For people who are fluent, it is hard to comprehend what it must be like to have a stutter. This article describes some of the tasks that can prove difficult and stressful for the person who has a stutter, tasks which fluent people simply take for granted.

My name is Stephen Hill and I am somebody who has managed to overcome a stutter which had affected my life for eighteen years. When I was at school, I would dread the time when I would have to read out aloud in class out of a book. I would count down to which paragraph I would have to read and then I would look through to see which words I was going to have to say. I was hoping that there would not be many words beginning with b,d,v, or g, as I found these words especially hard to say. When speaking in a conversation I would always try to avoid these words or would think of an alternative word to say. When reading though, you have to read what is written. I had many unpleasant days attempting to read and I am now very happy those days are over.

Trying to meet girls and to get a girlfriend proved very difficult and not because I am ugly. My negative brain would always be talking to me stating that a particular girl that I was interested in would not want to go out with someone who has a stutter. If I did manage to date a girl, I would then have the horror of meeting her family and friends. Socialising when you have a stutter is not easy.

Other areas of life which proved difficult for me were:

Ordering food or drink at a bar

Trying to obtain employment

Speaking on the telephone

Answering peoples questions

Introducing people

Introducing myself to a group of people, for example at the start of a course at work

As you can tell, it is quite difficult having a stutter at times.