Reply #20: I would second Raging Moderate's advice ... [View All]

[Trajan]

I was a stutterer as a preteen, and a lisper, and I couldn't pronounce 'R's correctly either ...

In 5th grade, I was placed under the care of a school speech pathologist for approx one semester.

We went through each problem area every session, relearning how to properly pronounce 'esses' and 'ar's' .... The correct positions and movements of the lips, teeth, jaw, and tongue were drilled into me for over three months .... I have never forgotten this wonderful help ....

To relieve my stuttering issues: I was taught TWO specific lessons ....

1) SLOW DOWN - Giving your mind time to properly formulate a statement allows you to speak without overrunning your thoughts .... I often stammered because I was not yet ready to state anything, since I was still thinking of what I wanted to say .... I would begin speaking before my mind was ready with the words .... I now will sit and ponder for a moment before I even open my mouth (which in itself pays dividends), and make sure I know what I am going to say before I even begin .... or pretty much so ..... When I dont ? : I will still occasionally stammer, but rarely very long ....

2) BREATHE OUT - When you speak, you should be exhaling breath with every word .... Start with an intake of air, and then breathe out with EVERY word uttered, slowly ennunciating each word that is pushed out by exhaled breath ....

I swear: BOTH of these steps were revelations for me .... They killed my stuttering almost completely, and to this day, almost 40 years later, I am rarely caught in a stammer ....

Yeah: it still happens, but when it does: I stop, take a breath, think for a moment, and then trudge on again .... It worked ...


Yes ... Speech Pathologist ..... Yes indeed ....