I don’t want to talk to you about today it’s something that’s very very personal
it’s something that’s very very personal
it’s something that’s very very personal to me it’s the experience of living with
to me it’s the experience of living with
to me it’s the experience of living with a communication disorder in my case
a communication disorder in my case
a communication disorder in my case stuttering I’ll be talking about some
stuttering I’ll be talking about some
stuttering I’ll be talking about some tidbits that are helpful and some things
tidbits that are helpful and some things
tidbits that are helpful and some things that you probably don’t want to do if
that you probably don’t want to do if
that you probably don’t want to do if you talk to people with communication
you talk to people with communication
you talk to people with communication disorders however starting off I want to
disorders however starting off I want to
disorders however starting off I want to set the stage and offer a portrayal that
set the stage and offer a portrayal that
set the stage and offer a portrayal that we’re going to need to go back in time
we’re going to need to go back in time
we’re going to need to go back in time to explore back for years then I’d like
to explore back for years then I’d like
to explore back for years then I’d like to say back to my high school days while
to say back to my high school days while
to say back to my high school days while I was in high school
I was in high school
I was in high school growing up in western Pennsylvania we
growing up in western Pennsylvania we
growing up in western Pennsylvania we spent a lot of time on friends arms so
spent a lot of time on friends arms so
spent a lot of time on friends arms so the transition out to a widow was a
the transition out to a widow was a
the transition out to a widow was a pretty easy transition one time coming
pretty easy transition one time coming
pretty easy transition one time coming home from a friend’s farm a friend of
home from a friend’s farm a friend of
home from a friend’s farm a friend of mine was driving his car on a gravel
mine was driving his car on a gravel
mine was driving his car on a gravel road driving way too fast
road driving way too fast
road driving way too fast ended up losing control of the car the
ended up losing control of the car the
ended up losing control of the car the car rolled and rolled and rolled and
car rolled and rolled and rolled and
car rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled over times ending up on its hood
rolled over times ending up on its hood
rolled over times ending up on its hood pushed up against the telephone pole my
pushed up against the telephone pole my
pushed up against the telephone pole my friend had a cut across the top of his
friend had a cut across the top of his
friend had a cut across the top of his head bleeding a lot had to take off my
head bleeding a lot had to take off my
head bleeding a lot had to take off my shirt wrap his head to stop the bleeding
shirt wrap his head to stop the bleeding
shirt wrap his head to stop the bleeding fortunately we did have cellphones took
fortunately we did have cellphones took
fortunately we did have cellphones took out my cell phone just kind of as Zach
out my cell phone just kind of as Zach
out my cell phone just kind of as Zach mmm horace style cell phone at the time
mmm horace style cell phone at the time
mmm horace style cell phone at the time called 9-1-1 denied one want to operate
called 9-1-1 denied one want to operate
called 9-1-1 denied one want to operate her hung up on me I called heck
her hung up on me I called heck
her hung up on me I called heck she hung up on me Kim I had to try to
she hung up on me Kim I had to try to
she hung up on me Kim I had to try to get my friend to be aware of enough to
get my friend to be aware of enough to
get my friend to be aware of enough to tell the operator that I stuttered a
tell the operator that I stuttered a
tell the operator that I stuttered a 9-1-1 operator finally let me speak
9-1-1 operator finally let me speak
9-1-1 operator finally let me speak after someone else told her that i
after someone else told her that i
after someone else told her that i stuttered I didn’t know if my friend was
stuttered I didn’t know if my friend was
stuttered I didn’t know if my friend was gonna survive how much he was bleeding
gonna survive how much he was bleeding
gonna survive how much he was bleeding what was going on in that state I was
what was going on in that state I was
what was going on in that state I was trapped so I’m not only going to be
trapped so I’m not only going to be
trapped so I’m not only going to be talking about the HOS aspects I’m gonna
talking about the HOS aspects I’m gonna
talking about the HOS aspects I’m gonna be talking about what you can do as
be talking about what you can do as
be talking about what you can do as little listeners to support those of us
little listeners to support those of us
little listeners to support those of us with communication disorders also in
with communication disorders also in
with communication disorders also in being a speech-language pathologist an
being a speech-language pathologist an
being a speech-language pathologist an academic faculty member who studies in
academic faculty member who studies in
academic faculty member who studies in this area and a person who stutters I
this area and a person who stutters I
this area and a person who stutters I have the opportunity to be in an
have the opportunity to be in an
have the opportunity to be in an educator and advocate and I want to
educator and advocate and I want to
educator and advocate and I want to impart some of that experience in
impart some of that experience in
impart some of that experience in helping you all increase your
helping you all increase your
helping you all increase your understanding for people with
understanding for people with
understanding for people with communication disorders and through some
communication disorders and through some
communication disorders and through some experiences that I’m gonna ask you to
experiences that I’m gonna ask you to
experiences that I’m gonna ask you to have hopefully gain some empathy to
have hopefully gain some empathy to
have hopefully gain some empathy to starting off it helps to talk about what
starting off it helps to talk about what
starting off it helps to talk about what stuttering is so when we talk about
stuttering is so when we talk about
stuttering is so when we talk about stuttering we conceptualize it in this
stuttering we conceptualize it in this
stuttering we conceptualize it in this iceberg 10% of the iceberg is what’s
iceberg 10% of the iceberg is what’s
iceberg 10% of the iceberg is what’s above the surface of the water which is
above the surface of the water which is
above the surface of the water which is what we can see in soldering it might be
what we can see in soldering it might be
what we can see in soldering it might be a rural repetitions per elongation x’ or
a rural repetitions per elongation x’ or
a rural repetitions per elongation x’ or a boom blox where we just get stuck on
a boom blox where we just get stuck on
a boom blox where we just get stuck on what we’re trying to say we might even
what we’re trying to say we might even
what we’re trying to say we might even get stuck to the extent that we have to
get stuck to the extent that we have to
get stuck to the extent that we have to force it out or try to force it out
force it out or try to force it out
force it out or try to force it out pushing our arms out smacking our hands
pushing our arms out smacking our hands
pushing our arms out smacking our hands against our legs something else to try
against our legs something else to try
against our legs something else to try to get us out of being frozen so
to get us out of being frozen so
to get us out of being frozen so stuttering is an intermittent
stuttering is an intermittent
stuttering is an intermittent involuntary neural motor disorder a lot
involuntary neural motor disorder a lot
involuntary neural motor disorder a lot of words there what it essentially means
of words there what it essentially means
of words there what it essentially means is we know what we’re trying to say we
is we know what we’re trying to say we
is we know what we’re trying to say we know how we’re trying to say it we just
know how we’re trying to say it we just
know how we’re trying to say it we just get stuck in that moment trying to
get stuck in that moment trying to
get stuck in that moment trying to actually produce what we’re trying to
actually produce what we’re trying to
actually produce what we’re trying to say so those observable features there’s
say so those observable features there’s
say so those observable features there’s overt characteristics or what we think
overt characteristics or what we think
overt characteristics or what we think of with the top of the iceberg however
of with the top of the iceberg however
of with the top of the iceberg however as you can tell there’s 90% of the
as you can tell there’s 90% of the
as you can tell there’s 90% of the iceberg below the surface of the water
iceberg below the surface of the water
iceberg below the surface of the water submerged that we can’t see that we
submerged that we can’t see that we
submerged that we can’t see that we don’t often talk about that’s the shame
don’t often talk about that’s the shame
don’t often talk about that’s the shame they guilt the feeling that we’re
they guilt the feeling that we’re
they guilt the feeling that we’re inferior how we think about ourselves
inferior how we think about ourselves
inferior how we think about ourselves how we feel about ourselves how we
how we feel about ourselves how we
how we feel about ourselves how we choose to interact with our social world
choose to interact with our social world
choose to interact with our social world and because this talk is about the
and because this talk is about the
and because this talk is about the experience of living with a
experience of living with a
experience of living with a communication disorder I’m gonna ask you
communication disorder I’m gonna ask you
communication disorder I’m gonna ask you who all to do something a little bit
who all to do something a little bit
who all to do something a little bit uncomfortable and maybe kind of scary
uncomfortable and maybe kind of scary
uncomfortable and maybe kind of scary I’m gonna ask you to stutter now in
I’m gonna ask you to stutter now in
I’m gonna ask you to stutter now in having you stutter I need to be honest I
having you stutter I need to be honest I
having you stutter I need to be honest I haven’t been showing my true stuttering
haven’t been showing my true stuttering
haven’t been showing my true stuttering I’ve been trying to control how I’ve
I’ve been trying to control how I’ve
I’ve been trying to control how I’ve been talking I’ve been using techniques
been talking I’ve been using techniques
been talking I’ve been using techniques and strategies forms of fake stuttering
and strategies forms of fake stuttering
and strategies forms of fake stuttering holding sounds out gently gliding into
holding sounds out gently gliding into
holding sounds out gently gliding into words I’m saying using forms of altered
words I’m saying using forms of altered
words I’m saying using forms of altered shuttering to reduce my stuttering
shuttering to reduce my stuttering
shuttering to reduce my stuttering severity if I do not use any techniques
severity if I do not use any techniques
severity if I do not use any techniques or strategies and what I’m going to show
or strategies and what I’m going to show
or strategies and what I’m going to show you is very representative of how I
you is very representative of how I
you is very representative of how I still sound if I don’t use any
still sound if I don’t use any
still sound if I don’t use any techniques at all
Isis is sound like that and I stutter
Isis is sound like that and I stutter on most every word in a sentence so
on most every word in a sentence so
on most every word in a sentence so that’s very hard what I’m gonna ask you
that’s very hard what I’m gonna ask you
that’s very hard what I’m gonna ask you to do I want you to experience the
to do I want you to experience the
to do I want you to experience the essence of a communication disorder in
essence of a communication disorder in
essence of a communication disorder in this example stuttering so you might be
this example stuttering so you might be
this example stuttering so you might be thinking well wait I’m a kind person I
thinking well wait I’m a kind person I
thinking well wait I’m a kind person I live my life with my heart we’ve heard a
live my life with my heart we’ve heard a
live my life with my heart we’ve heard a lot of talks about living our lives both
lot of talks about living our lives both
lot of talks about living our lives both for others when we have friends spouses
for others when we have friends spouses
for others when we have friends spouses children parents friends clinicians
children parents friends clinicians
children parents friends clinicians teachers put themselves out there and
teachers put themselves out there and
teachers put themselves out there and experience this vulnerable state of
experience this vulnerable state of
experience this vulnerable state of stuttering clients who stutter report it
stuttering clients who stutter report it
stuttering clients who stutter report it increases the relationship it
increases the relationship it
increases the relationship it strengthens the relationship they’re no
strengthens the relationship they’re no
strengthens the relationship they’re no longer isolated they feel supported and
longer isolated they feel supported and
longer isolated they feel supported and understood so for the purpose of this
understood so for the purpose of this
understood so for the purpose of this activity it’s okay
activity it’s okay
activity it’s okay I give you permission to stutter and do
I give you permission to stutter and do
I give you permission to stutter and do a great job stuttering to have as many
a great job stuttering to have as many
a great job stuttering to have as many secondary stuttering behaviors as you
secondary stuttering behaviors as you
secondary stuttering behaviors as you want really toss yourselves in there
want really toss yourselves in there
want really toss yourselves in there however if you meet someone or the next
however if you meet someone or the next
however if you meet someone or the next time you meet someone with a
time you meet someone with a
time you meet someone with a communication disorder probably not a
communication disorder probably not a
communication disorder probably not a good idea to just switch back to your
good idea to just switch back to your
good idea to just switch back to your stuttering state so I want you to turn
stuttering state so I want you to turn
stuttering state so I want you to turn to the people around you introduce
to the people around you introduce
to the people around you introduce yourselves tell them what you gained
yourselves tell them what you gained
yourselves tell them what you gained from this TEDx experience so far with
from this TEDx experience so far with
from this TEDx experience so far with some great stuttering and after that I’m
some great stuttering and after that I’m
some great stuttering and after that I’m going to ask you to just shout out some
going to ask you to just shout out some
going to ask you to just shout out some things that you experienced just then in
things that you experienced just then in
things that you experienced just then in that
that
that moment so take about 30 seconds turn to
moment so take about 30 seconds turn to
moment so take about 30 seconds turn to the people around you and stutter
okay so I’m hearing some great talking
okay so I’m hearing some great talking chatting stuttering I I did hear some
chatting stuttering I I did hear some
chatting stuttering I I did hear some stuttering especially over here great
stuttering especially over here great
stuttering especially over here great job what did you experience
job what did you experience
job what did you experience just then awkward it’s hard hesitation
just then awkward it’s hard hesitation
just then awkward it’s hard hesitation of frustration yes completely anyone
of frustration yes completely anyone
of frustration yes completely anyone else
else
else uncomfortable I heard time embarrassment
uncomfortable I heard time embarrassment
uncomfortable I heard time embarrassment shyness fears we get a magnification
shyness fears we get a magnification
shyness fears we get a magnification that everyone around us is judging us
that everyone around us is judging us
that everyone around us is judging us thinking us the thinking about us in a
thinking us the thinking about us in a
thinking us the thinking about us in a negative way evaluating us that sense of
negative way evaluating us that sense of
negative way evaluating us that sense of time stops you’re frozen in that moment
time stops you’re frozen in that moment
time stops you’re frozen in that moment if you feel like this is taking forever
if you feel like this is taking forever
if you feel like this is taking forever I I can just switch back I can start
I I can just switch back I can start
I I can just switch back I can start talking why am I doing this that’s self
talking why am I doing this that’s self
talking why am I doing this that’s self judgment that anxiety that frustration
judgment that anxiety that frustration
judgment that anxiety that frustration people who stutter often describe
people who stutter often describe
people who stutter often describe feeling less than human less than human
feeling less than human less than human
feeling less than human less than human because of that self judgment less than
because of that self judgment less than
because of that self judgment less than human because of what we perceive others
human because of what we perceive others
human because of what we perceive others are evaluating us as less than human
are evaluating us as less than human
are evaluating us as less than human because the reactions we receive having
because the reactions we receive having
because the reactions we receive having people laugh mock make fun of us ask us
people laugh mock make fun of us ask us
people laugh mock make fun of us ask us if we know are in aim I do promise you I
if we know are in aim I do promise you I
if we know are in aim I do promise you I know my name the moment of stuttering
know my name the moment of stuttering
know my name the moment of stuttering it’s often described as the feeling of
it’s often described as the feeling of
it’s often described as the feeling of drowning you can’t touch the bottom
drowning you can’t touch the bottom
drowning you can’t touch the bottom can’t get your head above water you’re
can’t get your head above water you’re
can’t get your head above water you’re trying to gasp to survive for one second
trying to gasp to survive for one second
trying to gasp to survive for one second longer
now imagine someone on this side of the
now imagine someone on this side of the pool offering advice to that individual
pool offering advice to that individual
pool offering advice to that individual take your time breathe it’s easy put one
take your time breathe it’s easy put one
take your time breathe it’s easy put one arm in front of the other y-you know how
arm in front of the other y-you know how
arm in front of the other y-you know how to swim this is what it comes across for
to swim this is what it comes across for
to swim this is what it comes across for people who stutter not the value of what
people who stutter not the value of what
people who stutter not the value of what we’re saying but a focus on how we’re
we’re saying but a focus on how we’re
we’re saying but a focus on how we’re saying it so we should shift focus more
saying it so we should shift focus more
saying it so we should shift focus more on the content less on the delivery
on the content less on the delivery
on the content less on the delivery you’re probably also thinking wait some
you’re probably also thinking wait some
you’re probably also thinking wait some stuffs just not adding up here you’re
stuffs just not adding up here you’re
stuffs just not adding up here you’re sounding kind of in control of your
sounding kind of in control of your
sounding kind of in control of your stuttering yet sounding like you’re a
stuttering yet sounding like you’re a
stuttering yet sounding like you’re a confident speaker where’s and you
confident speaker where’s and you
confident speaker where’s and you presented us this very overt severe
presented us this very overt severe
presented us this very overt severe stuttering why is this not adding up as
stuttering why is this not adding up as
stuttering why is this not adding up as individuals who stutter we go through a
individuals who stutter we go through a
individuals who stutter we go through a process of self discovery through
process of self discovery through
process of self discovery through clinicians so clinicians are not going
clinicians so clinicians are not going
clinicians so clinicians are not going to cure people who stutter eight to
to cure people who stutter eight to
to cure people who stutter eight to twelve percent of the world’s population
twelve percent of the world’s population
twelve percent of the world’s population will go through some stage of stuttering
will go through some stage of stuttering
will go through some stage of stuttering typically early developmental before or
typically early developmental before or
typically early developmental before or around the age of five of that eight to
around the age of five of that eight to
around the age of five of that eight to twelve percent eighty percent will
twelve percent eighty percent will
twelve percent eighty percent will spontaneously recover within a year of a
spontaneously recover within a year of a
spontaneously recover within a year of a year-and-a-half of onset of stuttering
year-and-a-half of onset of stuttering
year-and-a-half of onset of stuttering so there are no longer Center regardless
so there are no longer Center regardless
so there are no longer Center regardless of type of therapy if they’ve went to
of type of therapy if they’ve went to
of type of therapy if they’ve went to therapy or if they haven’t went to
therapy or if they haven’t went to
therapy or if they haven’t went to therapy however those of us who continue
therapy however those of us who continue
therapy however those of us who continue to stutter and have chronic
to stutter and have chronic
to stutter and have chronic communication disorders throughout the
communication disorders throughout the
communication disorders throughout the lifetime our job as clinicians is not to
lifetime our job as clinicians is not to
lifetime our job as clinicians is not to cure them it’s to help them become more
cure them it’s to help them become more
cure them it’s to help them become more open and accepting of who
open and accepting of who
open and accepting of who who we are as individuals and about our
who we are as individuals and about our
who we are as individuals and about our communication disorder we want people to
communication disorder we want people to
communication disorder we want people to be more confident speak how they want
be more confident speak how they want
be more confident speak how they want when they want to who they want Wow
when they want to who they want Wow
when they want to who they want Wow still effectively managing their stutter
still effectively managing their stutter
still effectively managing their stutter so we don’t cure people we offer them
so we don’t cure people we offer them
so we don’t cure people we offer them the opportunity to set the stage for how
the opportunity to set the stage for how
the opportunity to set the stage for how they communicate through things like
they communicate through things like
they communicate through things like fake stuttering all of our strategies
fake stuttering all of our strategies
fake stuttering all of our strategies and techniques to be more in control of
and techniques to be more in control of
and techniques to be more in control of our stuttering are altered forms of
our stuttering are altered forms of
our stuttering are altered forms of stuttering I know kind of ironic isn’t
stuttering I know kind of ironic isn’t
stuttering I know kind of ironic isn’t it
it
it we also can have people use disclosure
we also can have people use disclosure
we also can have people use disclosure disclosure statements say hi my name is
disclosure statements say hi my name is
disclosure statements say hi my name is Tim and I stutter if you ever need me to
Tim and I stutter if you ever need me to
Tim and I stutter if you ever need me to repeat anything just let me know or
repeat anything just let me know or
repeat anything just let me know or hahaha hi my name is damn it’s great to
hahaha hi my name is damn it’s great to
hahaha hi my name is damn it’s great to hate you by approaching communication
hate you by approaching communication
hate you by approaching communication confidently openly and stuttering we set
confidently openly and stuttering we set
confidently openly and stuttering we set the stage for how we expect people to
the stage for how we expect people to
the stage for how we expect people to respond to us if I don’t show I’m
respond to us if I don’t show I’m
respond to us if I don’t show I’m ashamed of my stuttering if I don’t show
ashamed of my stuttering if I don’t show
ashamed of my stuttering if I don’t show that I feel guilt for my celery I’m not
that I feel guilt for my celery I’m not
that I feel guilt for my celery I’m not embarrassed by it why should you be as
embarrassed by it why should you be as
embarrassed by it why should you be as the listener so this comes with a cost
the listener so this comes with a cost
the listener so this comes with a cost though when I use techniques when I use
though when I use techniques when I use
though when I use techniques when I use strategies it feels like I’m putting on
strategies it feels like I’m putting on
strategies it feels like I’m putting on an act
an act
an act I’m not portraying my true self to you
I’m not portraying my true self to you
I’m not portraying my true self to you you imagine going through life planning
you imagine going through life planning
you imagine going through life planning what you’re gonna say and how you’re
what you’re gonna say and how you’re
what you’re gonna say and how you’re gonna say it in all aspects of your life
gonna say it in all aspects of your life
gonna say it in all aspects of your life it comes with pros and cons it’s a
it comes with pros and cons it’s a
it comes with pros and cons it’s a dichotomy it may increase confidence as
dichotomy it may increase confidence as
dichotomy it may increase confidence as well as decrease confidence it may
well as decrease confidence it may
well as decrease confidence it may increase self-worth it may decrease
increase self-worth it may decrease
increase self-worth it may decrease self-worth it may decrease anxiety
self-worth it may decrease anxiety
self-worth it may decrease anxiety it may set unrealistic expectations
it may set unrealistic expectations
it may set unrealistic expectations therefore increasing anxiety the amount
therefore increasing anxiety the amount
therefore increasing anxiety the amount of energy and cognitive effort it takes
of energy and cognitive effort it takes
of energy and cognitive effort it takes to enact some of these things on a daily
to enact some of these things on a daily
to enact some of these things on a daily but the basis is very representative to
but the basis is very representative to
but the basis is very representative to asking all of you to not use a word with
asking all of you to not use a word with
asking all of you to not use a word with a letter S in it from now until 20 years
a letter S in it from now until 20 years
a letter S in it from now until 20 years from now imagine how much energy that
from now imagine how much energy that
from now imagine how much energy that would take constantly planning changing
would take constantly planning changing
would take constantly planning changing revising not saying what you want to say
revising not saying what you want to say
revising not saying what you want to say becoming socially reduce impacted
becoming socially reduce impacted
becoming socially reduce impacted changing how you think about yourself
changing how you think about yourself
changing how you think about yourself how you feel about yourself so the next
how you feel about yourself so the next
how you feel about yourself so the next time you talk to someone with a
time you talk to someone with a
time you talk to someone with a communication disorder let’s have some
communication disorder let’s have some
communication disorder let’s have some patience be there with the individual be
patience be there with the individual be
patience be there with the individual be present with them through their struggle
present with them through their struggle
present with them through their struggle maintain eye contact a relaxed posture
maintain eye contact a relaxed posture
maintain eye contact a relaxed posture give them the time that they need it
give them the time that they need it
give them the time that they need it might have taken them a lot of courage
might have taken them a lot of courage
might have taken them a lot of courage to come up and talk to you so it’s a
to come up and talk to you so it’s a
to come up and talk to you so it’s a very meaningful conversation or it could
very meaningful conversation or it could
very meaningful conversation or it could be if we give them the time we all love
be if we give them the time we all love
be if we give them the time we all love to play charades
to play charades
to play charades who doesn’t like to try to figure out
who doesn’t like to try to figure out
who doesn’t like to try to figure out through gestures what someone else is
through gestures what someone else is
through gestures what someone else is saying especially if it’s just on the
saying especially if it’s just on the
saying especially if it’s just on the spot roof andum however I will go to ask
spot roof andum however I will go to ask
spot roof andum however I will go to ask please please let us finish our
please please let us finish our
please please let us finish our sentences
”
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