I need experiences of people advertising their stutter

[N9NEstein]

I was hoping i could get some experiences some of you guys shared in advertising your stutter, or in other words, how do you approach telling people (or not telling people) about your stutter-there seems to be 3 options
1. Tell the person right away, or right when you meet them
2. Dont tell the person at all, dont mention or talk about the stutter
3. Wait untill you are comfortable freinds with the person

Each seem to have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. I want to see if there's a general pattern to how people react. so if yall could just say which approach you took and how they reacted that be great :D

[Sarah11085]

For me, it depends on the situation as to how and if I advertise. For example: On the phone I usually advertise by saying, Hi I stutter so you just might hear some pauses in my speech. If I am meeting someone for the first time, I wait until I get into a block and then I say something like, as you can tell I stutter and then go on with what I was saying. If I am stuttering but there is no real stop in my speech (aka a big block) I don't advertise. I would add a fourth option. If you get into a hard block have a big secondary or something that is very distracting to communication, I would advertise after that. Try to do it in a matter of fact way. Hope this helps a little.

[Thomkatt]

I say to trust your instincts as to when to tell. I certainly know when I should have and didn't. Every situation is different. When I am speaking in front of a group and don't day anything, that is almost always a mistake. If I'm on a first date and don't say anything, another mistake. Now I feel that if I'm at a job interview and say nothing, that is another mistake.

[Joe M]

When I advertise I prefer to do it at the beginning of the conversation but only if I know I'm going to see this person a lot or if I sense a somewhat long conversation coming on, like a phone call. Just recently I called Best Buy and asked about computer repair. I knew it was going to be a kind of long conversation, so I advertised before I asked my questions, and said something like "Hi, I have a few questions but first I should tell you that I stutter so if you hear any unusual pauses (I usually have silent blocks) that's why." The guy was cool and in a friendly voice said "OK". Advertising definitely decreases the tension in the conversation so I try to use it as often as I can. However, I never want to sound apologetic when I advertise so I never say anything like "Sorry, I stutter". That's just me though.

[Bruce]

I was hoping i could get some experiences some of you guys shared in advertising your stutter, or in other words, how do you approach telling people (or not telling people) about your stutter-there seems to be 3 options
1. Tell the person right away, or right when you meet them
2. Dont tell the person at all, dont mention or talk about the stutter
3. Wait untill you are comfortable freinds with the person

Each seem to have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. I want to see if there's a general pattern to how people react. so if yall could just say which approach you took and how they reacted that be great :D

hi,

i think the American Institute for Stuttering features this as a major aspect of their program, perhaps they will see your posting and provide some guidance

bruce

[Aleqsa]

I usually never tell someone I meet for the first time that I stutter.I'm ashamed of myself that I have this problem.For me is unacceptable that I can't speak normal at 20 years old.I explain to the people my problem only if they ask me about it,otherwise I don't mention a word about it :D

[dream431ca]

People usually find out on their own if you talk to them enough.

[Fredrick]

HI,

you should only advertise your stuttering if you think that then you won't stutter as much.

doesn't that make more sense?

Fredrick

[angeldust]

People usually find out on their own if you talk to them enough.

Yes this is very true. And at the end of the day it shouldn't make not one difference at all. Why do people need to announce that they have a speech impediment, really, it's not important. Nice people and people worth knowing will see past your stutter. If you feel you have to advertise it you are putting way to much weight on your stutter and consequently reinforcing your stutter in your mind. Does that make sense?

[Fredrick]

Yes this is very true. And at the end of the day it shouldn't make not one difference at all. Why do people need to announce that they have a speech impediment, really, it's not important. Nice people and people worth knowing will see past your stutter. If you feel you have to advertise it you are putting way to much weight on your stutter and consequently reinforcing your stutter in your mind. Does that make sense?

hi,

i tend to agree with you but the American Institute for Stuttering teaches their clients to advertise their stuttering as a major component of their program.

Perhaps they monitor this website and can weigh in on why they do this so that people can benefit from their program and not have to attend in order to find out how it works.

Fred

[juancho]

Hi,
Well, I never advertise my stutter. I mean, if someone asks me I´ll explain, but I never advertise it spontaneusly. This is mostly because I´m pretty sure I´ll have a huge block while I advertise it, I mean, the spanish word for "stutter" is tartamudez, quite a hard word to say, specially for a stutterer. :(

Anyways, I belive that advertising it would however release some preassure from our backs, resulting in speaking more fluently.

When I stutter in front of new people I usually don´t get any reactions, apart from wierd looks in their faces; pretty much like an elephant in the room.

My personal recomendation would be not to advertise it, people will asume it anyways; EXCEPT... if its something really important, like a job intreview or something.

Juan

[Fredrick]

hey why not go to an advertising agency?

[purpleocean]

I have the same problem even my own parents do not know I stutter I havent told anyone. I can usually hide my stutter so people dont usually understand what it is they think im 'weird' By the way where abouts in romania are you from? I was in bucharest and lasi 6 weeks ago.

[berrylicious]

I think the purpose of advertising should be to better communicate our message without having to devote half our mental resources to HOW we are speaking. Advertising will not necessarily make every PWS stutter less; if you are a covert stutterer with a habit of substituting words, you may decide to go ahead and tackle those harder words once you know the cats out of the bag. But what it will accomplish is eliminate those approach-avoidance conflicts and allow you to communicate more freely.

So here's my question for you guys...should you advertise if your stuttering behaviors dont directly point to stuttering? I've been covert most of my life, so I do lots of substitutions, rephrasing, and talking around a feared word...to the extent where I'll sometimes say things I didnt want to say or modify my entire reaction. Whenever I formulate a message, my mind first searches for constellation of words that I can say at the moment, and then I fit my message into those few select words. Does anyone else have this? How would you begin to advertise this, esp when the listener thinks you have no problem??

[Steven]

I think the purpose of advertising should be to better communicate our message without having to devote half our mental resources to HOW we are speaking. Advertising will not necessarily make every PWS stutter less; if you are a covert stutterer with a habit of substituting words, you may decide to go ahead and tackle those harder words once you know the cats out of the bag. But what it will accomplish is eliminate those approach-avoidance conflicts and allow you to communicate more freely.

So here's my question for you guys...should you advertise if your stuttering behaviors dont directly point to stuttering? I've been covert most of my life, so I do lots of substitutions, rephrasing, and talking around a feared word...to the extent where I'll sometimes say things I didnt want to say or modify my entire reaction. Whenever I formulate a message, my mind first searches for constellation of words that I can say at the moment, and then I fit my message into those few select words. Does anyone else have this? How would you begin to advertise this, esp when the listener thinks you have no problem??

why do you ask these questions of us if the one who really knows is you!!

I mean if you think you should advertise and it would work then do it if not then don't. I mean if you think you should advertise but would be a nervous wreck then don't do it.

THe American Institute of Stuttering has people advertise so the stutterer has backing when they do it........

[carryonplease]

I would say it is very important to advertise if you are in a situation like a job interview. I recently had one and advertised at the beginning, and I found out one of the managers also stuttered which made me feel way better. Later on when I was interviewing with a different person I forgot to mention until I got into a block... then when I told her she said "ah that is very good to know"

In situations like that people might assume you don't know what to say or have some sort of mental handicap if you don't advertise.

[cjm555]

if i tell new people about it, i wait till i struggle on a word. most of the time they are understanding enough and if they aren't... i didnt wanna be friends with them anyways

[Bill Hargis]

My stutter was obvious from the first word