Many times one can observe that stuttering, while speaking in public, is a problem, even for people who do not usually stutter. Is this normal?
According to the Houaiss Dictionary “Stuttering is the repetition of syllables and involuntary stops at the beginning of words.” However, it is much more serious than that for about 1% of the world’s population victimized by this disorder, in a proportion of four men to one woman. In Brazil, the Specialty Center for Speech Therapy (Cefac) estimates a number of 1.8 million Brazilians who suffer from this problem, usually beginning between the ages of 2 and 4.
Lack of rhythm fluency, atypical interruption in the speech, with repetitions, hesitations, stoppages, body and facial tensions and prolongations are symptoms that may victimize anyone from any race or culture. According to specialists, the disorder is treatable; however, it may also be cured naturally.
Many times, the anxiety of those who live with the person who stutters is greater than that of the “disfluent,” as they are called. Many children stutter when they are acquiring and developing their speech. But, if treated naturally, the stuttering goes away, receiving the name of “normal speech disfluency.” However, parents should not criticize or complete the phrase of the child. He or she is only learning to elaborate their speech and should be listened to attentively and naturally.
Anyone, under pressure, has difficulty controlling their speech. At these moments, the individual isn’t usually asked to slow down, be patient or take a breath. We need to respect everyone’s timing when pronouncing the words and wait with calmness, trying not to hasten the person or increase the stutter’s stress focus.
Disfluency is normal. Everyone has certain hesitations when speaking. When we speak, we elaborate thoughts and think more, which causes a delay in the pronunciation of words.
It is possible to imagine the word coming out naturally, without thinking. No one thinks to speak. When you notice, you already have said it. It is an autonomous and independent act and this needs to be clear to those who stutter.
Once I was invited to preach, and I was really concerned about what people would think of me if I stuttered. My uncle, a natural public speaker, told me, with a smile: “It’s easy to speak in public. All you have to do is think that you are talking to a bunch of cabbage heads.”
Of course, as time goes on, you forget about the cabbage heads and are better able to face the public without stuttering.
Alexandra Sampaio
Speech therapist in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
