Stuttering: The Heartless Enemy of?ÿCommunication

By Ed Arrington

alt textMany years ago when I was in the Air Force, stationed in San Antonio, Texas, I went through a traumatic, distressing, and humiliating experience.

I worked as a clerk in an office, and it was my job (among other clerical duties) to answer all incoming phone calls.?ÿI received a routine call one day.?ÿ The only other person in the office was an Army Major, a kind man. My telephone conversation that day was brief - I said hello, identified myself and the office I worked in and then listened for the reply. I was asked to comment on a particular subject - but sadly I was unable to comply with the request.

I was in psychological terror, because I stuttered very badly on a daily basis.

I eventually just hung up the phone and lowered my head in embarrassment and shame - welcome to the world of one who stutters.

Iƒ??m not going to give you a medical definition of stuttering?ÿ (and there are some) - Itƒ??s a malady that anyone can spot.?ÿScientists donƒ??t know why people stutter.?ÿBoys are 3 times more likely than girls to suffer from this.?ÿAbout 1% of adults are affected by it.?ÿ1% is a big percentage for me, however, because I am prone to stutter anytime, and when it happens, itƒ??s like twisting a knife through my stomach, shredding precious organs.?ÿThat picture translated to stuttering means my self-esteem and self-worth have just been pulverized.?ÿ Iƒ??ve become aware that a heartless enemy is trying again to bring me down.

For a long time, stuttering made a major impact on my social life.?ÿI would shy away from group settings because I could not be sure I would not stutter.?ÿI recall vividly during Basic Training in the Air Force the time I stood before an instructor and stuttered so bad that he, in pity, frustration, and?ÿ perhaps, scorn, dismissed me from his presence - I really donƒ??t think the poor man knew what to do - in retrospect, it would be easy to feel sympathy for him.?ÿI recall the time in church when someone asked me to pray in a class.?ÿBecause I could not get the words out I stopped and requested someone else pray.?ÿI did not go back to church for a long time after that.

Professional Therapy has suggested there are cures for stuttering - Thereƒ??s an anti-stuttering device - also a 12 day Therapy course, and many others.

I havenƒ??t used any of these - Iƒ??ve just worked hard to control it and especially not use too many words in any conversation that involve ƒ??Sƒ??ƒ??s Or ƒ??Tƒ??ƒ??s.?ÿOn the infrequent occasion that I might stutter now, itƒ??s hard to make myself think ƒ??Hey, Iƒ??ve really improved, I havenƒ??t stuttered in?ÿ a long timeƒ?? - remember that knife in my stomach??ÿThe impact will always be deadly and heartless, plunging me for a time into abject misery.

Finally, I think back to that kind Army major in my office.?ÿHe heard every labored attempt to speak that day.?ÿAfter I hung up the phone, he walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder.?ÿHe ultimately helped me find a speech therapist.?ÿThat was not a cure, but it was the important first step toward mastering the struggle with stuttering.?ÿThat itself has proved to be a wonderful benefit, and because of it, I am determine to not ever fall to the heartless malady of ƒ??stuttering.ƒ??

You can contact Ed Arrington at edarrington6@yahoo.com or 9684 Nelson Fork Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32222