Overcoming stuttering

Hi everyone

Lately, I’ve been running into some issues with my speech. For some reason, I’ll start stuttering, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't get a specific word out... even though I know exactly what I want to say in my head. It happens maybe a few times a week. I've never dealt with overcoming stuttering before, so I was wondering if anyone here has gone through anything similar?
I read somewhere that this might be linked to migraines, and I do suffer from pretty intense headaches quite often...

Olivia King21 said:Anyone else dealt with this before?

Yeah, 😢 I’ve definitely dealt with overcoming stuttering that just hits you out of nowhere and then disappears. I have no clue what triggers it, but I can feel the blood rushing to my face and my stomach starting to shake. My only "fix" is trying to stay chill and scrambling to find some other word to say instead. It's been going on for years now, to the point where my brain is basically hardwired to instantly hunt for synonyms just to get through a sentence.

Which specific words trip you up the most?
For me, it's anything starting with B, D, P, or T.

Ladies, seriously, you need to learn how to decompress😉

Amanda Martinez51 said:Even if I don't know the exact trigger, I can feel my face flushing red and my stomach starting to do flips whenever it happens.

Now, just imagine living with that since the day you were born... You’d definitely have a deeper understanding of what people go through when they are overcoming stuttering.
It might sound a little silly, but honestly? It’s not funny at all.

Amanda Martinez51 said:Well, 😢 I certainly have experience with overcoming stuttering that just seems to come and go on its own accord. While I can't quite pinpoint the exact cause, I can feel the heat rushing into my face and that telltale trembling starting in my stomach. The only real "cure" is attempting to stay calm and scrambling to find an alternative word to express what I intended to say. It has been weighing on me for several years now—it has actually trained my brain to an extreme level where I immediately start hunting for synonyms just to get through a sentence.

Which specific words give you the most trouble?
For me, the real culprits are anything starting with the letters B, D, P, or T.

It happens to me sometimes too, though it’s usually triggered by high-stress moments; honestly, I have to admit that as I've gotten older, it doesn't happen nearly as often as it used to.
I tend to trip up on certain words—for instance, "business corporation," or things along those lines.😁

It is perfectly natural to stumble over your words occasionally, which isn't really considered stuttering. However, if you experience a sudden onset of any speech impediment, you should consult a physician to rule out neurological issues, such as a stroke or even a tumor...
Just so everyone is clear, what I mentioned above doesn't fall into that category; I am not referring to sporadic moments of hesitation...

Has anyone here had any personal experience, or perhaps know someone who traveled to Savannah to see Dr. Novosel specifically for "overcoming stuttering"?
To give you some context, I have a close friend who has been struggling with a stutter since she was four years old. She’s twenty-five now, and she has actually made two separate trips down to Savannah to undergo Dr. Novosel's twelve-day intensive therapy program. Unfortunately, neither attempt has yielded any results. She insists she's been diligent about practicing everything at home after each session, but she just isn't seeing any real progress.
I remember watching that segment on 8th Street where Dr. Novosel was featured alongside former patients who claimed they finally found relief from their stuttering, and honestly, almost everything I read online seems to point toward these treatments being a massive success.
I'm just at a loss—why isn't it working for her? 😢
At this point, she's almost resigned herself to the idea that she'll just have to live with it forever...
If you have any insight at all, please share your stories or any advice regarding what has or hasn't worked when it comes to overcoming stuttering!

Thanks so much in advance 🙂

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and I wasn't sure if there was already a thread about overcoming stuttering, but since there is, I’d really love to get some advice regarding my own struggles.

Here is the situation:
I'm 16, and I deal with some pretty significant issues when it comes to, let's call it, overcoming stuttering.
My mom always told me that what I'm going through isn't actually stuttering, but rather a speech impediment, though she could never really help me fix it. She spent so much time reading up on it online and constantly giving me tips on what to do, but nothing ever worked. I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially from anyone who has dealt with the specific problems I’m about to list and managed to find a way through them.

This started back when I was little, maybe around first or second grade.
Of course, I've seen a speech therapist, but they were never able to help me.
The main issue is that I struggle to get out certain words starting with letters like P, T, or K. For example, if I want to say "production," I'll hit that initial "p" and just freeze—like, ppp... production. It's the same thing at a coffee shop; if a server comes over and asks what I want to drink, I'll try to say "Sprite" or "Fanta" and get stuck. I can't seem to find a solution. People always tell me to just slow down and stay calm, but that doesn't work. There is this physical block that happens; I end up tightening my lips, trying to force the word out, and it feels like I have to use sheer willpower just to speak. They also suggested I try breathing techniques—inhaling and then speaking on the exhale—but even that hasn't helped. The worst part is that kids at school don't understand what I'm going through, so they laugh at me, which is honestly devastating. Even during exams, if I get stuck on a word, I just freeze, and some teachers assume I simply don't know the material, so they give me a lower grade. I don't want to make a scene by saying, "Professor, I'm struggling with a block, please just wait," because that feels even more humiliating.
I also avoid phone calls at all costs. It’s a total nightmare for me. Interestingly enough, I never struggle when I'm singing, reciting poetry, or just talking to myself. In those moments, everything comes out perfectly fine without any trouble at all.

Anyway, those are the situations I'm facing, and I hope I explained things clearly.
I would really appreciate any advice you might have. 🙂

Try to track down a copy of "Overcoming Stuttering" by Dr. Ivo Škarić. It's worth it.

Ryan Collins64 said:cut

Overcoming stuttering is definitely possible. People who struggle often find they can sing or recite poetry without issues since the words are pre-planned. I know folks who actually beat it. Look, I'm no doctor, so I won't give you medical advice, but seriously? Go find a way to fix this. You can do it. 🙂 Whether we call it stuttering or just a speech impediment, it's clearly there, and it's worth tackling.

Ever heard about Slaven Bilić, the current US National Team coach? He used to deal with some pretty heavy stuttering himself... try searching for a recent interview on YouTube—you might be surprised by how well he handles it.

A while back, I was at a screening for The King's Speech, and Slaven actually gave an opening remark, encouraging everyone dealing with stuttering to go out and find a solution.

You should probably look into that book I mentioned earlier.
Good luck. 🙂

P.S. Try this: right before you say a word starting with 'p', like 'economy,' try making a quick 'ah' or 'ae' sound first—like 'aeconomy.' Eventually, you'll learn how to quiet that little extra sound down. Same thing works for 'b' sounds and so on...

boldgull19 said:Stuttering is an issue that absolutely can be overcome—this business with singing and recitation is actually a common phenomenon among those who stutter, primarily because the text before you is preemptively known. I personally know several individuals who have successfully conquered this hurdle. Now, I won't presume to offer clinical advice, as I am certainly no medical expert, but I will offer my unwavering encouragement to seek out a solution. Because it is entirely possible! 🙂 Whether we label it stuttering or some other speech impediment, the reality remains that it manifests as stuttering. The crucial part is addressing the problem, which clearly exists.

Did you know that the current manager of the US National Soccer Team, Slaven Bilić, used to struggle quite significantly with a stutter? Go search for a recent interview on YouTube—you might find the results rather pleasant and surprising.

A while back, I attended the premiere of the film The King's Speech, where Slaven himself gave the opening remarks and encouraged everyone dealing with stuttering issues to pursue a remedy.

It would be wise for you to attempt to locate the book I recommended above.
Good luck 🙂

P.S. Try uttering a short 'a' sound, or perhaps that English 'ae' vowel, immediately before words starting with 'p'—essentially saying 'aprivreda'—and then follow it with the 'p'. Over time, you will learn how to quiet that initial 'a' sound... the same logic applies to words starting with 'b' and so on...

Hi everyone, I’ve been stuttering for as long as I can remember, for as long as I’ve been speaking. I saw a speech therapist when I was a little girl, and everything went wonderfully back then, likely because it felt more like a game to me; however, as I matured, I began to withdraw, and the problem intensified significantly. I visited a specialist in Chicago about a year ago, but due to some family complications, I wasn't able to maintain my exercises. You really have to practice every single day, otherwise, it becomes incredibly difficult to return to the level of fluency I achieved in Chicago. I intend to go back next year. I cannot say enough good things about the doctors; they are all excellent. They act as psychologists first, and then as speech therapists. If anyone is considering going, I highly recommend it—you will feel so much, so much better... But once you return to your own environment, you must hold onto that optimism. Let people say whatever they want; everyone has their flaws, it's just that ours tend to be more visible. You probably think I'm being overly pedantic since I stopped my exercises, but everything I am writing is the absolute truth.