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From: Terry Dartnall
Date: 10/6/03
Time: 6:18:07 PM
Remote Name: 132.234.9.84
Hi Amy
I’m afraid the answer’s pretty boring: “Yes, to some extent.” I am held back sometimes, and it’s frustrating, but it could be worse. My problems are local rather than global. I explain in my paper how I have problems with “RE-“ words, like “religion” and “representation” and that I have to teach stuff (and give papers) about REpresentations – which I find it hard to say. Isn’t that ridiculous? I can say pretty much anything, except the thing I’m talking about! I can just about handle it when I give lectures. The volume seems to help. But it’s much more difficult in small classes (say, 5 or 6 people). Sometime I’m OK with it, but sometimes I go into a repetitive spin, and then my world falls apart. I think that I panic. It’s the only thing that makes me panic. Jumping out of aeroplanes and climbing cliffs is OK. But I panic when I stutter.
I find two other situations difficult. The first is asking questions after someone has given a talk. Sitting there having something constructive to say, and not getting up and saying it – that’s frustrating! (I do get up and say it sometimes, and I usually fluff it, because of nerves. Some people say, “Get up and get on with it, and you’ll feel better!” I do get up and get on with it – and I feel worse.)
The other situation I find difficult is being on a panel. I don’t like those questions coming at me out of left field!
You say that covert stuttering therapy usually focuses on having the person who stutters become more overt. How much therapy is out there for covert stutterers? I was recently having an email exchange with two other coverts, Cathy Olish and Chris Roach, and we thought that almost nothing was known about covert stuttering. Then an SLP told Chris that it’s been recognised for a long time. It would be really helpful if you could point us towards some literature on it.
Terry