How do you get over blocks in speeches?

[Count]

The title says it all. :D

I have two important speeches in January and February. I'd like to collect some experiences and techniques from you that are helpful or at least useful to avoid the hardest blocks. I'd also like to know how you prepare your speeches. For me it's sometimes easier to learn most of my speaking text by heart and not to improvise it like fluent speakers can do.

[emily445455]

I don't have any advice about preparing for speeches, I haven't had to give any in a long time...

But about blocks: I have to focus on breathing. I take a big breath before I start speaking and anytime I feel I'm running short on it. I also focus on talking slower than my normal speed (which is good to do during speeches anyways). This helps my words kind of flow together better.

Good luck!

[Violet]

When i write speeches i don't use words that i know i will block on really badly.. and i constantly re read the speech out loud to myself as i'm editing it and paying attention to the tinniest tensions in my throat which most of the time manifest as blocks when i am speaking to people/making speeches.. So yeah if there are words you have to say which you know you can't, pay close attention to word order before it and afterwards because i find certain words/rhythm of syllables help me get past the blocks. :p

And how to get past blocks? will you believe it i have like forgotten everything my speech therapist has ever taught me.. and i have no idea how i ing did that. I'm not sure whether the techniques just have stoped working, or i have somehow hit my head on a rock and have forgotten how to use them? I havent seen her for three weeks and i've been on holidays and it had gotten terrible :( but i've had periods before when i havn't seen her and i've been reasonably okay.. i'm seeing her today so i'm hoping she will like fix my lack of fluency..
At the moment i always block on M.. well its more of a prolonged sound which in my mind feels exactly like a block but half way through when the sound has been activated. and i can't get past it..well i can, but not with out having a period of time of MMMMMMM... i have hardly ever had this problem and its KILLING ME! cause i get stuck on M and then it triggers me to be stuck on L and N and all those other type of sounds..:mad:
so i feel like in the past two months i have just lost all of the fluency i have gained. like before i could frequently have conversations without really stuttering.. and now its just like a struggle half the time.. but then in the same conversation i can have a period where it is severe.. and then it totally flips and i dont stutter on anything. :confused:
but anyway i can't remember how to skip all the blocks.. nothing is working for me at the moment.. i'll get back to you haha =(

[grantM]

I use formulate and rehe the speech in my mind before hand and become confident with it. During speech though I just try to rely on any recovery technique that I may have and/or struggle through it. I guess it also depends on how confortable you are with your audience. Listeners soon forget about the stutter and concentrate on the message

[Bobby]

I always would block on W's and M's in my speeches mostly. Especially when they started a sentence. However it really depended on the word.

The technique I used almost always to get over blocks in speeches and reading aloud in class was to lead into the word. For example if the sentence was...

"When John and Simon went to the shops to buy a cake they saw a spider on the ground."

I would block on the word "when" so I would come up with some sort of lead in, or in some cases when reading aloud in class I would completely omit the word and use something else :p . for example.

"It was like when John and Simon went to the shops to buy a cake they saw a spider on the ground."

Even though I knew it somewhat changed the meaning/semantics of the sentence, it was the only way I could get past the block.

[cjm555]

practice practice practice PRACTICE!!!

i always had an easier time when i read through it a few times.

[glenn77]

I'd use lots of visuals. Just a thought! :D

[peebee]

Are these speeches are power point presentations? If they're speeches, all you can do like cjm said is practice!

Presentations
- Have VERY good slides with lots of DETAILS and PICTURES. By this I mean your audience should be able to understand what you're presenting on by just looking at this slides. Then you simply read off the slides (if you're having trouble) or paraphrase the slides and throw in some examples/extra info
- Bring an outline of your presentation with you.
If things turn sour
- Read off the outline
- Take a drink of water

You can also try changing your voice and adding a lot of emotion. Remember, the point of a presentation is to get your point across through any medium. Most people use examples and experiences but there's nothing wrong with showing a video from youtube or mixing it up a bit. You could also take a couple shots before to ease up the anxiety a bit :D

[Tine]

what has helped me recently when I've been in situations where I usually block on the phone and in interviews is to speak slower. I make sure that i dont rush at all...and i take in deep breaths before i speak.. when you speak slower, your breathing automatically slows down. I also speak softly...not softly in the sense i speak quietly but i dont press too hard on my tongue when i talk...and it has really helped me...ive been doing this technique for the last 3 weeks and it has done wonders for me....i dont get scared when im on the phone now....i always make sure i take my time and speak slowly..,i still have times when i stutter on a word but it is minimal and i can get the word out with minimal frustration...ive been practicing by reading books outloud slowly and softy and concentrating on my breathing...ive also been thinking slower when i talk to myself in my head....and constantly reminding myself that i must always speak slowly and softly....also i always try to remember to use this technique when im in situations where i dont normally stutter...for eg when talking to my family...i try to speak slowly in all situations...and read slowly... maybe you could read through your speech in this manner when you are practicing,,,and re-read it loads of time until you feel comfortable...in the beginning it will be frustrating to read slowly because your not used to it but you will get used to it....

PS. i understand that speaking slowly does not help everyone who stutters but it has really helped me a lot...i dont know how long it will last for but it is doing wonders for me at the moment..i even feel more confident...i think my main issue is that i talk too fast..ive realised that the whole of my mums side of the family talk really fast, including my sisters which is where i got it from but they don't stutter...altho i have one uncle who has a really bad stutter and talks extremely fast but he doesnt care at all...also he's an alcoholic so he has other issues to deal with...

i hope this helps...

[Perseverance]

I'd use lots of visuals. Just a thought! :D

when I get off the bus on the way to work - I always have trouble saying thankyou to the driver

So I fill my mind with a visualisation of a pint of lager - i see it and imagine the condensatation dripping down the glass - at the very last moment, I'm able to say ' Thankyou driver '.

[emily445455]

when I get off the bus on the way to work - I always have trouble saying thankyou to the driver

So I fill my mind with a visualisation of a pint of lager - i see it and imagine the condensatation dripping down the glass - at the very last moment, I'm able to say ' Thankyou driver '.

That's interesting.

[Count]

I don't have any advice about preparing for speeches, I haven't had to give any in a long time...


You've been lucky, Emily. :D

[emily445455]

You've been lucky, Emily. :D

That will end this semester. I've heard one of my profs this semester is big, big, big into the students giving oral presentations :(

[grantM]

That will end this semester. I've heard one of my profs this semester is big, big, big into the students giving oral presentations :(

But just remember that they have to give reasonable accommodations for your stutter in regards to class interaction & assessment. You just have to make them aware of it being an issue.

[justthere]

i had to do a speech last semster.......i listened to my ipod in one ear....i just put a song on that calms me down.