Have you ever wondered how best to work with People Who Stutter (PWS)? Give this a read and hey kudos for the thoughtful efforts!
Be Patient: Just like everyone else, PWS deserve their time and space to speak and get their thoughts out. While it could be tempting to complete their words and sentences for them (with the intention of “helping” them out), it seldom is helpful. Sure the conversation might take an extra second or two but even in this ultra fast-paced world, one would hope that it is not too much to ask.
Refrain from Giving Advice: You know how they say not to make jokes about someone’s name because at best, they have heard the same joke numerous times, and at worst, it could be in bad taste. The same idea applies to stuttering. You may think you have excellent advice about stuttering but it doesn’t help to share that with PWS. Believe me, we have heard every “advice” and “cure” under the sun thousands of times in our lives. From “Relax”, “Just take a deep breath”, “Don’t feel nervous” to “Try to speak slowly”. Don’t you think we would have already tried all these things and would be doing them, if they actually worked? This is a good place to mention one of the most common misconceptions about stuttering: “Stuttering is purely psychological and is caused by nervousness, stress or anxiety.” This is unequivocally false. In truth,
Stuttering stems from neurological differences in the human brain. Stress, anxiety, or nervousness may exacerbate stuttering but they are not the primary reason.
- Just Ask: Lastly, it is never a bad idea to ask questions if you are not sure what to do or want to know more. Most PWS would appreciate you asking how best to work with them.
Credits
This post was inspired by Deep Mehta’s original post. Check it out on his own website: Deep Mehta: Collaborating with me