Announcing 'Stammering Research' - Stammering Research - UCL

Stammering Research. Vol. 1.
knows how to establish this in others. She encourages an active management, in which we are helped
to think about our symptoms in a different way and where necessary live with them.
The first and most important thing to do for someone who stammers is to try and ‘cure’ the
unhappiness and instill confidence. Most people who stammer think fluent speech will lead to instant
happiness, but I think this is not often the case. It is easy to get temporary fluency and experience the
euphoria of that. After a while, one discovers problems are still there even though one is talking better.
It is then that the real ‘cure’ shows it has worked. Many people who stammer hang all their problems
on their speech. I see stammering as being a bit like alcoholism - you can stop drinking but still be an
alcoholic, but being one need not stop one from leading a happy life.
Question: Did the good things started at the Apple House continue for you?
Answer: Most definitely. Over the years things have gradually improved. When I attended my first
course I was at rock bottom and felt quite desperate about the future. Life is impossible if you feel you
can’t communicate. I have had wonderful support, which has always been there. Without it I don’t
know what might have happened. I have been able to step forward and develop my talents as well as
cope with my speech. I feel happy about this. I am now confident about solving problems and finding
the support when necessary. If asked if I were cured I’d say ‘Yes’, in spite of the fact that I still
stammer. The stammer no longer dominates my life - at least not any more than being bald does!
Some people feel they can’t live happily without a wig - for myself I don’t care if I’m bald, or if I
stammer.
JOHN
John is in his thirties and married with a teenage daughter. He is good looking, amiable and a
confident communicator. Many actors would give their ‘eye teeth’ to possess his pleasant, resonant
voice, which makes him lovely to listen to. Intelligence, thoughtfulness, humour and a readiness to
share thoughts and feelings mean that John finds it easy to socialize.
He has made a successful career in a large industry and travels extensively, meeting a wide variety
of personnel. Apart from technical expertise, effective communication is the most important facet of
John’s work. He has to continually inform others and negotiate with them, often giving presentations to
large audiences. This role is stressful for anybody, but for John the agony is doubled or even tripled by
having to work hard to control a long-standing stammer. This interview raises issues about the
continual challenge of those who wrestle with putting thoughts into fluent speech.
Question: John, what are your first memories about stammering?
Answer: The first was a school play when I was about seven. One of my classmates said: “Don’t do
what you normally do with your speech, John”. When I asked her what she meant she said I had the
habit of repeating words. I felt deflated. It made me aware I was different from the rest. I became
conscious of the way I was speaking and the fact that this was not acceptable.
When I was between 10 and 11 years my parents sought advice from our Doctor. He said: “Just
leave him alone - he’ll grow out of it”. However, I didn’t - I just got worse. My voice used to go up
and down outside my control. It was weird. I used to repeat words as well as block on certain sounds
such as d, t and p. I could never say ‘chocolate’. When attempting to buy a bar, in the newsagents, I
would end up with something else instead as I was fearful of making a fool of myself and bought what
I could say! It was most frustrating - I ended up all the time with things I didn’t want! That didn’t
make me feel good.
There is no family history of a stammer in my family so everyone was puzzled about my problem.
My parents were anxious to help me and I was enrolled in a drama class. Although I enjoyed the
speaking part I hated dancing around waving ribbons in the air. It made me feel such a prat. I don’t
think I was helped by any of the activities we did. However, it was not until I left school at 16 that I
began to really worry about my speech. Then I became aware of how important communication is in
the workplace and how necessary it is to speak well for job success. This realization rocked my
confidence; although I made a very determined effort not to let my speaking problems interfere with
my life. It didn’t affect me going out with the girls!
Question: Do you see your stammer as an issue for life?
Answer: The answer to that has to be a “Yo” [yes and no]. Initially, I did not see my stammer as
being an important issue in my life. I’m an outgoing character and I was determined it would not hold
me back. However, pressure to succeed at work and pay the mortgage meant I had to be aware of the
impression I was making on people. My speech was not helping to give others a favourable view of
me. A vicious circle started, as the more I worried the more tense I became and my speech just got
worse. I was afraid I couldn’t control what was happening. Life became very difficult. After my first
course at the Apple House the stammer went out of my mind, but 5 months later it returned. There was
a little voice in my head calling me a stammerer, which became more prominent when life got difficult.
Question: John, how do you think about your stammer?
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