You might hear from people who stutter something like, “I don't quite understand how it's happening. I'm well-prepared, I'm getting on stage, and all of a sudden, I stutter,” or "I pick up the phone, I know what to say, but the words just won't come out!"

And yes, stuttering might seem quite mysterious, but it's not “just happening,” it's not a linear thing. It is a cycle, and it has a very clear logic.

And first of all I want to note that we're talking about developmental stuttering as opposed to neurogenic stuttering caused by a stroke or brain injury. Let's take a look at how it develops. So, what are the key elements of this development and of stuttering itself?

Stuttering cycle -

understanding stuttering better

So at the very center we can see a “neurological ground,” this is the starting point. I would call it, to put it simply, a mismatch or lack of coordination when it comes to speech production.

The neurological ground causes insecurity in the speaking structure which I put in the yellow box because it's not quite visible. A lot of people wouldn't quite agree, wouldn't quite accept, wouldn't quite acknowledge that it exists. Then this insecurity causes speech impediments, the speech impediments are more visible.

The speech impediments cause the next yellow box which is the feeling of helplessness and disempowerment as speaking is not happening the way I want. I would call it a panic reaction. It’s a very automated reaction, like touching a hot pan. And it doesn't feel great!

Again, this is in the yellow box because it's not quite visible. The next point - stuttering anxiety and tension - is way more visible. And here I want to talk about the main thing in this video and in this blog post. It's what I call the “refusal.”

Refusal

In the nutshell, some parts of the brain and emotional system simply refuse to cooperate. They simply say, “I'm not going to play this game, I know I'm going to lose.”

That refusal or withdrawal causes ‘real’ speech impediments. It's when you want to say it, and there's a block, and it's not happening.

And I like the analogy with a stubborn kid. In this case, the more you're pressing and pushing, the more you want to say it fluently - the more resistance you get in response. Consciously, you might be like, “Go! Speak! Do it” And some part of you replies, “No way, I’m not gonna do it!”

So, the opposite of this refusal, this withdrawal and escaping is presence. When you feel that you belong here, there's no danger, there's nothing to escape from.

Again, I'm not talking about you as a conscious mind, I'm talking about the automated response your brain and your emotional system produce.

Stuttering techniques - to escape or to create

And yeah, you might be wondering, “Okay, then how can we affect this automated response? If it's all automated then probably there's nothing we can do about it?”

Well, we’re able to do a lot actually! I'm a big fan of creating a new automated response. Let's see how we can do it!

First of all, let's talk about the stuttering techniques or the “training speech” as I call it. That's traditional speech therapy. So, we're trying to do what? That's the biggest question for you as a speech therapist, for you as a parent, for you as a person who stutters and who is exploring different ways to improve.

If it's still more like escaping stuttering better (even though we can call it ‘control’ stuttering), if we are trying to escape stuttering, this is still stuttering!

We can increase fluency for sure! And people who stutter often say, “Oh, I got fluent for several weeks but then gradually stuttering came back! It doesn't work anymore!” It's not that it doesn't work but you want to look at using the techniques from a new angle. If it's still escaping stuttering better you are going to come back to square one and start over from the same spot.

So from the practical point of view (in a very technical sense) the opposite of escaping is creating speaking experiences where you don't have to speak, you don't need to speak.

It's not that I need to say something right now fluently, and I go, “Hey, the technique, where are you? Help me please! I need to escape (sorry, control) stuttering better!” When we create speaking experiences we're not escaping stuttering, we're not controlling stuttering, we're not responding in this case. When you create a speaking experience where you don't have to speak, it's your choice.

All of a sudden, it becomes in and of itself the opposite of escaping stuttering. Technically, it’s the opposite of escaping speaking, and we all know that the easiest and the most effective way to escape stuttering is to escape speaking. Our brain understands that, so by default it wants to escape speaking to escape stuttering. It wants to say it fluently and run away. Instead, we want to feel we're not running away, we're here, we're present, we are intentionally creating speaking experiences even though we don't have to.

Different strategies with stuttering

And if you're not using any techniques or any training speech, of course, it might feel rather tiring. You can be creating speaking experiences, and while you stutter maybe you’re not quite creating great feelings and maybe you don't quite enjoy it. It can be hard to feel truly present when you still have this automated panic reaction in your body and in your emotional system.

That's why I would say it's great to combine creating speaking experiences with using the training speech where you feel that speaking itself becomes the source of relaxation, that speaking can be effortless, that it can be assertive, that it can be expressive.

And when it comes to stuttering techniques, I'm preaching about the hand stuttering technique. That's the technique I used and still use myself. And well, it’s not quite a technique, it’s just a way to restore the structure of your natural speaking. That’s the technique I teach my students these days.

Stuttering and acceptance

And of course, when you're using the training speech (as I demonstrate in the video) it might feel slower, it might feel different, it might feel a little weird even though again it's just restoring the structure of your natural speaking.

I would even say that it might feel wrong. Again, there is nothing wrong. In fact, when my students listen to the recordings of their own speaking they say, “Wow, it's great! It sounds awesome!” But it feels different, it feels slower. And this kind of proves (coming back to the neurological ground) that the perception of speech is a little distorted in people who stutter.

That's why it feels like I have an urge to speak a bit faster even though that exact urge to feel more normal and to speak faster leads to speaking not in a normal regular way, it leads to a mismatch (lack of coordination), it leads to glitches and stuttering.

So, it's a much bigger topic of acceptance and how we feel about using the training speech openly. It’s a big topic about accepting the fact that 1) I stutter and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, 2) I'm working on my speaking, I'm in a speech program for stuttering and it’s nothing to be ashamed of as well! Actually, it's the same as learning a new skill. We're learning a skill of self-expression, if you would.

Developing a new automated response

I have nothing against those people who choose the path of mere acceptance, who stutter and say, “It's okay! I'm proud of it!” If you are effectively communicating, if you can truly enjoy the interaction, if you can feel you belong and feel present - this is definitely freedom from stuttering!

Yet, of course, this is a choice. We can also accept that there is a bit of a mismatch and some part of you maybe is not quite here. It’s not quite full alignment with your body, with your brain, with your emotional system. So, there is also a choice to work on developing this alignment, to feel more in your body.

The hand technique, among other things, does exactly that - it helps you get into your body. It actually brings you to your body in a very powerful way.

Are you trying to hide stuttering, to keep it a secret or you're not afraid to open up, you feel truly open, active and positive about this interaction?

I’m not saying it's fast and easy. It’s not like you change your perception and everything changes instantly. I want you to acknowledge that this is a skill, and like any skill, we can develop it!

The same way as developmental stuttering developed as an automated response we can develop a new automated response to speaking, to social interactions, and to stuttering! Because that's the key difference between people who stutter and people who don't stutter: the automated reaction of your body, of your brain and of your emotional system.