Stammering : An Embarrassing Speech Disorder
Stammering or Stuttering is a very embarrassing situation which forces repetitions of sounds and make speech non-fluent.It has great impact as a whole on the speaker, who feels himself very frustrated for not conveying his message properly.Stammering is considered as speech, communication and behavioral disorder.The speaker is not able to speak certain letters properly.In order to get rid of it they try to avoid those letters or words and use alternative words.
Stammering or Stuttering both are same.In India and European countries, it is called stammering; while in USA,Australia, it is stuttering.
Characteristics of Stammerers
* Stammerers hardly make eye contact with others while speaking.
* Some Stammerers avoid speaking itself, and if needed they tend to skip those words which are difficult to speak.
* Stammerers use alternative words to convey the messages because they stammer while speaking those words.They use substitution of the words, some time unnecessarily.
* Some time Stammerers take shelter of useless small sentences like 'I mean', 'you know that' etc.They think that these words will provide them enough time and start to forward their sentences with out any difficulty.And they tend to repeat it many times in their sentence.
* Stammer often make their breathing pattern irregular to utter some difficult words.Some times they take support of having little or no air in the lungs.
Feelings and perceptions of Stammerers
It is very natural to feel very embarrassed when you are not able to convey your message properly to the listeners.What to speak about the stammerers who feel many obstacles for saying one simple sentence.They have very negative feelings of these unavoidable situations.If others make fun of their inability they feel very unhappy and disappointed.Some are as followings:
Frustration: They feel frustrated very much for not able to express their views in fluent way.
Shame: Stammerers feel ashamed by their inability to talk in an effective way.
Low self confidence: Their self confidence is very low while speaking to others because they feel that they will not be able to convey whatever they want to.
Guilty feeling: Stammerers feel themselves guilty for not able to speak in proper way.
Hopelessness: They don't have any hope for getting rid of this embarrassing situation.They always tend to hide their inability.
Some facts about Stammering:
* Mostly children start stammering from the time when they start speaking.
* Boys are four times more affected by this speech disorder than the girls
* 50% of stammering children's close relative is stammer.
Causes:
Neurological problem: Signal between the brain and speech nerves are not in synchronization.
Psychological: If some body stammers, he feels psychologically very low; it further worsens the problem.
Developmental: Some times it has been seen that some kids stammer in their early stage.As their development goes they get their fluency.
Genetics: Stammering can be due to genetic effects also.It has been found in many cases that the person who stammers has some body in family who stammers.
Treatment or Cure:
Stammering is not a disease but a speech disorder, so it can not be cured by medicines.That is very important to understand.It needs a special therapy to cure it.However it takes a long time, may be years or even decades.So it needs a lot of patience, continuous support and encouragement.
Speech Therapy
It works on various direct and hidden aspects of stammering or stuttering.It covers following thing under the therapy:
Speech practices
Breathing exercises
Self-confidence boosting
Relaxation
Psychological help
It has helped many to overcome stammering problem.You can also try this.You will see amazing result within a week itself.There are many Speech therapy clinics in India which are providing a good service to the Stammerers.
Block Modification Therapy
This therapy was developed by Charles Van Riper in 1973.Its main objective is to modify the stammering habits rather than eliminating it.It ensures that stammer should be able to communicate his views properly.There are four stages under this therapy:
1.Identification
2.Desensitization
3.Modification
4.Stabilization
Electronic Fluency Instruments
Now various electronic instruments are available to improve fluency.These devices are based on Freuency-Shifting Auditory Feedback (FAF) and Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF)..Don't consider it as a substitution of other self therapies.These devices support to overcome the stammering problem with the comprehensive stammering therapy or other therapies
Speech Language Pathologist
You can consult to an experienced and well-qualified Speech Language Pathologist regarding this problem.You can discuss all your problems with him in detail.He will suggest you a systematic approach to overcome stammering.
Self Therapies Books
There are some self therapies books which will guide you to get rid of this problem.
Comprehensive Stammering Therapy by Phillip J.Roberts:
It is very effective and comprehensive self-therapy to cure stammering or stuttering.It deals with the fluency problem as well as behaviors and psychological pattern.Stammer has to do 29 exercises; by doing these exercises, stammer is able to improve his fluency and overcome his negative feelings and behaviors.
Understanding & Controlling Stammering by William D.Parry
This highly effective self therapy is developed by William D.Parry.According to his view, stammering is due to neurological confusion between the voice and the Valsalva mechanism.
Famous Personalities who were Stammerers
Do you know there are many famous personalities who were/are Stammerers? Have a look:
Aristotle - Philosopher
Charles Darwin - Scientist
Issac Newton - Scientist
Demosthenes - Greek Orator
Claudius Cesar - Roman Emperor
Bruce Oldfield - British Fashion Designer
Arnold Bennett - British Writer
Theodore Roosevelt - American President
Rowan Atkinson - Actor (Mr.Bean)
Joseph Priestley - Scientist
Winston Churchill - Prime Minister (UK)
Marilyn Monroe - Hollywood Actress
Etc.
So don't think you are not intelligent since you are stammerer.You can also achieve great heights in your life.Above list is an live example of great achievements by stammerers.Whenever you feel low and inferior due to stammering problem, please have a look on above list.
How to behave with stammer?
A person, who is not used to talk with a stammer, can feel odd to converse them.It may make things worse for the stammer.He should never make fun of Stammerers.They are like us.Support them and have patience to listen their views.And give them proper time to express them.Motivate them to overcome stammering.Always focus what they are telling, not how they are telling.
note : Originally posted at exposeknowledge.com by same author