Are you tired of stuttering and wish there was a way to stop or at least reduce it? Check out our guide on how to fix stuttering today.
In the United States, more than 3 million people stutter.
When you are trying to communicate, it is frustrating and embarrassing when you get stuck in a stutter. Depending on how severe your issue is, it may be near impossible to get what you want to say out of your mouth.
Learning how to fix stuttering or at least work on making it better can improve your overall quality of life. If you’re not sure how to get started, we are here to help you.
Continue reading this article for tips on how to get rid of stuttering problems.
What Is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder. When you stutter, you say words, sound, or syllables multiple times, or you might say the sound for longer than you should.
Besides that, you may also experience what’s known as blocks in your speech. You might make abnormal expressions or movements, and that is also considered stuttering.
Now let’s get into the tips for stopping stuttering.
1. Use Mirror Work
One of the best ways to start getting your stuttering under control is to use mirror work. Get close to the mirror and watch yourself speak. You likely will notice how your mouth feels when you say certain things.
If you notice how your mouth feels when you slur your words or repeat words, you can start to work to stop doing those things.
When you’re looking in the mirror, practice talking slowly. Since you’re looking at yourself, it is more likely you’ll slow down and focus on what you’re saying. Mirror work can also help your confidence if you put your shoulders back and say what you’re trying to communicate with confidence.
2. Navigate Around Mine Fields
You likely know some of the words that will trip you up. There are probably a few main words or phrases that get you every time. If you aren’t aware of what they are, then start practicing awareness.
Become aware of what you’re saying and how you’re saying it. Do you find it extremely difficult to get those words out? If you do, you should write that word or phrase down and try to avoid speaking it in public.
While you’re navigating around this word or phrase, you can still work on it in private and make it easier for you to say in front of other people.
3. Use Mindfulness to Relax
If you’re feeling stressed out, it is much more likely you’re going to stutter and slur your words. Mindfulness is one of the best relaxation strategies to make sure that you’re not tense and causing more stuttering.
Before you go anywhere, take the time out to have a mindful meditation session. If you aren’t sure how to get started, there are plenty of classes, or you can even download an app on your phone.
4. See a Speech Therapist
Even if you’re an adult, you can benefit from seeing a speech therapist to get help with stuttering. The amount of struggle you experience on a daily basis will warrant the time you take out for yourself and your speech.
When you work with a speech therapist, they will help you slow down your speech to make it easier to understand. They will also help you notice when you stutter. You may not even be aware that you’re stuttering, but instead, people have to point it out when they don’t understand you.
Speech therapists also help you develop a fluid speech pattern, so you can communicate much easier than you do when you have challenges with stuttering.
5. Consider Medication
There are some medications that help with stuttering. Their main use is to help with anxiety and depression. If you think these are the causes of your stuttering, you might consider medication to help with these challenges.
Before you opt for medication, you might want to try some of the other natural methods of treating your problem. Depending on your insurance, it can be costly to pay for medication.
6. Electronic Devices
Much like hearing aids, you can use electronic devices for speech management and fluency. Many of the devices work to help you slow down your speech and make it easier for you to get out what you’re saying.
There are other electronic devices that mimic speech and make it sound like someone is talking alongside the other person.
You can try these and see how they work for you
7. Self-Help Groups
When you’re dealing with stuttering, it might feel like you are all alone. Even if other people you know stutter, it might seem like your case is worse. If you meet a lot of different people with varying levels of speech issues, it can be helpful.
Having people that are like you around you can help you work through issues. These people often have tips and tricks to help you get through the toughest times, so you can start making progress with how you talk.
Your speech therapist is likely to have some recommendations about groups you can visit.
How to Fix Stuttering – Now You Know
Learning how to fix stuttering might take some time, but it is worth every minute of it. When you can speak clearly and don’t have to worry about your every word, this will increase your level of happiness and fulfillment in life.
While you might have the solution to get started on your stuttering problem, you might need help with other issues. If that is the case, make sure to keep reading our blog.