Stammering needs a louder voice

Very few people know that stammering/stuttering is a symptom of a condition in which the brain's neural circuits for speech have not wired normally. And it was only in February, 2010 that researchers announced that three genes had been identified as a source of stammering.

For a few weeks, stammering did have a louder voice, because of the film, The King's Speech. It helped increase awareness of stammering but, sadly, it did little to improve the public's understanding of the condition. King George VI was the last really high profile stammerer in the UK, and he died in 1952, nearly 60 years ago. He was only high profile because he had no choice in the matter.

If you would like to support the work of the British Stammering Association, the UK charity for all those whose lives are affected by stammering, please go to http://www.stammering.org/donate.html

To support the Stuttering Foundation of America, please go to http://www.stutteringhelp.org

To support other stammering/stuttering associations, please go to the International Stuttering Association site at http://www.stutterisa.org where there is list of national associations.

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[Lovingmyfatty]

Thank you for this video, I seriously thought I was the only one. I am the only one out of my friends that is suffering from this issue. I have finally decided to get help.

[speakingout2]

No, @Lovingmyfatty, you're not alone - there are 70 million others! Glad to hear you are doing something about it. Not many people overcome it completely - but how are you getting on?

[Magesa]

Thank you so much for this video. Social stigma, as well as well-intentioned but harmful advice (just breathe!), stem mostly from ignorance. I've been incredibly lucky to have an uncommonly wonderful speech therapist. I've even been able to do readings of my writing. But social situations and speaking in class can be very, very stressful, and it's often very hard to tell natural jokes. People sometimes think I'm nervous or incompetent or frightened. People assume I just have to breathe or slow

[speakingout2]

Thanks, Magesa. I agree with everything you say - but I never found that inspirational speech therapist. Good luck with all you do. You'll need to say strong!

[LaMisereHQ]

Most people are just plain rude. When I see some odd deformity or handicap, my initial reaction is to keep looking. But it's common sense that staring is rude and so I don't.

Similarly, people's disgusting reactions to my stuttering is like staring. It doesn't even have to be extreme, a mild stammer gets me these freaked-out looks. I'm also regularly treated as if less-than-intelligent or just weird. And I hate people who think it's OK to talk over me while I'm stuttering. So, so rude.

[DaLeadBull]

I've been stuttering all my life, and I remember when I was younger I would think one day I would be cured of this. I'm 24 now and I still stutter, I've gone through a lot of hard things like presentations in school, college and now job interviews. My parents have always been kinda embarrassed or ashamed of my problem, so I just do my best to hide it.

I graduated in 2009 with a masters and I'm still struggling to find a job. It's hard man, and I dont even think my parents understand.

[speakingout2]

Thanks ragnarokofborg. Yes, people expect, and are expected, to be able to control their speech and, if they can't, it's a very strange, disabling feeling which others don't understand. Dr Tom Weidig of The Stuttering Blog says that, for most people, speaking is like driving along a big, wide motorway - but, for stammerers, it's like driving on a small, winding road, so that if something goes wrong, or the weather is bad, or you're not at your best, accidents will happen a lot more easily.

[ragnarokofborg]

@orckiller91 I can definitely agree that "controlling it" just won't work, and speaking *isn't* bloody simple. I don't have a stuttering problem - except about three months ago caused by hypoglycemia (from late-onset diabetes 1). It was *very* strange feeling, having a syllable that simply "tripped" two or three times, multiple times in a row. It really did make me realize and appreciate how hard "speaking normally" apparently is.

[speakingout2]

Very bad luck, never2late72456. I've only met a few people who have Acquired Stammering, but all of them have had unfortunate blows on the head which have affected their neurology. Good luck with all you do.

[never2late72456]

Thank you for your honesty and candor. Well said! I was in an auto accident 10 months ago, and now have a pronounced stutter/stammer that 'comes out' with a vengeance during times of stress. I am a teacher. What has surprised me is the way other people perceive me when I am in the throes of a stuttering marathon. They either shout because they think I'm deaf, or they talk very slowly because they think I'm mentally challenged. This increases my anxiety and my stammering goes through the roof.

[speakingout2]

Thanks for your support, orckiller91 . You summarise our difficulty very well. Good use of the English swear word 'bloody', too! Good luck with the long road ahead.

[orckiller91]

@travelingcompanions Thank you, I wish you the best on yours as well.