Living With a Stutter

Joel Starner, a junior studying communication sciences and disorders, has been living with a stutter since it became noticeable around second grade. He doesn't let this hold him back, but performs poetry publicly to prove that he isn't defined by his disorder.

Video by Garrett McCafferty and Hope Roberts
Editing by Garrett McCafferty

[yourfriendlyneighborhoodsaiyan]

As a person with a stuttering disorder, it pains me whenever I hear someone stutter, because I know exactly how frustrating it can be. As I grow older and wiser, I have come to understand that People who pick on people who stutter aren't necessarily mean; rather, they don't understand the pain of stuttering.

[morriswilburn]

I am 71 years old, and have stuttered since early childhood. Based on my own experience and a very large amount of reading about stuttering over the years, I would say the following.

In many instances, children who begin stuttering in early childhood (age 4), for reasons not fully understood by experts in this field, will permanently cease stuttering WITHOUT speech therapy. In my opinion, it depends in part on the parenting abilities of the parents, the degree to which they have educated themselves about raising children who stutter, overall conditions within the home, bullying at school, and the severity of the biological basis of the child’s stuttering. If your child’s stuttering does not improve AND IF it becomes a problem, I recommend speech therapy. If the child seems to “be ok” with his stuttering, it is probably best to not obtain speech therapy, just try to be a good parent. If you do decide to obtain speech therapy, try VERY strongly to find a speech therapist who has been trained how to treat stuttering, and few of them have.

A better option is an approach that does not treat the stuttering, but the child who stutters. This is sometimes call the “holistic” approach.

The “holistic” approach may also be helpful as a young adult.

If a person has stuttered since early childhood and still does by his early 20’s, the continued stuttering and related stressful experiences may have caused mental health disorders. No type of therapy will be effective until those disorders have been adequately addressed. The disorders may be depression, PTSD, generalized anxiety, or some type of personality disorder regarding having normal relationships with other people. If so, he needs help from a psychologist or even a psychiatrist. In either case, try to find one who has patients who stutter.

I "have been there".

[flowingfluency]

Awesome story, brother. Thanks for sharing your light!

[randallscott]

As a Clinical Hypnotherapist I have found from my research, that stuttering is caused by a traumatic event, between the ages of 2-7. the cause is anything from a dog barking in a child's face, to a child seeing some one get shot! this is the spectrum that I have worked with. So when you put someone into hypnosis you go back to the first time they started to stutter. The subconious remembers everything. Then we do forgiveness and let the memory go from the body. Now when you understand how the mind and body work together, you can go back to the memory, and there is no more emotion attached, . that is when the stutter lets go. And becomes the cure. Good luck in the future. If you have any questions please let me know. Thank you for you time.

[BayaintheRez]

Recently I developed a massive stutter and I don’t know how to stop it. Ps you’re an inspiration

[markashworth]

Great work Joel.You're an inspiration...thank you for sharing ❤️

[iikitsunex-x]

It’s great to hear his story. I have a mild stutter where I’d sometimes randomly jumble and repeat words, or sometimes involuntarily restart sentences from the BEGINNING when I’m midway through 😅 It really helps for me to talk slowly but the jumbling and “restarting” still happens sometimes

[robertmcdonald]

I have had a stammer since I was very young. Unfortunately it was never spoken about(home, school or work) when I was growing up. Recently retired I realise that it has affected many areas of my life. I am glad however to see such videos which give hope that young people experiencing similar to me will get the help they need

[abolacadernos]

Lee Lovetts’ How to Stop Stuttering & Love Speaking will tremendously improve your speech if you diligently immerse yourself in the authors methods. His books and WSSA program are amazing and it should be known to the world because it has helped me and countless others.

[TheTruthAboutSolipsism]

this guy is really cool. thats awesome youre a speech therapist

[sallyhumu]

Currently taking Doctor Isibor Supplements, it’s 12 day’s now and I’m so much impressed I know once I finish my treatment I will totally be free from stutter

[arielpepin]

You are an inspiration man! I have a stutter too and can relate

[un-known]

I talk the exaxt same way, and it's so embarrassing at work and school and idk it just sucks

[Darkata-gp]

Its so nice to know that i am not the only one struggling talking.

[jacobmatelot]

I've stuttered since I was 5 so i understand you. You should watch my YouTube videos to see if you can relate

[xd-soxf]

When I hear your talk I just remember my childhood but to be frank this stammering of mine just cured somehow I went to speech therapist it doesn't worked and I am an Indian and I don't know I just taked some and a Ayurvedic centre suggest me a ghee like thing to eat and within 2 months it just vanished I don't know how but it works thank god

[maykel_]

stutter my biggest problem I can't answer recitation in class even i wanted to my grade is affected because of this fcking stuttering