Do you stammer?

TommyK · 12-01-2003 5:49pm #1

Hi All,

Just wondering – if any of you stammer, how do you cope with it?

I do and, although it has become pretty mild in recent years, it still bothers me. There’s nothing I’d like more than to be rid of it – my work brings me into contact with dozens of different people everyday and it can cause problems and create misunderstandings. It even provokes hostility, cruel remarks, and weird stares.

I’m pretty fed-up with conventional treatments – they’re very good at draining my bank account but nothing else. I’ve even tried some strange things like hypnosis – again, to no avail.

Has anyone encountered success with any treatments?

If not, how do you get on with life in spite of this affliction?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Kind regards,
Tommy.

^CwAzY^ · 12-01-2003 7:48pm

An indirect member of my family suffers really bad from this. He only started to get treatment recently. I have to admit it is rather frustrating trying to converse with him, but he's a nice guy all the same.
Is it just me or is stammering more common in males than females?

Caesar_Bojangle · 12-01-2003 8:33pm

My friends friends cousin had a stammer, went to a specialist and basically in most cases its mental rather than physical i think, so it can be bettered. You have to find your "place" or something were you are totally relaxed so you dont feel nervous in certain situations like picture people naked or something, i think he had to practice reading aloud as part of it. I'm sure there are thousands in Dublin alone in your boat so dont feel down.

Sangre · 12-01-2003 8:39pm

I know a guy who stammers (he is a dick BTW) but you have to remind yourself not to finish his sentences. I can see how annoying that would be to me afaik

Oh btw I have a slight lisp, which is probably better, unless you're trying to be thuper macho

Pigman II · 12-01-2003 8:47pm

I know a guy who has a stammer and the strange thing is that when he's drunk his stammer completely dissapears! Can anyone explain this?

Despite his stammer I can understand him clear as day but ironically enough he has brother (without stammer) but with the thickest 'regional' accent I've ever heard in my life and I can barely ever understand a single word HE's saying.

BEAT · 13-01-2003 4:20am

Originally posted by Pigman II
I know a guy who has a stammer and the strange thing is that when he's drunk his stammer completely dissapears! Can anyone explain this?

I had a friend who did the exact same thing, and an uncle..it is all mental, you see when you are more relaxed you dont have the problem and alcohol is what relaxed them. Its a nerve/stress related problem...find a way to calm down and take things a bit slower and it will go away eventually, with the right approach for you...talk to a professional if you think you cant do it on your own.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-01-2003 7:13am

i don't stammer but I sometimes have trouble with certain words.. it's no words in particular, but sometimes if I start a sentence with a word that beings with the letter T or something, and I'm thinking about it before i say it.. I'll sometimes have troulbe pronouncing that first T.. after that it's all fine though

happens with a few letters, and sometimes it doesn't happen at all, it's strange

Dampsquid · 13-01-2003 9:21am

I some times stammer when i think beforehand what i am going to say. But if i'm just talking normally in a conversation i have no problems. Does anyone know why this is?

TommyK · 13-01-2003 7:24pm

quote:

Originally posted by Pigman II
I know a guy who has a stammer and the strange thing is
that when he's drunk his stammer completely dissapears!
Can anyone explain this?

I never stammer when I'm drunk either! Maybe staying
drunk 24/7 is the solution :-)

And, yep, stammering is way more common in
males.

Another strange thing is that I have a very strong
accent too (Wexford) but if I "put on" another
regional accent, I hardly stammer at all (I do a pretty
good Dub accent and my Cavan-lingo is not bad
either).

Tommy

pugwall · 13-01-2003 7:31pm

I used to stammer when I was younger. I think it was a nervous thing. It was never never too much of a problem as it was only mild. I can only remember 2 or 3 occasionw when I actually couldnt get a sentance out. It was quite traumatic at the time and very embarrissing. I dont stammer anymore although now and then I find it reappears when I talk to some1 with a stammer.

roxy · 14-01-2003 12:47pm

D'yknow what I do some times and it's funny. I'm about to say a word but I think of two words for the same object or thing and I end up with a fusion of the two. One common one is, say I was going to mention the current issue of a magazine, I'd think issue but I'd also think edition, and the word that comes out is edissue! I swear! It happens with various words from time to time.

Doesn't bother me, it's funny. But it could be embarrassing some day.

hmm

roxy

Snaga · 14-01-2003 12:57pm

Tommy - This may sound silly but do you stammer when you sing? Ive heard that a lot of people who stammer can sing perfectly well without any kind of stammer.

Could be similar (in a mental sense) to putting on a fake accent. weirdness.

eth0_ · 14-01-2003 12:58pm

Originally posted by Snaga
Tommy - This may sound silly but do you stammer when you sing? Ive heard that a lot of people who stammer can sing perfectly well without any kind of stammer.

Like little pop idol Gareth Gates and of course, Scatman John!

TommyK · 14-01-2003 8:02pm

quote:

Originally posted by Snaga
Tommy - This may sound silly but do you stammer when you sing? Ive heard that a lot of people who stammer can sing perfectly well without any kind of stammer.

No, I don't but I'm an awful singer. (And your're dead
right - it *is* weird.

I don't know if I'd fancy going around singing at everyone anyway. That's even weirder!

Tommy.

Sangre · 14-01-2003 11:16pm

Originally posted by Snaga
Tommy - This may sound silly but do you stammer when you sing? Ive heard that a lot of people who stammer can sing perfectly well without any kind of stammer.

Could be similar (in a mental sense) to putting on a fake accent. weirdness.

The singing is not generally a mental thing, it is because when you breathe much deeper, or your voice box works differently.

pickarooney · 15-01-2003 1:47am

Singing involves a different part of the brain, where the synaptic flow isn't disrupted as it is in the speech part of the brain of the stammerer. The latter can be due to physical damage, oxygen deprivation, or be completely psychosomatic.

Kell · 15-01-2003 11:33am

Here's a thought. I know people too who stammer when sober but when drunk it magically dissappears. I think stammering is down to three things- how your breathing works, how relaxed you are and also how quickly your mouth processes things you're brain is trying to say. When I have loads of things that I am trying to get out and my brain is on a complete roll, I stutter a bit. It's almost like my mouth isn't keeping up with my brain.

Anyway, I digress slightly. Be aware of every single inhale and exhale you make. Concentrating on your breathing calms you down lots. Force yourself to take note of it and if you can manage to control it then you may have a shot at trying to control the stammer.

xern · 16-01-2003 9:02pm

I never stammer when I'm drunk either! Maybe staying
drunk 24/7 is the solution :-)

And, yep, stammering is way more common in
males.

Another strange thing is that I have a very strong
accent too (Wexford) but if I "put on" another
regional accent, I hardly stammer at all (I do a pretty
good Dub accent and my Cavan-lingo is not bad
either).

Tommy [/B][/QUOTE]

I'm in the same boat to, what i try to do is when i'm talking on the phone at work or conversing with someone and i think i'm going to stammer i talk with a deeper voice and it usually works 100% of the time.
i know how you feel and it does get you down sometimes.

Mr_Roger_Bongos · 16-01-2003 9:22pm

I know somebody who suffered form a stammer. He found it was worse when he was nervous, or trying to converse with a stranger. Do you find this? He tried ways to make him more relaxed with strangers, or just more confident. He said that realxing breaths also help to reduce the stammer.

Redshift · 22-01-2003 1:41am

I think it's a confidence thing I used to stammer when I was in primary school but it was caused by severe bullying. I changed to another school where I wasn't bullied and I made new friends, After that the stammer slowly went away as I gained confidence.
I have no problems now, maybe there is something in your life causing your problem are you nervous around new people? Try to think when your stammering is worst.

Hope it works out for you

Red

pauldeehan · 23-01-2003 9:47am

Do you know a second language? I've heard that a good way of overcoming a stammer is thinking of what you're trying to say in another language. Not sure how effective it is though.

Also, I seem to remember Stephen King's IT having a short bit on one character's speech therapy, might be worth a look.

Oh, and for the love of God, ignore my sig.

Do you stammer?

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