Your Voice Matters

For years, there have been Speech-Language Pathologists advocating both for and against treating people for stuttering. I happen to believe that treatment is appropriate and warranted for both children and adults. I will say that treatment looks very different in either case. For adults who are interested in treatment for stuttering, you can expect to be given a handful of strategies to feel out. We will talk about which ones make the most sense to you and which ones you feel most comfortable using. We’ll practice the use of these strategies altering levels of complexity. Then, we’ll decide if there’s anything else we think we need to focus on. In most cases, it’s less about the strategies and more about finding the confidence to be you and enjoy verbal interactions.

Stuttering doesn’t make your words any less valuable. Here are a few strategies that can help you feel more in control when speaking, without trying to “erase” your stutter.

Tip 1: Set the pace.

Don’t feel pressured to match someone else’s speaking speed. Giving yourself space between words allows your message—not your stutter—to take the lead. Some people feel that pacing helps them to speak more fluently. If this strategy feels good and increases confidence, it’s a simple strategy to practice and can be used as needed.

Tip 2: Make eye contact.

Maintaining connection helps listeners focus on your message, not your moment of disfluency.

Tip 3: Practice self-advocacy.

If you feel comfortable, let others know, “I stutter sometimes—it’s just how I talk.” This often reduces pressure and helps the conversation flow naturally. Consider how you would react if being told, “sometimes this occurs, and I might need a little extra time.” Most of us would just give extra time without question and move on with the conversation.

Tip 4: Focus on your message, not the moment.

Your worth as a communicator is in your ideas, not in perfect fluency. A good idea or any other form of meaningful communication is worth the time. Put it out there and own it.

Confidence Over Perfection

Perfection isn’t the goal. Comfortable, authentic, confident communication is. When you allow yourself to speak freely—even if a stutter happens—you give others permission to focus on your words instead of how you say them.