Mumbai questions

Ashish and I were planning to do a video interview based on following questions but due to unseen interruptions, we could not do so. So, here we are offering our quick answers to the questions raised during Mumbai Workshop. Answers are brief because depth and details are already covered in Apna Hath Jagannath, this blog and elsewhere. Keep talking and smiling!

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1.  Why do we stammer and what is the cause for the same?

Discussed in detail in Apna Hath Jagannath and elsewhere.

2.       Why do we have
blocks?
Current understanding: The nerve impulse from the brain
fails to come and therefore our speech organs are “stuck” or they
repeat the last syllable TILL the impuse arrives: Ra – Ra -Ra –
Ram.

4.       Is there is any
medical cure to stammering? NO.

5.       How have stammers
improve their stammering:

By practice, practice, practice- and acceptance of a little
imperfection in life!

6.       Is there any technique
which can cure stammering 100%? NO.

7.       Best technique to cure
stammering?

Acceptance, dedicated practice of communication skills for 6-12
months and lot of courage. All this is available at the single window
of SHG.

8.       Can we have more
workshops for a longer period of time , where we can unlearn and
start speaking from scratch: Yes, you can. But really not needed.
What is truly needed is follow up workshops. If you can attend 3-4
workshops (not just one) over an year, and regularly attend and lead
your SHG, you can overcome your problems.

9.       How breathing from
mouth can help a stammer?

Not recommended. Breath through nose, normally BEFORE you start to
speak. Let it be a natural action. Pause here and there to breathe
and then carry on speaking.

10.   How to be more aware and conscious about
oneself while speaking? By frequently recording your self with a
video camera or cellphone, during formal and informal situations and
reviewing it..

11.   Can we practice breathing techniques like
pranayam in our meetings? SURE!

12.   What is TISA and I want to know more about
it? Check stammer.in and join our next National Conference or
Communication workshop or other regional events.

13.   Why is stammering our biggest fear? We have
learned to “make” it so.. because of childhood learning and
influences. You can step out of it through Voluntary stuttering. But
begin with your SHG and gradually increase the level of difficulty…

14.   Can I ever become a fluent speaker? YESSSSSS!
Many have done it.

15.   Why do we stammer more in front of a group of
people? Subconscious fears which we have learned during our growing
up years.

16.   Many a times, there is a severe block where I
am unable to implement any technique. Why?

This is a “learned helplessness”- which can be unlearned
through repeated use of Voluntary stuttering and block correction
techniques..

17.   Is there any relation between stammering and
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) ?

Not clearly proven but it can affect therapy outcomes.

“Little is known about the specific characteristics of
stuttering in children with ADHD other than the fact that the
patterns of disfluencies are consistent with those of children who
stutter who do not have ADHD… However, clinical findings often
report that significant attention and impulsivity issues, without a
current diagnosis of ADHD, negatively affect the outcome of
stuttering treatment.”

Check these links:
http://www.stutteringhelp.org/adhd-and-stuttering

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120822/ADHD-symptoms-present-in-most-children-who-stutter.aspx

18.   Is there any relation between stammering &
anxiety? Also, what is the relation between human psychology and
stammering?

Stammering generates anxiety. Anxiety does not CAUSE stammering
but it can increase it. One can stammer even when totally calm and
relaxed. Stammering has a neurobiological origin and as we grow we
tend to develop a “stammering mindset” based on our experiences
and OUR reactions to them.. (see AHJ for details)

19.   Can I join any speech therapist like XYZ
stammering centre?
It is your decision. TISA promotes self help.

20.   If I change my accent, then will it improve
my stammering? Yes, for some time.

21.   Do I have to take a new breath every time I
bounce while using bouncing? Also to bounce on words like Gulshan i.e
should I bounce like Ga,Ga,Ga, Gulshan or Gu, Gu , Gu, Gulshan.

It should be Gu, Gu , Gu, Gulshan. Initially take a breath between
bounces but later on just briefly stop and carry on. The whole idea
is to bounce with CALM CONTROL. Please check the Bouncing section in
AHJ.

22.   For words which start with two consonants
consecutively (like Spring, Dhruv , Thane, Thames etc), there is no
phonetic sound of  vowel to bounce. So how should we implement
bouncing on such words?

Separate the two consonants: Crocin – Currocin. Spring –
Sapring, Dhruv – Dharuuv (many nationalities actually speak like
this. It is OK). For details- play all following list

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miyGFov–lU&list=PLahCVlmLjov03lmXoq7UMyxgNQ0kkZBf2

23.   Many a times there is a silent block where
bouncing does not works, so should I try gentle onset on such words.
How should i choose between bouncing & gentle onset for difficult
words? –

Try them both in different situations and then stick with what
seems most comfortable to you. You can combine them too: start with a
gentle onset on the first bounce.. Try, try, try..

24.   I believe slow speaking with 2-3 words per
breath solves 70% of our problems.  Whenever there is a
block, I just take a new breath and speak with gentle onset and I am
able to overcome my block. So why do we teach so many techniques like
bouncing, Pre- block, In- block and Post- block correction , as it
leads to confusion many a times.