only after mastering the previous ones.

Goal #2: To Defeat the Embarrassment of Stuttering
You need to learn voluntary stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/voluntary-stuttering-and-fluency/]. The main objective is to find
confidence in the way you talk and overcome the embarrassment stuttering
incites.

One way to overcome the feeling of embarrassment is by repeating the sounds or
syllables on which you stutter. Make deliberate repetitions before even trying
to say the whole word out loud.

Voluntary stuttering is a part of multiple stuttering treatments for adults.
When you are struggling to say a word, you may feel out of control. Deliberate
repetitions can help restore the sense of control in someone who has been
struggling with stuttering for years.

While the listener may think that you are stuttering all through these words,
you know that you are in control of the majority of the deliberately stuttered
words.

The technique is useful in dissolving the fear of stuttering and it offers a
sense of freedom that many people who stutter haven’t enjoyed while speaking in
a long time!

Goal #3: To Get In Touch With Others Who Stutter
Another basic goal should be to find and get in touch with others who stutter
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/benefits-of-talking-to-other-people-who-stutter/]. Meeting and
speaking with people going through similar struggles in life can help you find a
new perspective for your life problems that may not be limited to stuttering.

Stuttering is not just a speech disfluency. It can be the cause of depression,
anxiety disorders, and social withdrawal in adults. You may be limiting yourself
in your social life and workplace because you believe that society has defined
you as a "stutterer."

Stuttering may create multiple crises in a person's life; it can affect their
quest for love and performance in the workplace. Attending group sessions with
others who stutter can help you find new solutions and explore lesser-known
methods that may alleviate your emotional anguish.

Goal #4: To Overcome the Fear of Stuttering
The fear of stuttering is sometimes worse than the stuttering itself. Fear gives
rise to physical tension and worsens secondary stuttering behavior. It also sows
the seeds of self-doubt like "Are people going to laugh at me", "Do people think
I'm stupid", and "Maybe my communication skills are subpar."

Reducing the fear of stuttering
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/how-to-overcome-fear-and-tension-if-you-stutter/] is not as easy
as it may sound. Fear is a strong negative emotion that has become a part of
your life. While you don’t always stutter, the fear of stuttering rarely leaves
your side.

That is the primary reason, stuttering treatment for adults
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/stuttering-treatment-for-adults] isn’t complete without
psychological counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It takes
considerable time and numerous sessions to free a person of their fear of
stuttering and help them rediscover their self-confidence.

It should be a long-term goal for anyone who stutters to overcome their fear of
stuttering. At the same time, one must work towards revisiting their self-image
and boosting their self-esteem with the help of a trained therapist. A
professional counselor may be able to help you align your view with reality as
you undergo stuttering treatment.

What Are The Standard Goals For Stuttering Therapy?
The basic goals for each individual who stutters may be different. However,
during stuttering therapy, the basic goals for an adult client tend to focus on
the three Fs –

Fluency – Your stuttering severity should decrease over time. Your speech
therapist may help you monitor and record stuttering severity
[https://ghost.stamurai.com/understanding-degrees-of-stuttering-severity/] using SSI or
Fluency 5-point scale scores.

Feelings – The individual should aim to improve their positive feelings and
attitudes about stuttering. They should be able to overcome the impact of
negative reactions that they may have gathered from their listeners, and focus
on building their confidence and self-esteem.

Functional impact – It is the overall effect of stuttering on your performance
[https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/ICF-Adult-Stuttering.pdf] in the
different spheres of life. It can extend to your performance as an employee or a
student, in your extracurricular activities and socializing abilities.

What Are The Most Common Goals For People Who Stutter?
Multiple factors may contribute to what a person expects to gain out of
stuttering therapy. These may include the person's current perception of
stuttering, their speaking ability, and their satisfaction levels associated
with communication in professional and social settings. However, a majority of
these goals include the individual's aspirations for coping in the real world. 
Studies [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021992418302314] 
confirm that adults who stutter want to focus on both the psychological and
physiological aspects of stuttering treatment. More than 95% of the individuals
who participate in stuttering treatment want to gain “control over their
stuttering” rather than look for a cure.