Been There - Done That ;-)

Ideas To Talk About When Speaking To Classes About Stuttering

Questions Frequently Asked By Students When A Person Who Stutters Comes To Talk In Their Class
by Steve Hood (posted to Stutt-X, September 22, 2000

In your own case, what do you think are some of the things that might have caused your stuttering in the first place?
What are some of the factors that you think keep your stuttering going, that are maintaining the problem?
What kinds of therapy have you had in the past?
What are your thoughts on self-help/support groups such as the National Stuttering Association?
What are some of the things you do to postpone and avoid stuttering?
What kinds of things to listeners do that you find NOT helpful?
What kinds of things can listeners do that you find are helpful for you?
What specific things are you working on currently, to improve your talking?
Tell us some of the things that you think WE, as future clinicians, should know about the DISORDER stuttering.
Tell us some of the things you think we should know about PEOPLE who stutter.

For many student SLPs you will be the first person who stutters they'll have ever talked to. We're all different with different experiences to talk about. When I do this speaking gig, I emphasize the aspects of stuttering that they can't see.

That in addition to the overt acts of stuttering, there are the hidden aspects; the feelings of shame, the avoidance techniques, the denial, the fear of stuttering in public. I emphasize that these issues need to be addressed just as much as the overt acts.
Therapy should help us become effective communications rather than perfectly fluent. If perfection is the goal, every time we stutter, we fail.
SLPs have to treat the whole person, not just the overt manifestations of disfluency. Some of us will need help with our social skills; some will need encouragement just to talk.
Stuttering is not a psychological disorder (though, as I like to say, anyone who stutters and does not have psychological problems as a result, is probably crazy. i.e., we don't stutter because we're neurotic (as the nutty Freudians long insisted), but we may be a little neurotic because we stutter.
SLPs need to take counseling courses, preferably courses associated with communication disorders.Emphasize The Aspects Of Stuttering That They Can't See by Marty Jezer. Posted to Stutt-X September 22, 2000

Mainly, just enjoy your role as teacher. And don't be afraid to show your stutter.