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From: Gary J Rentschler
Date: 01 Oct 2010
Time: 19:24:17 -0500
Remote Name: 74.111.117.243
Hey Bernie: As one senior to another, I'd tell you that it depends what kind of therapy that you get... if you know the techniques and aren't hiding your stuttering, what's left? I always wonder about what 'drives' stuttering; what precipitates instances of stuttering? Not necessarily what causes it, but what brings it to the surface? My thoughts are for some people there may be an underlying motor component(the muscles, coordination, brain programming and the like) -- their speech motor system is in some way compromised and when conditions present themselves, it breaks down and stuttering results. For others, the old fears, anxieties, thoughts and beliefs about their stuttering impact the brain in a way that results in the person speaking in a way which overcompensates for their fears of stuttering. This often takes the form of speaking too quickly, using too much effort when they make sounds or starting to speak too abruptly --- again stuttering results. Here are some informal (and unscientific) ways to distinguish between the two -- if you don't stutter when you are talking when you are all alone, it would seem like your speech motor system is fairly sound and the difficulty is more anxiety based. Now here's one you'll like better -- tell your wife a speech pathologist told you to buy a six-pack. After consumption, if your speech is better, its likely that your stuttering is anxiety based -- the beer diminishes anxiety and inhibitions. If you stutter more, perhaps there is a motor component to your stuttering -- alcohol diminishes motor control and coordination. If there is no change, get another six pack and try again. EVERYONE PLEASE KNOW THIS IS "TONGUE-IN-CHECK" AND MEANT TO INJECT AN ELEMENT OF HUMOR! However, I have seen people who stutter experience either an increase or decrease in the frequency of their stuttering after a drink or two. I have a feeling you may already have tried this experiment! But my serious answer to your question is that perhaps another angle that you haven't pursued may be to work on how you habitually respond to the environment. I know for me, I respond in fear to having to introduce other people to one another. I've discovered that there is a "voice" inside of me that says that I have to introduce the two people to one another before they can introduce themselves. Yes, isn't that stupid! God forbid that the two people would introduce themselves without me! Its irrational, but that's what my brain tells me, and of course that results in me trying to rush to get it out before they have a chance. And as a fellow senior, you know that I usually need to buy time just to remember their names -- a dysfunctional plan. Let's talk more about this is you're interested. My warmest regards to all your comrades in Michigan, Bernie. Gary