The Challenges Associated with Dysfluency and University Life: Personal Perspective of a Mild Covert Stutterer

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Re: Disclosure

From: Rob Grieve
Date: 06 Oct 2007
Time: 02:40:46 -0500
Remote Name: 62.136.154.196

Comments

Hi Veronica, Thank you for your question about disclosure. Unfortunately the whole concept is far from straight forward! I am now in my mid forties (more confident as a person) and have only very recently told people who otherwise have throught I was fluent (due to covert strategies, etc) that I am in fact a PWS. The timing and situation has to be right for you. It could sometimes be on a “need to know basis”. The self disclosure as regards my teaching only really started within the last year or so. This was linked to teaching on courses for qualified physiotherapists who may have misinterpreted my pauses, hesitations, as a lack of knowledge or expertise on the subject. By disclosing right at the start of each session that these pauses, etc were due to a “bit of a speech dysfluency as a child, etc… now pretty much improved”, has been liberating! Try to use humour and say it in a light hearted way! This initial disclosure, reduces the pressure on myself to be fluent all the time, and can reduce presentation expectations on the audience. Remember that fluency and communication are separate things! You can be the most articulate slick presenter but not be able to pass on a message or inform those you are speaking to, teaching etc…The old style over substance argument often comes to the fore. If on the other hand you feel that disclosing your stutter will do more harm than good…then I would leave things as they are. As mentioned earlier it is a personal matter very dependant on you and your circumstances! As mentioned by other presenters, by tackling the difficult issues and coming out in the open can often be a very positive experience. My speech has definitely improved so much by being open about it, which in turn has reduced the tension about overtly stuttering. Just one final thought. Sometimes us covert/mild PWS`s get too hung up on being fluent all the time (based often on past traumatic speaking experiences)……when many “fluent speakers” have many similar speech dysfluencies themselves!


Last changed: 10/23/07