John Stossel from ABC News on Stuttering (Episode 92)
Download | Duration: 00:37:23
John Stossel, co-anchor from the ABC News program 20/20 and Stuttering Foundation spokesperson, joins Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson to talk about his experience with stuttering (stammering), speech therapy and much more.
The ABC news videos below focus on stuttering. John Stossel (left) reports on stuttering for 20/20 and Dr. Phil Schneider (right) is interviewed.
Below is a list of upcoming self-help conferences for people who stutter, our families and professionals.
- National Stuttering Association's 2009 Annual Conference, held in Scottsdale, Arizona, July 8-12.
- FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, 2009 Annual Conference, held in Tampa, Florida, July 23-25.
- British Stammering Association's, 2009 National Conference, held in London, England, September 11-13.
Posted by StutterTalk at 2/8/2009 11:57 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gay passing twice stuttering disflueny stutter stammer stuttering foundation nsp sfa nsa asha stammering pagoclone lesbian sid4
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gay passing twice stuttering disflueny stutter stammer stuttering foundation nsp sfa nsa asha stammering pagoclone lesbian sid4
It's interesting that the two recent guests who are highly successful in their (very competitive) fields both have what many NSA-types would consider "un-enlightened" views of their stuttering.
They both view stuttering as a handicap and not a gift, try to actively avoid stuttering, seem to see it as "bad", etc.
Perhaps their success in life has given them enough confidence to accept their stuttering for what it is (a bad thing), rather than have to pretend that they like it to boost their self esteem?
I wonder whether Jack Welch would feel similarly. Are there any well known successful people outside of stuttering research/treatment who are strong proponents of the "stuttering is a gift" mindset?
Tal,
I hear what you are saying, but I know many people in the NSA and they cover a span of views and experiences.
Your comments are interesting. Perhaps Stossel does accept his stuttering for what he may view it - a bad thing. As far as stuttering being a gift, that is hard to say. Most people who stutter do not attend self help or participate in treatment, so it is hard to say what most people who stutter feel on the issue. But your point is well taken.
Peter
Round 1--"NSA-types" vs. "stuttering is bad-types"...ding ding!
I hear you Tal. Though Stossel did say that he believes the "NSA-types" have a "better" outlook on stuttering than he ever had. Also, he compared Jack Welch to a member of the former school, yet Welch has also been amazingly successful.
I think there is something to these famous, "successful" people falling in the "stuttering is bad-type" school, because in their positions (e.g., a news channel), maybe they can't be succesful AND stutter. Though I do not know of anybody in this position who has ever really tried (being succesful like that and stuttering).
EJ
I don't know much about Jack Welch but I would not be surprised if his attitude differed from the NSA-type in the following ways:
-He does not talk or think about his stuttering that much.
-He realizes that it is a handicap/annoyance without feeling much embarassment about it (like how you'd feel if you were missing a pinky finger -- you'd realize that you'd prefer to have your finger back, but you'd accept it and not dwell on it because it's no big deal.)
The sense that I get from lots of NSA-types is that they are overcompensating for their failure to completely accept their stuttering by adopting an unrealiticly positive or empowered attitude about it.
For instance if a stutterer refuses to write his message down even if he is blocking for several minutes, it's a sign of an unhealthy mindset. The stutterer is caught up in proving that he doesn't need to write down his message. In general when people feel the need to prove something, they aren't secure about that thing. A person who truly accepted their stuttering and themselves would not experience negative emotions if (for the sake of convenience) they had to write down their message now and then.
By the way I notice there's a discussion of this episode on the forum also. It would be cool if somehow the main page 'comment' link and the thread on the forum both brought people to the same discussion.
Tal, I mostly disagree. How can we judge for everybody else how much of an "empowering" or "positive" outlook is too much, or unrealistic? Personally speaking, having an empowered attitude was the single most important aspect of my learning to deal with stuttering---hands down. Do I still feel anxious or embarrassed by stuttering? At times, yes. But it's no where near as bad as I used to feel. So, being an "NSA-type" for me was positive.
It sounds like you get annoyed by people who are "in your face" positive about stuttering. I guess sometimes, with some individuals, this could get annoying, but I'd rather that attitude from a fellow stutterer than constant shame, embarrassment, fear, anxiety, etc.
I think people can reasonably disagree about how positive one should be about stuttering, but I think the important issue is whether a person reacts emotionally either to their beliefs about stuttering or the negation of those beliefs. I think any such reaction is strong evidence that a person doesn't really accept their stuttering.
Consider the belief "It's a good thing that I stutter." Maybe some people genuinely come to believe that after a dispassionate analysis, and I think that's fine. But it seems that some people might be thinking about it this way: "If I WASN'T glad that I stuttered, then it would imply that there's something bad about stuttering, which would imply that there's something bad about me, which makes me feel bad. I don't like that thought, so I am just going to decide to believe that I'm glad I stutter."
In the sample train of thought above, I think that instead of trying to convince themselves that stuttering is not "bad", they should work on changing the "there's something bad about me" --> "i feel bad" thought process. All of us have a lot of flaws. I personally can't run very fast, but I don't define my worth by my ability to run fast. Is it healthier to accept that I can't run fast and learn to view it as not a big deal and be happy with myself anyway, or is it healthier to convince myself that I am actually glad that I can't run fast because being slow is "good" and "cool" and will keep me from burning too many calories too quickly?
If I tried the later approach, I think most people would see that I was emotionally unable to accept my slowness and that my beliefs were just a reaction to my failure of acceptance.
I agree that the "stuttering is good" mindset is much better than shame/embarassment/fear. I don't think anyone should feel bad about having a stutter or should be embarassed that they stutter. My beliefs are very close to those that I've labeled "NSA-types." I just think the "stuttering is good" mindset is not quite the pinnacle of true acceptance, and that there is one more step to be made.
I'll also note that I am not claiming that I personally accept my speech more than other people do. I am just beginning to work on eliminating my negative beliefs about my speech. These are my thoughts on what to aim for when trying to accept my stuttering. Any readers should note that the stuttertalk guys have actually been through a long and apparently very successful process of being OK with their speech, whereas I have not done so yet and am only theorizing about that process. So take my comments with that in mind.
Tal, you bring up some interesting points. I agree with you that ultimately, what is most important, is being happy with ourselves. I think some people feel that stuttering becomes SUCH a part of their life, that this "stuttering is good" mindset seems like the only way to get out of the funk. I like what you said about that being only one piece of it though--a person might want to take that attitude at first, then continue to work on what matters, which is their own happiness, stuttering or not.
I have to say, the running example, no offense, is not a good one
Keep writing man!
EJ
P.S. You bring up a good point regarding this message board and The ST Forum. We're trying to come up with something....
Peter, why only the second video is subtitled? Is there possibility to add captions to the first as well? I am stutter and hearing impaired.
Thanks
Thanks for writing. We embedded those videos from YouTube, so we don't have any control over their content such as captions. Sorry.
Peter
hi am 23 years old boy suffering from stutter still, am very glad to know that above showing video the girl used some kind of ear instrument provided by doctor.am really interested in that sort of instrument technique to prevent from stuttering temporally somehow.can u tell me how can i get these such kind of instrument that i really wish to want it?