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From: Russ Hicks
Date: 10/3/03
Time: 12:34:51 PM
Remote Name: 12.237.88.139
Hi Tim,
Wonderful paper! In my talks to fluent people (Toastmasters clubs, university students, civic organizations, etc.) I always tell them three things to do when talking with a person who stutters...
1. Listen to WHAT we are saying, not HOW we are saying it.
2. Maintain normal eye contact. <-------- Yes indeed, extremely important!
3. Do not finish sentences for us.
Your paper puts this in perspective from the STUTTERER'S point of view. Excellent!
Now... I have a difficult question that I hope you can help me with. I have a good friend in my local NSA chapter who has a TERRIBLE time maintaining eye contact. It's not only during moments of stuttering, but virtually all the time. He's a really bright and witty guy - with an incredibly dry sense of humor - and his OVERT stuttering is not that severe. Yes, he has more issues than just stuttering in his life, but his lack of eye contact really affects his rapport with other people, especially in the highly competitive job market. As you know, I'm not an SLP, and you said that THEY really have to be committed to working on the problem... but I want so badly to help him. He's such a nice guy!
Any advice? (Besides bringing him to Atlanta!)
Thanks,
Russ