Geoff
03-06-2009, 10:42 PM
Hi guys, I've made this thread just to write down observations that I notice about my stutter throughout the days, just so I can reflect and maybe somehow build together some kind of pattern or structure that my stutter works off. Also, just so I can see how other stutterers compare.
I'm 20 years old, and started stuttering when I was around 14-15 years old. Which apparently is quite a late age to start stuttering. I have no idea to why it suddenly started.
1. - Stuttering comes in installments
2. - My stuttering is determined by the context in which I'm speaking.
3. - Speaking about myself or describing events
4. - Speaking Spontaneously
5. - I speak fluently when what I'm saying isn't directed at a particular person
6. - When I speak in a different or funny voice I speak fluently
7. - I stutter when speaking in my head
8. - When speaking quietly, softy or whispering I tend to speak fluent
1. Stuttering comes in installments
What I've noticed is that the intensity of my stutter seems to differ over the weeks. For 2-4 weeks I'll have a period of really bad stuttering, and then for another few weeks I'll have a really good, fluent period. The stuttering seems to come in installments of 2-4 weeks before changing. Rarely will I find it changes day by day, it is fairly consistent once it starts.
2. My stuttering is determined by the context in which I'm speaking.
- 3. Speaking about myself or describing events
I've noticed I struggle mostly when talking about myself, or trying to describe something or a situation. I struggle saying stories about particular events. And because of this I'm a person who very rarely talks about myself, and more than often I ask questions and design the conversation around the person I'm talking to.
The thing with telling stories, and describing events is that you need to put in enthusiasm and emphasis on particular words to tell it effectively. When you're constantly stopping and starting and mumbling and blocking a story is incredibly tough to deliver. As with questions, I guess you can get away with asking a question in what ever manner you speak it.
4. Speaking Spontaneously
I've noticed when I speak suddenly with no thought or planning to what I'm going to say, I usually always speak fluently. I did a little random test to my friend, where I just rambled on and spoke about whatever came to mind without thinking, and funny enough I spoke fluently the entire time. This means I can physically speak the words, and that it is a mental problem by thinking about what I'm going to say.
The opposite of speaking spontaneous is of course when you are waiting to speak. And in this waiting period you are thinking how you are going to say it, what words you think you might block on. And the longer and longer you wait the anxiety builds and it's incredibly difficult to speak as you've been planning it so long.
5. I speak fluently when what I'm saying isn't directed at a particular person
Funny enough, I'm not too bad with presentations. I still stutter, but not as bad. I think it's because I'm just speaking in general. I'm speaking to the room and the people inside it, instead of a particular person. Because of this I guess I'm not locked on a particular person, and I'm not focusing on what the person is thinking. But instead I can just go off into my own world and speak to the room.
6. When I speak in a different or funny voice I speak fluently
If I could find a natural, consistent voice that I could put on to disguise my own, I would use it all the time. I speak COMPLETELY fluently when using most put on voices. This means that my stutter affects my natural speaking voice only. How weird is that?
7. I stutter when speaking in my head
How strange is this one? I'm sure other stutterers experience this. I can say a sentence inside my head, and I'll often even stutter then. Or, maybe not necessarily stutter, but I'll feel an uncomfortable sensation when I say a word in my head in which I know I'll stutter on.
8. When speaking quietly, softy or whispering I tend to speak fluent
I'm guessing this is because when speaking quietly you aren't as tense, more of your muscles are relaxing and the sound is much more easier to produce. This means its the combination of my natural voice and regular speaking volume which produces the stutter.
I'll be sure to update more as they come!
I'm 20 years old, and started stuttering when I was around 14-15 years old. Which apparently is quite a late age to start stuttering. I have no idea to why it suddenly started.
1. - Stuttering comes in installments
2. - My stuttering is determined by the context in which I'm speaking.
3. - Speaking about myself or describing events
4. - Speaking Spontaneously
5. - I speak fluently when what I'm saying isn't directed at a particular person
6. - When I speak in a different or funny voice I speak fluently
7. - I stutter when speaking in my head
8. - When speaking quietly, softy or whispering I tend to speak fluent
1. Stuttering comes in installments
What I've noticed is that the intensity of my stutter seems to differ over the weeks. For 2-4 weeks I'll have a period of really bad stuttering, and then for another few weeks I'll have a really good, fluent period. The stuttering seems to come in installments of 2-4 weeks before changing. Rarely will I find it changes day by day, it is fairly consistent once it starts.
2. My stuttering is determined by the context in which I'm speaking.
- 3. Speaking about myself or describing events
I've noticed I struggle mostly when talking about myself, or trying to describe something or a situation. I struggle saying stories about particular events. And because of this I'm a person who very rarely talks about myself, and more than often I ask questions and design the conversation around the person I'm talking to.
The thing with telling stories, and describing events is that you need to put in enthusiasm and emphasis on particular words to tell it effectively. When you're constantly stopping and starting and mumbling and blocking a story is incredibly tough to deliver. As with questions, I guess you can get away with asking a question in what ever manner you speak it.
4. Speaking Spontaneously
I've noticed when I speak suddenly with no thought or planning to what I'm going to say, I usually always speak fluently. I did a little random test to my friend, where I just rambled on and spoke about whatever came to mind without thinking, and funny enough I spoke fluently the entire time. This means I can physically speak the words, and that it is a mental problem by thinking about what I'm going to say.
The opposite of speaking spontaneous is of course when you are waiting to speak. And in this waiting period you are thinking how you are going to say it, what words you think you might block on. And the longer and longer you wait the anxiety builds and it's incredibly difficult to speak as you've been planning it so long.
5. I speak fluently when what I'm saying isn't directed at a particular person
Funny enough, I'm not too bad with presentations. I still stutter, but not as bad. I think it's because I'm just speaking in general. I'm speaking to the room and the people inside it, instead of a particular person. Because of this I guess I'm not locked on a particular person, and I'm not focusing on what the person is thinking. But instead I can just go off into my own world and speak to the room.
6. When I speak in a different or funny voice I speak fluently
If I could find a natural, consistent voice that I could put on to disguise my own, I would use it all the time. I speak COMPLETELY fluently when using most put on voices. This means that my stutter affects my natural speaking voice only. How weird is that?
7. I stutter when speaking in my head
How strange is this one? I'm sure other stutterers experience this. I can say a sentence inside my head, and I'll often even stutter then. Or, maybe not necessarily stutter, but I'll feel an uncomfortable sensation when I say a word in my head in which I know I'll stutter on.
8. When speaking quietly, softy or whispering I tend to speak fluent
I'm guessing this is because when speaking quietly you aren't as tense, more of your muscles are relaxing and the sound is much more easier to produce. This means its the combination of my natural voice and regular speaking volume which produces the stutter.
I'll be sure to update more as they come!