Do you or a loved one suffer from a stutter? Stuttering is a speech disorder that can affect the fluency and flow of speech, making it difficult for people to communicate. Additionally, those with a stutter often find it embarrassing, which can seriously impact an individual’s mental health, social life, career, and sadly many other aspects of life. It is thought that around 1% of the population suffers from a stutter, but the severity of a stutter can vary. It is something that many people overcome, but here are a few tips that should prove to be useful. Take note of these for yourself, or pass on the information to your loved one in need.
Find A Speech Therapist
The single best thing to do is to find a speech pathologist. A speech pathologist can provide speech therapy for those that suffer from a stutter (as well as other speech disorders) and can develop a custom treatment plan that will help you to improve and overcome your stutter. You can get Telehealth appointments with speech pathologists like Physio Inq, which means that you can get treatment from the comfort of your own home. It is sometimes a long journey, but it is important that you are working with a professional that will know how to help you manage and overcome your stutter.
Speak At A Slower Pace
Many people that have a stutter find that slowing down when talking is helpful and allows for smoother speech. Stutters often get worse when they start, so it is important to take your time and try to relax while communicating. There is nothing wrong with speaking at a slower pace, and you might even find that it improves how you are perceived by others. If you are self-conscious about speaking slowly, then you can explain to people that you have a stutter.
Find Ways To Manage Stress
Following this, stuttering is often made worse when you are stressed or anxious. Therefore, it is helpful for people that have a stutter to manage their stress levels. There are many ways to manage stress, such as:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Breathing exercises
- Exercise
- Hobbies
- Spending time with loved ones
- Pets
Find A Support Group
Living with a stutter can feel isolating, and many find it hard to connect with others, especially children, as stuttering can, unfortunately, often result in teasing (which can only make matters worse). This is why it is a good idea to join a support group, whether this is in-person or online. Engaging with others that have stutters and have also overcome stutters can make a huge difference and could help you to feel supported. If your child has a stutter and has been bullied because of it, it can also be a good idea to seek professional help to ensure that it won’t leave a lasting impact.
Living with a stutter can be challenging and impact many different aspects of your life. While it can be a cause of great frustration and often embarrassment, it is important to know that treatment is possible, and many people overcome their stutter. Hopefully, the tips in this post will help and allow you to overcome your stutter.