commentr/StutterOctober 8, 2019

Content

I may misunderstand your point. This sounds like the "just accept" the stutter narrative. That narrative is too black and white. My 13 year-old client, Mick, feared his name and every work starting with /m/. He often put 'um' before /m/ words but would still gets tight and stutter on the /m/ word. Nothing would mean more to him than to say his name without blocking and facial grimaces. Voluntary stuttering helped him 1) reduce the fear of stuttering on /m/, 2) the tension of his stuttering gradually reduced until /m/ is now easy. We used a mirror and called book stores asking for books about Mick Jagger, for example. /m/ is easy because you start to hum on an exhale. Voluntary stuttering was a HUGE part of my recovery. I see it as an antibiotic of sorts. It makes cognitive changes (less shame and fear) and motor speech changes (muscles).

Themes

Coping & AdvocacySpeech & Stuttering

Subthemes

Voluntary Stuttering & ExposurePhysical Tension