Understanding Stuttering and Personal Experiences

Stuttering Misconceptions

• Often associated with the sounds produced.
• These behaviors don't fully encapsulate the experience of stuttering.

Personal Journey with Stuttering

• Began stuttering at age 8 without understanding it.
• Early speech therapy aimed at hiding stuttering.
• Preferred openly stuttering for more enjoyment in communication.

Speech Therapy Criticism

• Disappointment with traditional speech therapy methods.
• Aimed at preventing stuttering, labeled as negative.

Career Path

• Chose speech pathology to improve therapy approaches.
• Motivated by poor therapy experiences as a child.

Research Focus

• Investigating the true nature and definition of stuttering.
• Studying the fears and anxieties associated with stuttering.
• Aiming to find ways to reduce these fears.

Advice for Listeners

• Treat conversations with stutterers like any other.
• Maintain natural eye contact and avoid guessing responses.

Community and Support

• Importance of connecting with others who stutter.
• Shared sense of community among people who stutter.
• Encouragement to reach out and strengthen the stuttering community.

Advice for listeners

The advice for listeners was to treat conversations with people who stutter the same way they would treat any other conversation. Maintain natural eye contact and avoid guessing what they are going to say. Just listen like you would to anyone else.