2016 Autumn Speaking Free - Australian Speak Easy Association

Speaking Free
Newsletter of the Australian Speak Easy Association
Editor: Geoff Johnston
08 8536 4647
geoff.johnston@speakeasy.org.au
Autumn 2016
President’s Report—Mark Irwin
Advocacy...Why and For What?
The questions of why should we advocate, and for what should we advocate,
go to the heart of the functioning of the ASEA. The increasing ability of consumer organisations to provide feedback and drive change has led to improved health outcomes. ASEA activity should prove to be no exception.
We have lobbied for many years for attention to be given to the mental disability of social
anxiety disorder which so often accompanies stuttering. Since 2010 Australian researchers
have highlighted the need for Speech Pathologists to comprehensive screen their stuttering clients for the presence of social anxiety disorder. They have pointed out that a large
percentage of PWS have not only a Specific Social Anxiety Disorder around speech but
also General Social Anxiety Disorder affecting other aspects of their lives.
An associated difficulty, again highlighted by research, is that speech pathologists may be
giving advice that inadvertently leads to maintenance if not exacerbation of the anxiety
disorder. Unfortunately this message has not been heard in all sections of the Speech Pathology community resulting in the omission of the Social Anxiety Disorder diagnosis in
client evaluation and consequent restriction to client welfare.
Where the anxiety disorder is recognised it has been assumed that concentration on fluency skills will automatically result in removal of the Anxiety Disorder. This has been shown
to not be the case. Consumer advocacy needs to be a driving force in the implementation
of changes to the undergraduate teaching curriculum at the very least. The ASEA waits
with interest on the release by Speech Pathology Australia of the clinical guidelines for
stuttering therapy.
Other advocacy items include public awareness, accuracy in therapy claims, and improved
therapy access. More on these subjects later……
New Addition to Council
Inside this issue:
National Exec
Officer’s report
2
Letters to the Edi- 3
tor
Books to Read &
Interesting Links
5
Awareness of
7
Stuttering and
Associated Anxiety (Part 2)
Success Stories
11
Cluttering and
Stuttering
14
News from the
States
18
I am delighted to welcome long time ASEA member Bernard Glennon to the National
Council. Bernard was a founding member of the ASEA when it began as a Smooth Speech
maintenance group. He has an interest in ensuring government funding for improved access to public therapy. We look forward to working even more effectively with Bernard in
our team.
Best wishes for Easy Speaking,
Mark
Other Articles
 Speak Easy Conference
 Melbourne Booster
 Positive Thinking
 Stuttering Id Card
 8 things PWS are tired of
hearing
 The Stutterer movie Review
 Meet Sian
Autumn 2016
National Executive Officer Report - Geoff
Johnston
Arrangements for the 2016 national conference in
Adelaide 21-23 October are well advanced with
several key-note speakers locked away. Check
further information in this newsletter or on the Association website. I encourage people to make a
commitment to attend and to book early.
Your National Council have formed two sub-committees to consider and make recommendations in two important areas, fund
raising and public awareness. The Association can’t expect to
solicit for donations or grants for special projects unless people
know who we are and what we’re about.
Melbourne will be the venue for a refresher day
on Sunday 1st May 2016 for people who have
received treatment in the past for their stuttering.
Both smooth speech and McGuire graduates will
be catered for. For further information check the
flyer within this newsletter.
I’d like to remind everyone receiving this newsletter to become a
financial member of the Association via the Speak Easy website.
Your membership will help finance initiatives in your state and
will contribute to national activities such as this newsletter, organising conferences and advocating for people who stutter. I
hope receiving this newsletter alone is worth the $35/year subscription ($20 concession).
Work is progressing on the national website including a new
colour scheme and format. Changes will continue throughout the
year so that the website is more interesting and informative for
members and the public. In addition, a file repository is being set
up so that all important national and state documents can be
safely kept. More later on this topic.
There is a draft of the new clinical guidelines for the treatment of
stuttering with Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) for review.
Members of Speak Easy offered contributions to these guidelines. Whether any of those comments were considered remains
to be seen!
In trying to seek out funding opportunities for projects yet to be
defined National Speak Easy has taken out a subscription to The
Funding Centre. If state branches are interested in looking at
what grants are available for any projects they have in mind
please contact me for access.
Regards, Geoff (08 8536 4647)
PS The fund raising committee has just met and have been toss-
Page 2
Speak Easy Conference
Adelaide 21-23 Oct 2016
The organising committee has managed to arrange for Professor Nan
Bernstein Ratner to join the conference
via video Skype. Professor Bernstein
Ratner is from the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of
Maryland, College Park. She is a Fellow and Honors
recipient of the American Speech, Language and
Hearing Association (ASHA). Her primary areas of
research are fluency development and disorder
(stuttering), psycholinguistics and the role of adult
input and interaction in child language development.
The programme is extensive with highly qualified
speakers including Dr Janet Beilby, Professor Elizabeth Cardell, Dr Michelle Swift, Dr Simone Arnott.
People who stutter with extensive experience of the
issue around stuttering will also present including
Mark Irwin, Peter Dhu, Geoff Martin, Geoff Johnston
and Scott Monson.
There will be ample opportunity for delegates to
speak if they wish via open mike sessions.
The theme of the Conference is "Stuttering: A Wider
View" and has the objective of presenting to people
who stutter, Speech Pathologists, speech pathology
students, parents of children who stutter and other
interested parties, information on the latest research,
international experiences, strategies to manage stuttering behaviour. It also will provide opportunities for
people who stutter to discuss their experiences and
successes.
The Conference will coincide with Stuttering Awareness Day (22nd October) with public awareness being an emphasis on the Saturday of the Conference.
The Friday will feature research and information especially relevant to Speech Pathologists and students while the Sunday morning will have a focus on
family issues and self-help.
Adelaide at that time of year is beautiful with many attractions if you would
like to stay before or after the conference.
30 rooms are being held at the Hotel
Grand Chancellor, Hindley Street.
Bookings are to be made directly with
the hotel quoting the “code” Speak
Easy Association to get the special negotiated rate of
$150 per room per night (twin or double). Breakfast
is an additional $15pp. There are backpacker
options close by.
More detailed information is on the Speak Easy
website.
Get in early and book your tickets via Sticky Tickets.
Speaking Free
Page 3
Letters to the Editor
Recording Phone Conversation
One issue that has surfaced for me is using the telephone and the service providers recording
our conversation.
Most providers say that the call will be recorded for quality purposes, if you do not wish to have
your call recorded, please let the staff member know. I always choose to say that I do not wish to
be recorded. No reason - just my basic right as a person who stutters.
Occasionally the caller will say that the call will be recorded. When I say that I do not wish to have the call recorded because I stutter, they then say that they can not talk to me.
I think this is discrimination and breach of our rights. Recently FORD Australia rang me to see if I was happy
with my annual car service. When told that the call was being recorded, I expressed my wish not to have it recorded. The staff member then stated that he could not speak to me. I was therefore unable to give my feedback
to for customer service about my car service.
It happened again this week. I was enrolling in an external course through The University Of Adelaide. As part of
the enrolment process the enrolment officer wanted to speak to me and stated the call would be recorded. I did
not wish the call to be recorded, however I was told I have no choice. Every call he makes must be recorded.
Now I haven't dialled 000. The upshot is that I am not able to enrol. My pride kicked in and I said I do not wish
this call to be recorded - he hung up on me.
What are other people who stutter experiencing? And yes, I know I can take a teaspoon of cement and toughen
up. But surely this is not right.
Peter Dhu, National Councillor for WA
Editor Comment:
Peter raises an interesting issue about recording calls.
I've never really thought about it personally. A lot of the time it's required to confirm an action/contract/whatever.
However, to record for training purposes, possibly some good will come from it if the person does stutter severely. Their training may then be about handling people who stutter with more patience and empathy?
But to refuse to speak to you because you don't want to be recorded!! What's that about?
Is this an issue for other members please?
"Absence of You" – Words from Thomas Leonard author of “The Portable Coach
How does one become transparent?
1. Stop seeking approval, acknowledgement, validation, reinforcement, agreement, respect, appreciation, selfworth or self-esteem from anyone for any reason.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Stop trying to impress anyone for any reason
Give up any notion that you’re an expert at anything
Be interested instead of interesting
Live well above the mundane matters of life (all the stupid little agros)
Stop letting risk and fear limit your life experience
Lighten up how you learn
Have very few needs, financial or otherwise
Simplify your life, perhaps dramatically
Speaking Free
Page 4
Ed: There are several stories in this edition about people who stutter being discriminated against. Peter Dhu on
recorded phone calls, Megan Washington sick of stuttering jokes and Kyla Simmons detained at the Atlanta Airport. And here’s another story from Perth.
Have you had this kind of experience lately? Do you report discrimination to authorities? Is it about time we
spoke out as part of public awareness to hopefully make life a little easier for fellow people who stutter?
Speaking Free
Page 5
Looking for a Book to Read?
Freeing your Inner Fluency by B Dahm CCC SLP - A Dramatically Different Outlook on Stuttering
Stuttering is a condition that is difficult to understand and treat. On the other hand,
many people have recovered from stuttering. Very often those who have recovered
have tried to pass their experience on to others. Oftentimes these attempts do not
bring about the same results. This happens because speaking is a complex activity
and the elements that affect the way people speak are numerous. What leads to recovery for one person may not lead to recovery for another.
This book is built on the experiences of more than 2000 people who have participated in therapy to overcome
stuttering. It brings a broad view of the nature of stuttering and shows how many people have overcome it. It also takes into account the difficulties many people face during the recovery process. After careful examination of
how numerous people became fluent speakers, it became clear to the author that there are common factors that
help people who stutter become fluent speakers. The purpose of this book is to share the author’s understanding
of stuttering and the way toward fluent speech with as many people as possible.
Stuttering: an Integrated of Contemporary Therapies by Barry Guitar
This 4th edition by Barry Guitar, Ph.D., explains how speech-language pathologists can combine the different
but most commonly used treatment procedures to get more effective results in working with those of all ages.
The A-19 scale and scoring instructions are included. A clear and concise look at fluency shaping and stuttering
modification approaches.
Speech is a River by Ruth Mead - My Recovery from Stuttering.
Redefining Stuttering by John Harrison - What the Struggle to Speak is Really About!
Speech is a River and Redefining Stuttering are available as free eBooks as well as other books and articles
from people who have essentially recovered from stuttering.
Interesting Links about Stuttering
StutterTalk - A Genetics and Stuttering Update - Dr. Drayna discusses recent research, answers listener questions and
reports that his team at the NIH recently discovered a fourth stuttering gene.
Stuttering for Kids by Kids - Kids who Stutter aren’t Alone - Growing up isn’t easy and at times is extremely
uncomfortable. It can be significantly worse for a child who stutters, particularly when they have so much to
say. A 12-minute DVD, Stuttering: For Kids, By Kids can help. Bear with the short ad at the start. The video
shows kids talking to other kids about stuttering, dealing with teasing and sharing what bothers them the most
about stuttering. Most importantly, it lets them know they are not alone.
StutterTalk - What Causes Stuttering with Dr. Gerald Maguire from UC Riverside School of Medicine and the
Kirkup Center (Ep. 564)
Stuttering and the Power of Suggestion - An interesting article by Katherine Preston, British-born writer and
author of “Out with It: How Stuttering Helped Me Find My Voice”. Click this link
StutterTalk - Taking Fluency off the Table - Sara MacIntyre joins Peter Reitzes to discuss a holistic approach
to stuttering treatment which includes how, when and why to take fluency off the
table. Sara answers listener questions and discusses her experience that the
more a person tries not to stutter the more likely he or she may be to stutter.
The Reason Porky Pig Stutters - Interesting story about the origins of Porky’s
stutter.
Autumn 2016
Page 6
More Links……
StutterTalk - Dr. Bridget Walsh joins Peter Reitzes to discuss her study Speech motor planning and execution
deficits in early childhood stuttering in the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
As stated in the research, “This study is the first to demonstrate sex-specific differences in speech motor control
processes between preschool boys and girls who are stuttering. The sex-specific lag in speech motor development in many boys who stutter likely has significant implications for the dramatically different recovery rates
between male and female preschoolers who stutter.”
Bridget Walsh, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is a Research Scientist and a speech-language pathologist in the Department
of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.
Listen to the discussion HERE
Ed: A perfect explanation for why men who stutter outnumber females who stutter 4:1
‘Stuttering ID Card’ Follows Detainment of College Student in Atlanta
Struggles with speech impediments are set to become clearer.
The Stuttering Foundation of America recently created a “Stuttering ID Card” for
folks who may have trouble speaking in stressful situations, such as while dealing
with law enforcement.
It can be printed from the website Stutteringhelp.org.
The card idea came after Kylah Simmons, a Kalamazoo, Michigan college student
was detained Jan. 21 at the Atlanta airport after returning from a study abroad trip
in Costa Rica. Simmons was held up because she couldn’t quickly answer questions from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
Simmons said she was questioned repeatedly about her speech impediment and
was accused of lying when she tried to explain her difficulty in answering his questions.
“Stress doesn’t cause stuttering, but it can certainly aggravate it,” said Jane Fraser, president of The Stuttering Foundation. While 5% of all kids stutter, most outgrow doing so. About 1% of U.S. adults still experience the impediment, Fraser
said.
The card “is a wonderful idea!” said Taro Alexander, founder and president of The Stuttering Association for the Young in
midtown, and a stutterer himself. “If you are stopped by law enforcement, and things get challenging, this is a great educational piece to have right there.”
But while identifying its owner as a stutterer, the card doesn’t instruct non-stutterers what to do when someone starts
stammering.
The Stutterer—Winner of the Academy Award for the best short film 2015
Review by Geoff Johnston
What a great movie! This remarkable film about a young man's difficulties dating with a se-
vere stutter is winning multiple awards including the much desired Oscar!
A lonely typographer, Greenwood, struggles to overcome his speech impediment while attempting
to form a romantic relationship with Ellie via a six month text-based online relationship.
He feels isolated from the real world with his job and social life requiring little speaking. He even
starts to learn sign language as a way of coping with any communication.
We hear his thoughts, his fears, his doubts and the mind-reading and misconceptions that many
people who stutter experience!
Then shock, horror. Ellie is coming to London and would like to meet him in person. Ellie doesn’t
know he has a stutter. What does he do? Avoid the situation? Make up weak excuses? Take a
risk? An interesting ending with a twist!
Boy, did I identify with this movie! My experienced with dating as a teenager and later in life were quite terrifying.
However, in hind-sight, perhaps it was a way to sort out the genuine from the shallow people who only saw the stutter!
The Stutterer is available for purchase and download via ITunes for around $2. I suggest the SD version which is
cheaper but good quality.
Autumn 2016
Page 7
Awareness of Stuttering and Associated Anxiety by Mark Irwin (President)
SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER (Part 2)
Since Social Anxiety Disorder is known to exist in many people who stutter
then awareness of it and its impact on stuttering therapy are relevant advocacy
issues for the ASEA. This is Part 2 of a 3 part article on Social Anxiety Disorder.
Prevalence
The 12-month prevalence estimate of social anxiety disorder for the United
States is approximately 7%(Kessler et al. 2005; Kessler et al. 2012; Ruscio et al. 2008). Lower 12-month prevalence estimates are seen in much of the world using the same diagnostic instrument, clustering around 0.5%–
2.0%; median prevalence in Europe is 2.3%(Lewis-Fernández et al. 2010; Wittchen and Jacobi 2005). The 12month prevalence rates in children and adolescents are comparable to those in adults(Costello et al.
2003; Kessler et al. 2012; Wittchen et al. 1999). Prevalence rates decrease with age(Wolitzky-Taylor et al. 2010).
The 12-month prevalence for older adults ranges from 2% to 5%(Kessler et al. 2012; Mohlman et
al. 2012; Wolitzky-Taylor et al. 2010). In general, higher rates ofsocial anxiety disorder are found in females than
in males in the general population (with odds ratios ranging from 1.5 to 2.2)(Fehm et al. 2005), and the gender
difference in prevalence is more pronounced in adolescents and young adults(Wittchen et al. 1999). Gender rates
are equivalent or slightly higher for males in clinical samples, and it is assumed that gender roles and social expectations play a significant role in explaining the heightened help-seeking behavior in
male patients. Prevalence in the United States is higher in American Indians and lower in For the individual
persons of Asian, Latino, African American, and Afro-Caribbean descent compared with
with Social Anxinon-Hispanic whites(Lewis-Fernández et al.2010).
ety, the obsesDevelopment and Remission
sive concern is
Median age at onset of social anxiety disorder in the United States is 13 years, and 75%
of individuals have an age at onset between 8 and 15 years(Kessler et al. 2005). The dis- often the fear of
order sometimes emerges out of a childhood history of social inhibition or shyness in U.S. being judged as
and European studies(Essex et al. 2010). Onset can also occur in early childhood. Onset being socially
of social anxiety disorder may follow a stressful or humiliating experience (e.g., being bul- inadequate, awklied, vomiting during a public speech)(Rapee and Spence 2004), or it may be insidious,
developing slowly. First onset in adulthood is relatively rare(Grant et al. 2005) and is more
likely to occur after a stressful or humiliating event or after life changes that require new social roles (e.g., marrying someone from a different social class, receiving a job promotion). Social anxiety disorder may diminish after
an individual with fear of dating marries and may re-emerge after divorce. Among individuals presenting to clinical
care, the disorder tends to be particularly persistent.
Adolescents endorse a broader pattern of fear and avoidance, including of dating, compared with younger children(Rao et al. 2007). Older adults express social anxiety at lower levels but across a broader range of situations,
whereas younger adults express higher levels of social anxiety for specific situations(Gretarsdottir et al. 2004). In
older adults, social anxiety may concern disability due to declining sensory functioning (hearing, vision) or embarrassment about one’s appearance (e.g., tremor as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease) or functioning due to medical conditions, incontinence, or cognitive impairment (e.g., forgetting people’s names). In the community approximately 30% of individuals with social anxiety disorder experience remission of symptoms within 1 year, and about
50% experience remission within a few years. For approximately 60% of individuals without a specific treatment
for social anxiety disorder, remission takes several years or longer.
Detection of social anxiety disorder in older adults may be challenging
because of several factors, including a focus on somatic symptoms,
comorbid medical illness, limited insight, changes to social environment or roles that may obscure impairment in social functioning, or
reticence about describing psychological distress(Mohlman et
al. 2012).
Risk and Prognostic Factors
Temperamental
Underlying traits that predispose individuals to social anxiety disorder include behavioral inhibition and fear of negative evaluation.
Environmental
There is no causative role of increased rates of childhood maltreat-
Autumn 2016
Page 8
ment or other early-onset psychosocial adversity in the development of social anxiety disorder(Tiet et al. 2001).
However, childhood maltreatment and adversity are risk factors for social anxiety disorder.
Genetic and physiological
Traits predisposing individuals to social anxiety disorder, such as behavioral inhibition, are strongly genetically influenced
(Fox et al. 2005). The genetic influence is subject to gene-environment interaction; that is, children with high behavioral
inhibition are more susceptible to environmental influences, such as socially anxious modeling by parents(Aktar et al. 2012).
Also, social anxiety disorder is heritable (but performance-only anxiety less so)(Bögels and Stein 2009). First-degree relatives have a two to six times greater chance of having social anxiety disorder, and liability to the disorder involves the interplay of disorder-specific (e.g., fear of negative evaluation) and nonspecific (e.g., neuroticism) genetic factors.
Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues
The syndrome of taijin kyofusho (e.g., in Japan and Korea) is often characterized by social-evaluative concerns, fulfilling
criteria for social anxiety disorder, that are associated with the fear that the individual makes other people uncomfortable
(e.g., “My gaze upsets people so they look away and avoid me”), a fear that is at times experienced with delusional intensity. This symptom may also be found in non-Asian settings. Other presentations of taijin kyofusho may fulfill criteria for body
dysmorphic disorder or delusional disorder(Choy et al. 2008; Kinoshita et al. 2008; Lewis-Fernández et al. 2010). Immigrant
status is associated with significantly lower rates of social anxiety disorder in both Latino and non-Latino white groups(Lewis
-Fernández et al. 2010). Prevalence rates of social anxiety disorder may not be in line with self-reported social anxiety levels in the same culture—that is, societies with strong collectivistic orientations may report high levels of social anxiety but
low prevalence of social anxiety disorder(Heinrichs et al. 2006).
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
Females with social anxiety disorder report a greater number of social fears and comorbid
depressive, bipolar, and anxiety disorders, whereas males are more likely to fear dating,
have oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, and use alcohol and illicit drugs to
relieve symptoms of the disorder(Ruscio et al. 2008; Turk et al. 1998). Paruresis is more
common in males.
Functional Consequences of Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is associated with elevated rates of school dropout and with decreased well-being, employment, workplace productivity, socioeconomic status, and quality
of life(Patel et al. 2002). Social anxiety disorder is also associated with being single, unmarried, or divorced and with not having children(Fehm et al. 2005), particularly among men. In older adults, there may be impairment in caregiving duties and volunteer activities. Social anxiety disorder also impedes leisure activities. Despite the
extent of distress and social impairment associated with social anxiety disorder, only about half of individuals with the disorder in Western societies ever seek treatment, and they tend to do so only after 15–20 years of experiencing symptoms. Not
being employed is a strong predictor for the persistence of social anxiety disorder.
Meet Sian Williams
Kidzucate Inc. is a non-profit and charity organisation founded by Sian Williams, a 8-yearold girl who's also known as, The Kidzucate Kid. Once upon a time, Sian was a victim of
bullying because of her stutter. Instead of allowing it to consume her, she bravely decided to seek a pro-active solution to the wider problem presented by bullying.
Kidzucate began with Sian starring in educational videos that help teach kids how to be a
better version of themselves. These videos were a big hit and soon, we saw the positive impact they had on the children
watching.
Inspired by her daughter's determination, Sian's mother, Azelene Williams - a registered Holistic Counsellor and Relationship
Coach - realised there was more to the Kidzucate story than Sian's videos.
Together, this mother-daughter team registered Kidzucate as a non-profit organisation and charity, and began to run educational programs in communities and schools. Soon, the duo realised they needed extra support. This is why Passionate
Women began: to support this amazing work through a free membership based networking group of advocates.
Check out the Kidzucate website. Inspirational stuff.
Speaking Free
Page 9
Australian Speak Easy Association
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR WAY?
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO SPEAK AS YOU WOULD LIKE OR JUST NEED A TUNE UP?
WOULD YOU JUST LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTISE SPEAKING IN A FUN, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT?
LET US GIVE YOU A HAND UP!
The Australian Speak Easy Association presents:
WHAT: Melbourne 2016 Booster Day
WHEN: Sunday May 1st 2016 09:30am – 4:30pm
WHERE: Ross House Association, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
WHO: People Who Stutter using a strategy they’ve been taught
COST: $25 including lunch
Featuring:

Lunch and a social speaking session at a nearby location.

We are hoping to have some students from La Trobe University to provide feedback for the smooth
speech users.

Mark Irwin (ASEA President) and Geoff Johnston (ASEA Executive Officer) to answer any questions
regarding your national association.
A great opportunity for everyone to expand their comfort zone in a fun and supportive environment. Please make
the effort to attend. If this day is well attended your Association will help to facilitate regular refresher days.
Please RSVP by April 15th to assist with planning and catering to: Geoff Johnston 0417 864 460 or
email: geoff.johnston@speakeasy.org.au
Speaking Free
Page 10
Approvals
By Anna A Margolina Ph.D. a person who stutters and author of “Letting Go of the Dragon” - 7 Keys to Effortless
Speech
I had a surgery this week. Nothing life threatening, but I had to spend the last three days mostly resting, sleeping,
thinking, journaling. And as some of you know, it is when we rest, reflect, meditate, journal, when we may expect
to receive powerful insights. Which to me come in form of waking dreams - images, movies with some metaphoric
message. I want to share one that I received today. It came as a waking dream - I was not completely asleep, but
in this meditative state, when my mind hovers on the edge between my normal, everyday reality and this crazy
world of dreams.
"I’m walking with my friend. We are talking, laughing, admiring the beauty
around us. Then I notice that I am carrying a heavy bag. I take it off my
shoulder, put on the ground and open. It is filled with dark sand, gravel and
some bigger and shinier rocks all mixed together. I take a handful of this
stuff and wonder, what this is and why am I carrying it with me. My friend
smiles and says, "Oh, don't you recognize it? They are approvals. All the
compliments, all praises you ever received."
Now I see he is right. I can still remember receiving some of the bigger and
shinier on top. A praise for a speech. A praise for a mini-workshop I did in
toastmasters. Here is someone commenting on my fluency... But the rest...
They all look kind of dull. They look the same. I cannot even remember
when and how I got them. And my friend says, "Look, you are nearing 50
and look how many you accumulated in those years. If you live another 50
year, think how many more you will get. Maybe you can fill a couple of more
bags." And I know he is right. I look into the bag and say, "Why I need this stuff. It doesn't do anything. Just sits
there. It's so dull." And my friend say, "Come on, you always wanted this stuff. You were always so worried that
someone may not give you some of their approval. Just think, if everybody you have met so far approved you wow - how much more you would have now!" And I say, "Oh, stop it. It seems such a complete waste of my energy, trying to get more of this." And my friend smiles and me and says, "Well, what would you like to have instead?"
And we sit down on warm, soft ground. There is gentle breeze, touching our skin. We breathe in fresh fragrance of
leaves and grasses. I close my eyes and feel my heart opening to the richness of the moment. And I say, "This. I
want more moments like this. Moments of gratitude. Moments of deep connection. Moments of magic. Breathing in
and breathing out moments. Moments of being in the moment, in my body, on this planet and moments of sharing
the moment with somebody who understands." And my friend says, "Well, you have them, silly. They are already
yours. And there will be more. Just keep your heart open."
And it was so beautiful. When I opened my eyes I realized that
I
no longer want praises or compliments or approval. I don't care
what someone thinks about my speech, my intelligence or my
worth. I don't want opinions of others, except of when they are
useful information that helps me grow and evolve. I don't need
people say certain things to me to make me feel good. I want
more moments like this. And the best thing about this - I can
have as many as I want. They are mine. They are my birthright. And there is nothing so precious than connecting deeply with those who are on the same wave length, who
understands. And when you are with those people you do not need their approval, because you have such deep
connection. And when you with people who do not understand, you again do not need their approval, because why
would you, right?
And yes, I am on pretty strong pain medications, so this post may be a bit... well, wacky:)
Speaking Free
Page 11
Success Stories (Every edition of Speaking Free will contain success stories to inspire and encourage so
please send them in) GJ Editor
Ed: A story from Hazel which emphasises the importance of challenging those feared speaking situations by
expanding our comfort zones. “Feel the fear, and do it anyway!”
It's almost a year now, since I ventured out and started giving talks to church/community groups in my local area.
Today, I revisited the church where my first such talk took place - to give another one, lasting around 20 minutes.
This time round the topic was not directly related to stuttering, although I did give a brief update of my progress,
during the last 5 minutes or so, as I knew that those who'd heard me speak the first time round, would be interested to know.
I noticed quite a few differences in how I was speaking this year, as opposed to last. Some of it, I know, was related to having more confidence this year, but not all of it. Some of it was a direct result of the gradual changes I
am making in how I'm thinking/focussing when I speak, and the different way I am learning to produce speech.
Today, I didn't really use any voluntary stuttering. I could have easily done so without having any feelings towards doing that, but I simply didn't want to or feel any need to use it this time round. I knew I could speak
clearly, I wasn't fearing stuttering, and overall, I wasn't thinking about how I was talking. Although I knew the
broad outline of what I wanted to say - the various points and stories I wanted to tell, I wasn't saying it word for
word. Often, I didn't know exactly what I was going to say before I said it. Sometimes I said things totally unplanned, on the spur of the moment, which was appropriate at the time.
My speech was definitely more flowing than last year, and I think I was saying
more words per breath, but I wasn't really thinking about that. I was more focussed on my message and connecting with the audience. It was a fun experience and I was asked back to speak again next year! Afterwards, I wasn't quite
so 'in the flow'. I'm still not that confident using this new way of producing speech
in everyday conversations - though I am gradually getting the hang of it more
with my immediate family. So - practice and time are needed there, I think, to
build up confidence in that area. Now on to preparing for my next talk in two
days' time - another 45 minute one with questions afterwards!
I want to encourage every PWS to venture out of your comfort zone too and to try something new. You never
know, you might have a really fun time!
Hazel
Cindy Melksham—Melbourne McGuire Graduate
Wow, it's been a long journey to get here but the journey has just begun in so many
ways. From working in clinical research for many years to starting my own therapy &
coaching business, to having my first stand at an expo this weekend. It's a been a
long road and I'm grateful for the lessons and the support of so many.
Check out these websites of people who stutter in Australia who are doing particularly well making a living out of
speaking. If they can do it, we all can!
Peter Dhu - www.peterdhu.com.au
Wendy O’Hagan - www.wendyohagan.com.au
Scott Monson - www.4dl.com.au
Cindy Melksham - www.affirmyourpower.net
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Coming Out of the Closet!!!
I have stuttered all my life and strangely enough all my life I’ve tried to hide it. It’s pretty
clear to the other person that you have some speech problem while you are looking
up, down or sideways or desperately trying to substitute a word in your head or are
avoiding eye contact, or when there is a long silence or worse still the same word is
repeated ten times!!!
People who didn’t know me assumed all kinds of things, from dyslexia to low confidence. Fact of the matter is that I am just a good ol’ fashioned stutterer without any
other real issues, psychological or physical.
I work for Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest mining company. One day, I had a
chance to present to senior management on health & safety. I could talk about a boring
topic like ‘please hold the handrail while walking down stairs’ or make a pitch for the 1% of people of the world
who are often misread. From Rio Tinto’s point of view, there could be around 600 staff members who stutter.
There is probably not much help at remote mines and managers probably don’t know how to manage a stutterer.
The key question is are these people performing optimally or holding back? Are they in the right job and career or
have they chosen the job to avoid social interaction? Is there a rock star somewhere in there passing off as an
accountant?
That’s when I ‘came out’! I told senior managers what they already knew; I stuttered!! Funnily enough, the
presentation wasn’t about me; I was incidental. It was about educating people that there are others out there who
are less fluent than them. That doesn’t mean that the stutterers are lower IQ, anxious, mumbling folks either!
The key to recovery from stuttering is self-acceptance and being prepared to demonstrate that you stutter albeit
under control. The disclosing is something we can control though occasionally we might not be able to control
our speech.
My personal speech journey has come a long way since buying the wrong bus ticket for a journey across cities,
because of an inability to say the right city’s name. I don’t define myself as a stutterer now. I define myself as a
person who might occasionally stutter. No one really cares if you take that extra second for the elongated pause
or if you repeat a few words. It’s your own mind which is your worst critique. I have tutored and lectured at Universities for a number of years now and students have never even bothered to stop looking at their mobile
phones to see why there is an awkward pause!
Do we as stutters owe it to ourselves or the world to talk about something which impacts us? In my opinion…..
go forth and conquer! Not in the same quick way as ‘I came, I saw, I conquered!’ but rather conquering the fears
that a stutterer goes through on a daily basis. It’s the thousands of small victories like buying the ticket to the
right bus stop!
When will I get the next chance to tell the world that I am a good rock n’ roll dancer as well???
Salil Danait
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Is Your Inner Dialogue Holding You Back?
By Lesh Karan (YourLifeChoices)
Many of our problems stem from our own minds. After all, you
must have heard of the saying ‘prisoner of your own mind’,
right? So why not get your mind out of the way for a happier
life? Here are five ways to do just that.
1. Don’t assume
When people jump to conclusions, they’re acting upon assumptions, rather than actual facts. This can lead to big
problems when the assumptions are wrong. For example, if someone you know is grumpy, you might assume
that they are mad at you. But what if they were simply in a bad mood, and it had nothing to do with you? You
may even start making up angry stories in your head. Many relationships suffer, and can be destroyed, when
assumptions are made.
2. Drama, be gone
You’re not the only one who’s running late. Or the only person about whom someone said something bad. Many
‘trivial’ things happen to many people. Blow it out of proportion, and you’ll have an unnecessary, time-wasting
and energy-wasting drama on your hands, all just because of the ‘small stuff’. So get over it and move on, rather
than making a mountain out of a molehill.
3. Stop being a perfectionist
Many times, good enough means exactly that. Perfectionism is a mental sickness that will destroy all your pleasure and send you in search of what can never be attained, using up all your energy and vitality. It also stops you
from doing things, because you’ll worry you won’t do it properly.
4. Don’t take it personally
Have you ever read the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz? It’s a short and sage read. One of the
agreements is “don’t take it personally”, because whatever someone says, whether it be nice or downright rude,
it is never about you, but always about them. So, do yourself a favour and don’t get emotionally bogged down.
5. Don’t make yourself a prison out of rules
I’m guilty of this one. I have a lot of ‘shoulds’ that govern my life. These irrational rules take up much important
mind space and make it hard to focus on what truly matters.
What energy-wasting and happiness-zapping mind games do you play with yourself? Have you thought about
how you can change your mindset for a calmer and happier you?
Which one are you going to listen to?
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Distinguishing Cluttering from Stuttering
August 20, 2013 By Brooke Leiman
Developmental stuttering affects 1 percent of the population and over 3 million people
in the United States. However, there are other, lesser known fluency disorders that
include neurogenic stuttering and cluttering. Telling the difference between stuttering
and cluttering is often a point of confusion, so we take a closer look here at what, exactly, cluttering is—and the
process of identifying and treating it.
The International Cluttering Association defines cluttering as “…a fluency disorder characterized by a rate that is
perceived to be abnormally rapid, irregular or both for the speaker. These rate abnormalities further are manifest
in one or more of the following symptoms: an excessive number of disfluencies, the majority of which are not typical of people who stutter; the frequent placement of pauses and use of prosodic patterns that do not conform to
syntactic and semantic constraints; and inappropriate (usually excessive) degrees of coarticulation among
sounds, especially in multisyllabic words. ”
So what does cluttering look and sound like?
1. Often people who clutter have what I (and many other speech-language pathologists) refer to as “machinegun” speech. Their speech comes out in rapid bursts, which is described above as “irregular rate,” and may include pauses where it doesn’t feel appropriate.
2. A person who clutters may also demonstrate disfluencies that are unlike what we see in people who stutter.
Some examples of disfluencies that are more typical of a person who clutters is excessive whole word repetitions, unfinished words and interjections (such as um and well). I have also noticed more atypical disfluencies,
such as final part word repetitions (chair-air, bike-ike).
3. Co-articulation refers to when a person collapses or omits a syllable of a word (for example, “wuffel” for
“wonderful”).
There is quite a bit of symptom variability, as well as co-existing conditions, that make this an even more confusing diagnosis. Below is a list of characteristics and co-morbid conditions that have been seen in people who clutter. (Note: Some people who clutter may have several of the below symptoms/co-existing conditions; some may
have only one; and some may have none at all.)
Limited or no awareness of their irregular speech pattern unless someone draws their attention to it (very different from what we see in stuttering).
Sloppy handwriting.
Difficulty organizing thoughts; listeners easily get “lost.”
Learning disability.
Attention difficulties (i.e., ADHD).
Auditory Processing Disorders.
Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Stuttering (a person can clutter and stutter).
If you feel this diagnosis is hard to grasp, you’re not alone. As a result, this condition goes largely misdiagnosed
(as developmental stuttering) or undiagnosed (“I just speak too fast! I don’t have a “real” speech problem!”). For a
helpful chart that breaks down the similarities and differences between stuttering and cluttering, see this brochure
created by Kathleen Scaler Scott for the National Stuttering Association.
So what do you do if you think your child is cluttering?
Since this a relatively lesser known diagnosis, your best bet would be to find a speech- language pathologist who
has experience working with fluency disorders. As you have learned, cluttering is a highly variable disorder. We
cannot prescribe a “one size fits all” plan of treatment. There must be careful and continuous observation in order
to create a treatment plan that is specific to the symptoms your child is displaying. Here are some common treatment objectives:
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Self-Monitoring. One common characteristic among people who clutter is limited awareness of their
own speech. It is important to heighten the client’s ability to monitor his or her disfluencies, rate,
and/or mis-articulations. For a person who stutters, calling their attention to stuttering, although
sometimes necessary, may initially cause an increase in disfluencies. However, for people who
clutter, calling attention to their speech often helps them improve their rate and overall clarity (at
least for a short bit).
Over-articulation. Another common characteristic among people who clutter is the collapsing or omitting of syllables. By practicing the over-articulation of sounds, it calls a person’s attention to all the
syllables in a word, both stressed and unstressed. The speech of people who clutter may be monotone or “robotic.” Practicing over-articulation can be worked on in conjunction with exaggerating
stressed syllables and inflection. Here is a useful video of an SLP discussing the speech of a child
who clutters. This particular language sample highlights what it sounds like when a child collapses
and omits syllables: see this video example.
Pausing and Phrasing. Using this technique, a person practices inserting more pauses into their
speech, with attention to the proper placement of these pauses. For younger children, I will have
them place pauses every one to three words, but as they get older, more attention will be paid to
inserting pauses based on proper phrasing. I often will transcribe a client’s language sample, to
include both the words they say and the placement of their pauses. I will then have them mark up
the paper with where the pauses should have gone. Having a visual representation of speech is a
helpful way to identify when there are way too many words being said between pauses (machine
gun speech). Pausing is another too used in teaching a people to slow their rate, which is much
more effective and constructive when compared with saying “slow down.
Provide strategies for “typical” disfluencies. As noted above, some people will demonstrate stutterlike disfluencies in addition to their cluttering characteristics. In this case, standard stuttering techniques should be addressed. These include cancellations, pull-outs and the like. SLP discussing
the speech of a child who clutters. This particular language sample highlights what it sounds like
when a child collapses and omits syllables.
Brooke Leiman, MA, CCC-SLP, is the fluency clinic supervisor at the National Speech Language Therapy Center in Bethesda, Md. She is an affiliate of ASHA Special Interest Group 4, Fluency and Fluency Disorders. This
blog post is adapted from a post on her blog, www.stutteringsource.com,
which focuses on fluency disorders and their treatment.
Megan Washington has had enough of “Stuttering Jokes”!
Megan Washington has had it with the stuttering jokes. Taking to her official Facebook page, the outspoken
home-grown songwriter laid the smack down on anyone who still thinks Billy Madison references are funny.
“Hi world,” Washington opened, “may I offer: stuttering jokes are NOT FUNNY: if you think they are, you are old
fashioned and not very smart. (If I get one more “t-t-t-today JUNIOR” I reckon I have carte blanche to whack you
in the chops. Seriously it was 20 years ago. Get it together.)”
The post did not cite any particular incident nor was it directed at anyone in particular, but when one fan incredulously asked the singer, “People actually say that to you?!” she replied with a simple, “Yep.”
Back in 2014, Washington gave an emotional talk at the TedXSydney conference in which she discussed her lifelong struggle with stuttering and how music became both a therapy for her condition as well as a creative outlet
for the ARIA Award winner.
“Singing for me is sweet relief, it is the only time when I feel fluent,” she told the crowd. “Somehow, through some
miraculous synaptic function of the human brain, it’s impossible to stutter when you sing, and when I was younger that was a method of treatment that worked really well for me.”
Washington said that despite regularly performing on stages around the country, she lives “in mortal dread of
public speaking”. Readers can check out Washington’s hilarious and heartfelt TedXSydney talk.
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Recover from Stuttering – Move Forward with a Positive Approach
Ezy-Speech Newsletter 73: March 2016
Many people who stutter develop negative thinking patterns because they become frustrated by their challenges
and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder to manage those
challenges and move forward.
It is now seen as imperative that people who stutter (PWS) who are seeking speech therapy should undertake
cognitive retraining before even considering a therapy technique. People undertaking cognitive retraining will be
put through various challenges including inward investigations into personal thought patterns and perceptions.
They will be asked to question negative thought patterns with suggested alternative options to improve reactions
to general day-to-day communication activities. The importance of positive thinking is pivotal in the recovery process and in allowing oneself to use technique in ‘real-world’ situations.
Practising positive thinking allows PWS to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows them to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down
and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that can be used
to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:
Take care of yourself.
Respect yourself – your cognitive and physical self.
Look at the positives in your life.
Remind yourself of all the good things in your life and put things into perspective in regard to what’s happening with your recovery from stuttering.
Don’t assume you know what people are thinking.
As a person with a stutter, you’ve probably made negative assumptions your whole life. Avoid mind reading. Perceptions and assumptions are not accurate reflections of reality. Don’t be fooled, be strong and
be boss over your thoughts.
Share your goals and create a circle of understanding.
Let your family and friends know what you are striving to do with your fluency. Their support will encourage a positive mindset. Disclosure is one of the most powerful things you can do to regenerate positive
feelings within.
Share your new technique with others.
Watch with amazement the reactions you get when you demonstrate your technique to the people you
know. They will be so happy for you. They are aware of how you have battled your dysfluency your
whole life and will understand what you need to do to be content. Remember, disclosure is important for
your wellbeing. Allow yourself to be free and happy. Disclose the stutter and the solution. Take hold of
your fluency management and put yourself out there.
Ezy-Speech Affirmation of the Month
I MOVE FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE APPROACH
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A Mindset for Success
(A contribution by Scott Monson, Regional Director of the McGuire Programme Aust.)
To get the most from any intensive course to address stuttering, it is essential that you adopt a mindset that will
support your ongoing success.
Firstly, there is no cure for stuttering. I don’t say this to depress or demotivate you, but to ensure your expectations are realistic.
The McGuire Programme has helped many people become confident and effective speakers that have gone
on to win State level public speaking contests (competing against ‘fluent’ speakers). Graduates have also been
successful in establishing themselves as small business owners, professional trainers and speakers, marriage
celebrants, teachers, call-centre operators and in a variety of other roles that rely on excellent communication
skills.
But they are not cured!
They adopted, and maintain, a mindset of doing their best, working hard, being
courageous and persevering in setting and achieving their personal speaking
goals.
Each also had a compelling reason to keep working on their speech after the
intensive course – perhaps they had had enough of the frustration associated
with stuttering, had lost a significant opportunity because of their speech or wanted to achieve a specific goal (such as a new job) that required excellent commu-
nication skills.
So in considering the following mindsets, I also encourage you to think about what your compelling reason to
change is.
A Fixed Mindset
In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits.
They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe
that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong!
Babies don’t worry about making mistakes or humiliating themselves. They walk, they fall,
they get up. They just barge forward. What could put an end to this exuberant learning? The
fixed mindset...
This mindset gives you no good recipe for overcoming challenges in your life (whatever they
are!). If failure means you lack competence or potential—that you are a failure – where do
you go from there?
In the fixed mindset it’s not enough just to succeed. It’s not enough just to look smart and talented. You have to be pretty much flawless. And you have to be flawless right away... After
all, if you have it you have it, and if you don’t you don’t...
Our experience shows that people with a fixed mindset will quickly lose focus and motivation after their first
course. At the first sign of trouble they will say things like “I knew it wouldn’t work”, “See, I’m not good enough”
or “It’s OK for others, my stuttering/my life/my situation/etc is difference”.
In short, their fixed mindset sets up a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.
A ‘Be-Good’ Mindset
The focus of a ‘Be-Good’ mindset is proving to yourself that you have a lot of ability, demonstrating that ability
to others, and receiving validation for it. You want to feel smart, look smart and be told that you are smart. Or
creative, talented, creative……or fluent.
With a ‘Be-Good’ mindset, you are constantly comparing your performance to that of others, to see how you
‘size up’. You are reluctant to ask for help, afraid that needing help will reflect poorly on your ability. You assume that when something doesn’t come easily, it means you aren’t good at it (see fixed mindset).
When you have a setback with a ‘Be-Good’ mindset, you react in one of two ways (neither of which helps
you achieve your long term goals).
1. Your freak out, and worry that you don’t have what it takes. This anxiety only serves to make things
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worse, further disrupting your ability to think clearly and perform well. This again creates a self-fulfilling
prophecy, in which your continued poor performance only serves to confirm your fears.
2.
You give up. You decide you don’t have what it takes, so why bother trying hard when you can’t possible succeed (again, see the fixed mindset). You feel hopeless and dejected, and you withdraw effort. This, too, creates a self-fulfilling prophecy in which your continued poor performance only confirms your feelings of helplessness.
A Growth Mindset
A growth mindset, on the other hand, thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence or
a lack of effort, but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard
work—where you are today is just the beginning.
People with a growth mindset are constantly monitoring what’s going on, but their internal monologue is not
about judging themselves or comparing themselves with others. Certainly, they’re sensitive to positive and
negative feedback (aren’t we all!), but they’re attuned to its implications for learning and constructive action:
What can I learn from this? How can I improve? How can I help somebody else do
this better?
People with this mindset are not discouraged by failure. In fact, they don’t actually see
themselves as failing — they see themselves as learning.
A growth mindset develops a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.
Virtually all great people have had these qualities – including the most successful
graduates on the McGuire Programme.
I therefore encourage you, no matter what your treatment programme, to adopt a growth mindset.
We all have our own experiences of stuttering and stuttering treatment (some positive, but negative for most).
This previous experience doesn’t have to predict or limit what lies ahead for you – your future really is in your
hands … or in your mindset!
Acknowledgments: I didn’t make this stuff up:
Carol Dweck PhD, Author of Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential
www.mindsetonline.com
Heidi Grand Halvorson PhD, Author of Motivational Challenges: A Short Guide to Lighting a Fire Under Anyone – Including Yourself!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Motivational-Challenges-Lighting-Anyone- Including-ebook/dp/
B00DYX9KBU
News From The States
Cake, Coffee and Conversation in Canberra
How do you react when someone asks you to join them for a cup of coffee? An excuse to enjoy that cake you
have been eyeing for some time? A chance to close a business deal? Or an opportunity to practice your fluency
in a real world environment?
Nine enthusiastic Smooth Speech and McGuire participants incorporated cake, coffee and conversation during
the first 2016 Fluency Maintenance Day on Saturday 27th February at the Hellenic Club, Canberra. I intentionally
included 30 minutes for morning and afternoon teas to allow for a “double shot” of fluency practice in an acoustically challenging environment.
The day began with short introductions followed by around 3 hours of dedicated smooth speech practice or
McGuire technique. Smooth speech was structured around three, 45 minute blocks of targeted rate practice. I
particularly enjoyed the slower rates and focusing on all elements of smooth speech.
Following a delicious lunch, we launched into “random” story telling – a game of rolling 3 or 5 dice which presented 3 to 5 words or phrases to use in constructing a one minute story. As a bonus, Scott Monson presented a sim-
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ple method of constructing a story or impromptu speech. Three random words were chosen, and then these words were broken down with three related words, eg. The word “zoo”
was broken down with “lion”, “ice cream” and “zebra”. This process was repeated for all
three initial words and in using this method, a quick story or speech outline could be constructed.
to take a guess??
Peter Wise led the celebrity heads segment and many names provided a barrel of laughs.
Which celebrity’s name clue was “the answer my friend is blowin in the wind?” Anybody like
A lively discussion about the pros and cons of various fluency programs dominated afternoon tea. I simply enjoyed my orange and almond cake…….
The day ended with an open forum discussion of the logic, purpose and the pros and
cons of voluntary stuttering. As I understood the debate, it appears the purpose of this
strategy is to desensitise the speaker and listener to the occasional stutter. My personal
desensitisation strategy is to advise people that I am a person who stutters and I might
stumble occasionally however, those advocating voluntary stuttering presented their
case vigorously.
The next Canberra Fluency Maintenance Day is scheduled for Saturday 4th June 2016. Why not visit us on your
way to or from the snow fields?
Canberra Speakeasy Group is holding three Speech Maintenance days in 2016.
Dates are:
Saturday June 4
Saturday September 3
Saturday November 26
If you plan to visit Canberra this year, perhaps you may like to include one of these Maintenance days in your
itinerary. Each day is a collaboration between the Smooth Speech and McGuire groups, therefore why not come
and put a face to a name, meet the wider fluency community and enjoy a full day of fluency and great people.
For details contact: Jonathon Tary 0418 548 838, Canberra Speakeasy Group
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Report of NSW/ACT Speak Easy Association
NSW/ACT ASEA had their AGM during the Saturday Maintenance Day in February. A few changes. We have a
new Vice President: Bernard Glennon. He is also our National Representative along with Bruce Richmond.
We have two new Maintenance Coordinators: John Steggles and Carolynn Murtagh.
A new Membership Secretary: Lois Wu,
A new title of Public Education Officer: Bruce Franklin.
The Financial Report by our Treasurer Paul Holloway reported we remain with a healthy bank balance.
We currently have 92 financial members.
NSW/ACT currently have 6 Speak Easy groups operating in Sydney and Canberra and very successful Skype
sessions with around 8-10 members who join in.
Smooth Speech Toastmasters is slowly growing in numbers, now up 16 financial members.
The Club hosted the Area 6 2016 International Speech and Evaluation Contests on 27th February 2016 at the
Croydon Park Club, with two key members participating. Co-founder of SSTM Laurie O’Donoghue came 2nd in
the Evaluation Contest and Daniel Chan took part in the International Speech Contest. Toastmasters for the Contests were Steve Brown and Guy Waugh who did the Club proud and a magnificent job.
Peter Greville
Queensland Speak Easy Association
The QSEA annual “camp” is always a highlight, and is usually oversubscribed. The venue is more like a country resort
than a camp, and the aims of fun, fluency and fellowship continue to be a drawcard for members who appreciate the program, especially the period of intensive speech practice.
Photos below of people having fun and enjoying the fellowship of other people who stutter and family/friends.
Kev Nuttall, President QSEA
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Victoria Speak Easy Association
Things have picked up really well in the Eastern Speak Easy Group.
Sophie H and Simon T are the new group leaders. Together they
have been kicking goals with full support from Senior members.
They meet every Tuesday at Box Hill from 7:30PM to 9:30 PM.
The new agreed meeting format is as below:
1.Introductions (Individual Activity)
2.Discussion about what issues everyone is facing and how to tackle
them (Group Activity)
3.Reason for attending the meetings and what an individual aims at
achieving from these meetings(Individual activity)
4.Celebrity Heads(Group Activity) Short Snack Break to socialise
and refresh
5.Phone Practice
6.Reading on Stage with deliberate disfluency.
There are plans of updating the website as well the IVR, approaching the non-active members and inviting Guest
Speakers.
There is a mix of McGuire and Smooth Speech members and it is open for all. One example is inclusion of deliberate dysfluency (voluntary stuttering) in the activity list.
This is a group photo from a practice session.
A reminder to all that a Speak Easy Booster Day will be held in Melbourne on Sunday 1st May 2016. See the flyer in this newsletter but details are:
WHAT: Melbourne 2016 Booster Day
WHEN: Sunday May 1st 2016 09:30am – 4:30pm
WHERE: Ross House Association, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
WHO: People Who Stutter using a strategy they’ve been taught
COST: $25 including lunch
Please RSVP to Geoff Johnston by 15th April for catering purposes: geoff.johnston@speakeasy.org.au or give
him a ring on 08 8536 4647.
If this event is well attended Speak Easy will be encouraged to organise them on a regular basis.
Tushar Kumar
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News From The West
Curtin University Speak Easy Association Prize for 2015
The 2015 Speak Easy award for Western Australia, is for the Curtin University student who has shown an outstanding commitment to helping individuals with stuttering difficulties in Western Australia.
This year it goes to two students – Anja Sloan and Danielle Brockman, who are both honours graduates from
the Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Curtin University School of Psychology and Speech Pathology.
Both students have undertaken research into Stuttering Disorders; and have shown an outstanding interest and
expertise in clinical management of adults and children attending the Curtin University Stuttering Treatment Clinic.
Anja devised a research project that gained fascinating information from parents of very young children who have
started to stutter, to evaluate if any aspects of their parenting had contributed to their child’s speech difficulties.
This is the first time that such information has been gained from parents of children who stutter, compared to parents of those who do not. What Anja found will save parents the grief and guilt that comes from blaming themselves. In fact, Anja proved that parents are not only doing the right thing by seeking out treatment, but that the
treatment helps lots of aspects of their parenting in general – a nice set of significant and really important clinical
results.
Danielle’s unique and important research project involved interviewing adults who have lived with a parent who
stutters, all their lives. To date, no-one has known what the impact of having a parent who stutters, is really like.
Danielle interviewed people from across Australia and around the world. What she found is amazing – having a
parent who stutters actually makes you more empathetic to others in the community and it also breeds resilience
in you as a person.
The Speak Easy Association of W.A. was yet again supportive and involved in these fascinating and clinically
relevant research projects; and the speech pathology profession in W.A. thanks them as always for their generosity and support.
Both Anja and Danielle will prove to be assets to the profession; and will continue helping individuals who stutter
in W.A. for many years to come. Congratulations and best wishes for the future! - Janet Beilby
Edith Cowan University Research - Thank You
Dr Charn Nang and Associate Professor Deborah Hersh from Speech Pathology at Edith Cowan University,
would like to say a big thank you to all those who participated in the research study about the experiences of people who stutter who have migrated to Australia from another country. Participants gave up their time to speak with
a research assistant about their experiences, in order to help us with an increased understanding of what some of
the pertinent issues may be for those who have migrated from another country. The project will be analysed and
outcomes communicated to participants, as well as to Speak Easy members in due course. - Charn Nang
Western Australia Speak Easy Association
Our 3 groups still meet regularly and we have had 2 maintenance sessions so far for 2016.
Planning is under way for the 2017 ASEA Conference and we have chosen East Perth as the location. One pleasing aspect has been the number of university speech pathology students that have stepped up to help out with the conference
planning. The first planning subcommittee had about 15 people attend about 10 of whom were students. This is going to
ensure we put on a great show. but more on that during the year.
The WA Speak Easy AGM will be delayed until April or May as we have some difficulties with availability of key personnel
including myself. - Peter Dhu
Report from South Australia
Mark Irwin and Geoff Johnston have been invited to speak to the Speech Pathology students at Flinders University on the 23rd May. We do this every year and enjoy the experience. The Q&A part of the event is always fun with
intelligent and challenging questions to test us.
Several people who stutter in Adelaide have been interviewed by pairs of students who are doing assignments on
stuttering. A great learning experience for all concerned.
The McGuire support group remains active with two meetings a month. - Geoff Johnston
Speaking Free
Page 23
8 Things People Who Stutter Are Tired Of Hearing
By Kylie Si
o s Stutter Advocate, Yogi, Twin, Aspiring Television Producer
Stuttering can be complicated and easily misunderstood, especially by people who do not stutter. Stuttering
awareness is one of the main ways to tackle stereotypes and confusion. The next time you encounter someone
who stutters, consider trying to understand what they are saying, and not how they say it. These are eight out of
the many things people who stutter are usually tired of hearing.
1. "Calm down, take a deep breath, and slow down"
Before thinking about giving someone who stutters advice, try to understand what they are trying to say and be
patient.
2. "Did you forget your own name?"
No, we usually don't forget our names. It just takes us a little longer to say what we have to say.
3. "You don't stutter. I've never heard you stutter before"
This is one of the most frustrating things to hear as a person who stutters. Our challenges are real. Try to find out
better ways to understand a person who stutters, instead of questioning them about it.
4. "Don't worry, you'll grow out of it"
Many people who stutter usually grow out of stuttering during their childhood. If someone continues to stutter
throughout their teenage years, they are mostly likely to stutter in the future. The best thing to do is to accept the
person's stutter.
5. "Think about what you're going to say before you say it"
Instead of trying to give advice on how to help someone to not stutter, allow them to speak in a way that they feel
comfortable doing so. Again, be patient.
6. "I stutter sometimes too"
There are a lot of myths that come with stuttering, such as connecting a stutter with being nervous or scared. Look
into what stuttering is before making assumptions.
7. "Are you okay? Is there something wrong with you?"
No, we as people who stutter just have different ways of expressing ourselves when communicating.
8. When people finish our sentences
I find it frustrating when people try to complete my sentences. I know what I am trying to say, it just takes me a
little longer to get the words out. Be patient and let the person who stutters finish what they are trying to say.
Speaking Free
Advisory Board
Dr Susan Block, School of Human Communication
Australian Speak Easy Association
c/- 23 Bateman Street
Strathalbyn SA 5255
President: Dr Mark Irwin
Email: mark.irwin42@gmail.com
National Executive Officer
Geoff Johnston
Phone: 08 8536 4647
Email:
Treasurer: Bruce Richmond
Email: bruce.richmond50@gmail.com
Services, Latrobe University,
Bundoora VIC 3086 Ph 03 9479 1801
Email: s.block@latrobe.edu.au
Associate Professor Ann Packman Ph 02 4573 1176
Email: ann.packman@sydney.edu.au
Dr Janet Beilby Ph 08 9226 7463
Email: j.beilby@curtin.edu.au
Dr Brenda Carey Ph 03 95715843
www.mystutteringspecialist.com
Prof Ross Menzies
rossmenzies@ozemail.com.au
Dr Celeste Merrigan 03 9852 8124
Webmasters
The Self-Help Organisation for
People Who Stutter in Australia
We’re on the Internet:
www.speakeasy.org.au
Bruce Imhoff (NSW)
Email: bruce.imhoff@speakeasy.org.au