Speech Problems

[RedHawk]

Does anyone here experience speech problems or experienced them in the past? Any solutions? During preschool/ elementary school (age 23 now) I had a stutter and was enrolled in speech therapy for 4-5 years. I don't stutter now put have problems putting all my thoughts into words. For example, during a conversation I might want to say "I bought a Toyota." However I know before I even try to say the word I won't be able to get the word "Toyota" out of my mouth. Its kind of hard to explain but my my brain just tells me certain words in a sentence just are not coming out my mouth at a given time. I haven't recognized a pattern of certain words/sounds, it can be any word at a given time although most time its words that are two or more syllables .Sorry if this is confusing.

My teeth are straight due to having braces but I do have an under-bite and a slightly crooked jaw but I'm not sure if that could be causing the speech problems. Probably need to talk with a doc (what kind, general?/ specialist?).

 

[Purron]

I also had a stutter as a child. It still comes out sometimes, particularly on words starting with an "S" sound. Never went to a therapist so I can't give you any advice there.

I'm in my mid 50s now and still feel that blockage at times - just like you described. My brain says I just won't be able to say a certain word. I can feel it coming on at it usually occurs when I'm anxious or nervous about something.

Good luck and know you're not alone. I'll look forward to hearing discussion on this topic.

 

[Amethyst]

RedHawk,

I've PM'd you with some thoughts. Stuttering is so common that people often don't even notice when someone does it. Take care!

A.

 

[piano88]

I am a stutterer, and decided about 20 years ago, in my early thirties, to get speech therapy. The best thing I learned was the "eased" approach to saying consonants...there's a more clinical name for that approach, but that's how it felt for me. I do a lot of public speaking in my job, and I find that the more I speak, the less inhibited I feel.

 

[homestead]

Saw a story in the newspaper today about a guy who had stuttering problem , he took B-12 vitamins and it helped his problem.

 

[easysurfer]

Sometimes I stutter. I've noticed that this happens more frequently when arround certain people. In otherwords, to get worlds out is like a traffic jam as some folks don't let you get a word in edgewise. What seems to help is to take a short pause before speaking. I guess this is like letting the traffic jam clear up a bit. Also, for some reason, I've found that having a good nights sleep the night before makes it easier to speak and not trip up on words.

 

[Gumby]

I stuttered as a child. While I never had any formal treatment, I did learn that it would work better if I thought of the entire sentence that I wanted to say, all the way to the period, before I started speaking. I still do that today. It makes my speech sound more deliberate and less extemporaneous, but I don't stutter (although on rare occasion I "swallow" a word because I just can't get it out otherwise).

 

[Westernskies]

I...I...I...I ssstuttttttterrrrreddddd aaaas a chchccchild, too.

Managed to overcome it when I was about 12 years old. The best advice I can offer is if you you get hung up on a word, (usually happens at the start of a sentence) immediately change to another word- even just adding "did" and make your statemernt into a question. Once I was able to get past the opening word in a conversation, I was fine.

I can speak in public without any problems, have had to give several presentations to large groups in my career. Every now and then (usually when I am fatigued) I will vapor-lock momentarily...until I change the first word, and then I am off to the races...

Good luck to you.

 

[wolf]

OP:

I had similar problem....got stuck on "L's"....Not sure why..Am older now.

Only happens rarely now.

Seems as my confidence built up I had less of a problem..

Also, one strange thing...as my "net worth" built up. the problem also became less.....the brain operates in a strange....way.

Keep the comments coming......getting stuck on one word seems common....I always thought I was the only one.

good luck....