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Continued from inside Supportive Groups – A great place to meet and learn from and the National Association (see the your peers who stutter. resources section). You can also ask your speech FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stuttering: pathologist to schedule some group therapy sessions Stutter – A self-help organization focusing on teenagers, children, so you can work with others who stutter. families and professionals. Contact: 866-866-8335, www.FriendsWhoStutter.org, [email protected] The National Stuttering Association (NSA) – A self-help organization for adults, teens and children who stutter, families and StutteringPeople willwho stutter hold are asme smart back and professionals with local chapters across the United States. Contact: capablein life. as anyone else. History is filled with 800-937-8888, www.WeStutter.org, [email protected]. exceptionally smart, talented and successful people The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) – Are comprised of who stutter, including: King George VI; Prime young people who stutter ages 8-19, who study acting, singing, Myths Minister ; physicist Albert playwriting, drumming and dance with professional artists. Contact: 212-414-9696, www.say.org, [email protected] Einstein; scientist Charles Darwin; actress ; legendary Chicago Bulls star Bob Love; DVDs, Videos, Podcasts, and eBooks – A great way to view, famous zoologist and animal rights activist Alan hear and learn from other people who stutter. Rabinowitz; and Vice President Joseph Biden. Do You Stutter: A Guide for Teens (book; code 0021) – Solid and supportive information for teenagers who stutter. Available at www.StutteringHelp.org. Self-Therapy for the Stutterer (book; code 0012) – A classic written Stuttering is uncool and for teens and adults who stutter. It is available online at Manystutterers cool people stutter,can’t including: be successful. actresses Nicole www.StutteringHelp.org as an eBook or for purchase. Kidman and ; professional golfer Tiger A Fresh Look at Stuttering – Available for viewing or purchase s Woods; actor and the voice of “Darth Vader,” James through the Stuttering Foundation at www.StutteringHelp.org. Belief Earl Jones; actor ; TV host Mike Rowe; StutterTalk Podcasts – Available at www.StutterTalk.com. pop singer Marc Anthony; businessman Jack Welch; national news correspondent Byron Pitts; NFL YouTube.com/StutteringFdn – Offers many stuttering related videos. running back ; world renowned Website – Place to learn about stuttering and people who stutter. television correspondent John Stossel; Oscar and Stuttering Foundation – Go to www.StutteringHelp.org and click on Grammy winner ; NBA star Kenyon “Teens” to find links to videos, Websites and much more. Numerous Martin; golf pro Sophie Gustafson; Congressman articles and brochures for teens and adults are available including Why Frank Wolf; NBA Hall of Famer and NBC Sports Speech Therapy, Using the Telephone, and Electronic Devices. commentator ; country music artist Mel Social Media – Social websites such as Facebook.com, YouTube.com, Tillis; acclaimed actor Eric Roberts; major league Twitter.com, and Pinterest.com provide an opportunity to communicate baseball player Johnny Damon; American Idol with others who stutter. contestant Lazaro Arbos; and many more. St Finding a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) raight There are also many cool people who stutter Stuttering Foundation – Go to www.StutteringHelp.org and click on Talk who are still being discovered. Taro Alexander is “Resources” and then “Referral List” or call (800) 992-9392. the founder of The Contact FRIENDS or the NSA for help finding an SLP near you Stuttering Association (contact info above). www.StutteringHelp.org for the Young (SAY). Stuttering www.tartamudez.org He is also an actor who Foundation Advice to Those Who Stuttertools – THE has been in STOMP Helpful information and suggestions STUTTERING and Law and Order. for people who stutter. THE FOUNDATION® And Caryn Herring has Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teens A Nonprofit Organization STUTTERING – Available for viewing or purchase been featured on Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter through the Stuttering Foundation at FOUNDATION ® MTV’s True Life series P.O. Box 11749 • Memphis, TN 38111-0749 www.StutteringHelp.org. A Nonprofit Organization talking about stuttering; Facebook – The Stuttering [email protected] Since 1947— Helping Those Who Stutter she is a speech-language Foundation’s page can be found at 800-992-9392 pathologist. www.facebook.com/stutteringhelp. Find us on www.StutteringHelp.org www.tartamudez.org Facebook © 2017, Stuttering Foundation of America 3/17 Teen_web_brochure 3/15/17 10:49 AM Page 2

One of the most frustrating aspects about world may be controlling every aspect of your life. that they should never miss a free-throw in stuttering is that it is a variable disorder. In Your friends, teachers, or parents may not feel basketball ever again! other words, sometimes you may stutter quite a comfortable talking about stuttering and you may not bit and other times you may not. Because it is so either. It may feel like stuttering is shameful and variable and complex, stuttering is often should be kept a secret. But you are not alone. Most I need to hide my stuttering. misunderstood. This leads many people to experts agree that close to one percent of the world’s Have you ever raised your hand in class or walked believe myths about stuttering. This brochure population stutter. This means that approximately 3 up to the counter at a fast food restaurant and found discusses some common myths and “debunks” million people in the United States stutter and about yourself changing what you wanted to say? Have you them with straight talk about stuttering. 70 million people in the world stutter. ever stayed home sick from school or refused to answer the phone so that you wouldn’t have to talk? If you have done any of these things, you are reacting in a normal way to a very difficult situation. Myths, Beliefs I stutter because I am a While anxiety is not the For example, one of the authors of this brochure and Straight Talk causenervous of stuttering, person. anxiety may make us stutter more was asked during his freshman year of college, severely at times, such as during stressful situations “Where are you from?” Rather than risk stuttering ManyI willteenagers outgrow and adults who my stutter stuttering. hope or like talking on the phone or speaking in front of a on the w in Wilmington or on the d in , believe that they will stop stuttering one day. Many crowd. A frustrating reality about stuttering is that the author replied, “I forget.” At the time, it felt deny that stuttering can be a problem or may even when we want to stutter less, we often end up like anything was preferable to stuttering. But the deny that their stuttering exists at all. Others may stuttering more. And when we no longer fear our reality is that the shame of losing your self-respect is want stuttering to go away so much that they simply stuttering, we often end up stuttering less. far worse than the shame of stuttering. Saying what begin believing that it just might. For example, a 9th you want to say, when you want to say it is the most grade person who stutters was asked how he was going While important thing. Stuttering is always allowed. to manage his stuttering in college. The young man weStuttering may not know the exactis mycause fault. of stuttering, we replied, “I won’t stutter in college.” This belief may be are certain of two things: stuttering is not your fault, due to a couple of reasons, such as denial or hope. and stuttering is not your parents’ fault. Stuttering is I must speakSome without people who stutter Most people who recover from stuttering do so in a biological and neurological condition. As such, mightstuttering. feel that it is their obligation to their early childhood. Stuttering usually begins around the stuttering is not contagious like the common cold parents, family, friends or even strangers to speak age of 2, so if it is going to go away by itself, it usually and is not the result of bad parenting, a stressful without stuttering. The root of this belief is that does so within 6 months to a year. If you continue childhood or a traumatic event. No one chooses to we (people who stutter) are broken and believe we stuttering into your teenage years, you will most likely stutter and no one is to blame. are a burden to others. And the reality is that this continue to stutter throughout adulthood. The good belief is flawed. As people who stutter, we have a news is that there are many options and choices in voice, and our voice deserves to be heard. While we managing stuttering productively. However, may have a social obligation to communicate as continuing to avoid dealing with stuttering due to I am justJust as stutteringnot trying is variable, hard speaking effectively as we can, our listeners also have a social denial or a hope or belief that it might simply “go strategiesenough. and tools we use to manage stuttering obligation to honor our right to freedom of speech. away” tends to make our problems worse, not better. are also variable. Some days, no matter how hard we try, speech tools just don’t work very well. In fact, sometimes it is easier to stutter than to use Many people who stutter grow speaking strategies. up Ifeeling am alonealone. and isolated. At this point in your life, I shouldn’tFeeling talk shame about about stuttering you may be the only person you know with a Some people, including relatives or even some stuttering.is normal. But talking about stuttering with the noticeable (overt) stutter. You may also be hiding your well intentioned, but misguided speech-language right people makes things better, not worse. You (covert) stuttering reasonably well from other people. pathologists, think that because you can control may be surprised by how many people will want to But trying to keep your stuttering a secret from the stuttering some of the time, you should be able listen and will want to help. Start by talking with to control your stuttering all of the time. This someone you trust such as a parent, sibling, teacher myth is both unreasonable and is absolutely not at school, or friend. You can meet other people who Compiled by Peter Reitzes, M.A., CCC-SLP true. If someone asks or expects you to be “100 stutter by contacting support groups like FRIENDS percent fluent,” feel free to reply by suggesting Continued