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From: Gary J Rentschler
Date: 16 Oct 2009
Time: 13:42:31 -0500
Remote Name: 165.190.57.240
Dan: You're right about it being a learned response. Lynn and Greg have offered some very sound advice about stuttering on purpose. What I've seen in my own stuttering and in the clients I work with, are the very powerful affects of emotional learning in this situation. You might video yourself speaking on the phone or ask a friend to help you to learn some of the behaviors you have that you are not aware of. For example, many of the people I work with take a rapid inhalation of air immediately before saying their name. When brought to their attention, it becomes clear that they were unaware that they were doing that consistently. It is a reflection of their apprehension; their fear that they will stutter. Its an attempt to "insure" that they will push through any block that might arise. Instead it insures they will stutter. Often under anxiety, what we do in our attempts not to stutter works against us, actually increasing the likelihood we will stutter. I've seen this learned response to be very strong and difficult to overcome. My best advice is to try to speak softer, easier and slower, rather than fast and hard. It can be diminished with practice, but don't give up, it can take a long time.