Myths vs Truths
Because stuttering is something that not many people are aware of, it's important to debunk common myths and explain what their realities are.
1. People stutter when they are nervous:
Since many fluent speakers tend to stutter and mess up their speech when they are in a nervous and anxious situation, many people assume that stutterers do the same thing as well. However, stuttering is something that is random and appears at random times and can disappear at random times as well. Yes, stutters do stutter when they are nervous and stressed but sometimes they do not. Stutterers also stutter around their closest friends and family members, when they are the most calm.
2. People who stutter are shy and self-conscious:
Again, many people associate stuttering with what is depicted in the media. In many instances, stutterers are seen as the outcasts at school; the awkward characters with not many friends and who is not self-confident. In reality, people who stutter do struggle a lot more with confidence in their daily lives because many of us are afraid of jusdgement from others, and we have received looks and judgements that make us feel ashamed. However, just because we have a speech impediment does not mean that we are always shy and don’t speak up; its just so much harder to. Many stutterers might fade into the background since they don’t always speak up, but in reality we do have a voice and we do want to use it.
3. Stuttering is a psychological disorder
Many emotional factors can contribute to stuttering, but it is not psychological in any way. There is no mental disorder related to stuttering, since it is usually a hereditary gene and can’t be avoided or stopped in any way.
4. People who stutter are less intelligent
This is not all true; stutterers have gone on into a variety of professional career fields. Again, stutterers are just like everyone around them, but just are challenged in the way they speak which does not correlate in any way to intelligence.
5. Stuttering is a habit people can break
The cause of stuttering itself is not a habit, therefore it can’t be broken and stopped. Most stutterers are born with it and don’t even realize they have a stutter until they are older and are surrounded by their society. There are therapies and other ways to minimize the stuttering and make it more in their control, but there is no way to stop it altogether.
6. Stutterers should hide their stuttering
Stuttering is always allowed because saying what you have to say is the most important thing. Many stutters are faced in difficult situations every day. For example, when people ask your name, or where you live, and you stutter, they might say “oh did you forget your name,” in a joking way, but these situations actually happen very often and can result in a lot of shame for the stutterer. Because of situations like that, many stutterers either change their answer or just avoid situations where they have to talk because they don’t like that feeling.
