How to Support Those Who Stutter

Stutterers tend to feel alone a lot of the time, because there doesn’t seem to be people around them who can relate to their experiences. Supporting someone you know who stutters will definitely help their confidence and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. When you meet someone who has a stutter, or have someone in your community who does, ask them if there is anything specific you should or shouldn’t do to make them feel more comfortable. One thing they respond with is that they will tell you to not finish their sentences when they are having a stuttering moment; it can make the stutter feel invalid. Another important way to support stutterers is to just realize that they are like everyone else, just with a difference in speech. They have thoughts, feelings, and they can talk so letting them say what they have in mind is the least you can do, but it goes a long way. Be able to recognize that it's okay to stutter and that they shouldn’t always have to focus on trying to be as fluent as possible all the time because it is physically and mentally exhausting. Saying things like “Take a deep breath” or “Slow down” might seem like helpful tips, but in reality it just makes the stutterer feel ashamed because they can’t speak fluently at the moment.