 About the Author:
My name is Faith Leung Hiu Lam. I am a registered SLP and a certified stuttering specialist. Currently, I serve as the Vice President of Professional Clinical Education at the Taiwan Stuttering Association. With over a decade of experience, more than 90% of my clients are people who stutter, including adults, adolescents and children. I also supervise University of Melbourne students during their clinical placements in my stuttering-focused clinic. What I find most rewarding is working closely with clients to explore their experiences of stuttering and helping them discover their ability to communicate with confidence and freedom. Witnessing this transformation inspires me to continue serving, supporting and advocating for this remarkable community. |
Stuttering can come in different shades for different people. In this video, Frank shares his personal experience of stuttering, including what it can feel like to face a “monster” and why trying too hard to control stuttering can sometimes make speaking even more difficult. He also shares his thoughts on how being more patient when listening to people who stutter can be a simple yet meaningful way to show support.
Welcome, and thank you for being here! We hope you enjoy Frank’s story and gain some insight into the different shades of stuttering and the experiences that can come with it. 🙂
Hi Faith and Frank,
Thanks so much for creating this video and letting us all hear your thoughts about the stuttering experience.
Frank – thanks for being open about how you feel. Faith – maybe you can ask Frank this question. Has Frank managed to “tame” his “monster” of stuttering at all?
Thanks for this great contribution,
Pam
Hello Frank and Faith! Thank you so much!
You made me reflect, and I like to reflect
I also used to see my stutter as a monster, a monster I wanted to kill. Things started to change when I realized it was… impossible, and instead I shifted my focus to taming it. And in truth, it takes much more intelligence and courage to tame than to kill my stutter. And intelligent and courageous I am! And intelligent and courageous I like to feel! Of course, without the stuttering community and its allies, this task would have been very difficult, not to say impossible! Stuttering has a lot of strength, it’s like a horse… and I’m young… I need my therapist and my community of horse tamers, of monster tamers.
Pedro, what a beautiful reflection! You’re absolutely right that it takes courage to learn to live with your stutter rather than fight against it. The image of taming a horse, with your therapist, the stuttering community, and allies alongside you, is so powerful. May you continue to discover your own strength, intelligence, and courage, and find more freedom in being yourself!
Thank you Faith! May we all do it.
Thank you Pedro! You are not alone!
Hi Faith and Frank,
Thank you so much for the video. I have gained a lot of insight into the lived experience of stuttering, and it was incredibly valuable to learn ways we can support people who stutter. Understanding the perspectives of Frank and others who stutter will help me best support clients as a future SLP. I really liked Frank’s personification of stuttering as a monster; it beautifully visualised and conceptualised how deeply it can affect someone. I have also learned that we should practice patience and be considerate, and that stuttering is not a barrier to communication nor something to be fixed; everyone has their own shade after all!
Dear Isabelle, thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging message! It’s wonderful to see your interest in supporting people who stutter by being more patient, considerate, and understanding. Your willingness to learn from the lived experiences of people who stutter contributes to the collective strength of a supportive community. Best wishes on your journey to becoming an SLP!
Hi Faith and Frank — thank you for making this video and sharing your perspectives on the many shades of stuttering. Frank, I really appreciated your reminder for people who don’t stutter to be patient and considerate, so that we can hear what someone is communicating regardless of how long it takes to say. It sounds like you’ve done a lot of reflection on your own journey with stuttering, and it’s neat to see you using your experiences to educate others and advocate for people who stutter!
Faith, I also appreciated your point that many of the thoughts and experiences Frank described are shared by others. Even though everyone has their own unique “shade” and their own experiences, there can be so much value in realizing that other people have wrestled with similar thoughts and feelings. The fact that the two of you took the time to share this conversation is such a nice example of that, and I know it will help others feel more connected and less alone in their own experiences.
Dear Zeb, thank you so much for your thoughtful message and support! We hope more people in our society will approach people who stutter with patience, understanding, and consideration. Together, we can create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and free to communicate in their own way.
Hi Faith and Frank,
Thank you for sharing such a thought-provoking video. It reminded me that stuttering is much more than what we hear in someone’s speech. Psychological, social and personal factors all shape how an individual experiences stuttering. I particularly appreciated the idea that everyone has their own “shade of stuttering”, highlighting how no two people experience stuttering in exactly the same way.
I was particularly struck by Frank’s vivid description of stuttering as a monster that grows stronger with fear. It made me reflect on how anticipating stuttering and feeling pressured to speak fluently can affect someone’s confidence and willingness to communicate, even with family and friends. His story also reminded me that while stuttering may require additional time and effort, it does not necessarily prevent someone from communicating their thoughts effectively. Sometimes, having a patient and understanding listener can make a meaningful difference.
Before studying speech pathology, I had limited exposure to the lived experiences of people who stutter. I previously assumed that my own nervousness during public speaking might be similar to what people who stutter experience. However, through attending weekly stuttering support groups during my novice placement and listening to personal stories like Frank’s, I have come to recognise that these experiences are not necessarily the same. Hearing participants openly share their perspectives and engage in meaningful conversations challenged my assumptions and reminded me not to define someone’s communication abilities by their fluency.
My biggest takeaway is that effective communication does not necessarily mean speaking without stuttering. Rather, it is about expressing ourselves and participating in conversations that matter to us.
Thank you again, Faith and Frank, for sharing your experiences and perspectives. They have encouraged me to continue reflecting on my assumptions and the kind of speech pathologist I hope to become.
Dear Tiffany, thank you for your thoughtful and meaningful reflection. Many people experience anxiety in social situations or public speaking, but this can be quite different from the experiences of people who stutter. It is wonderful that you have recognised and highlighted this distinction, as it is a common misunderstanding among the general public.
By understanding these differences and becoming more aware of the lived experiences of people who stutter, you are already contributing to a more understanding and supportive environment. We are glad to have another thoughtful future SLP who is willing to reflect on her assumptions and continue learning from the people she supports.
Wishing you all the best on your journey to becoming an SLP!
Hi Faith and Frank,
I really appreciate Frank being so open in sharing his personal experiences with stuttering.
What you said really resonated with me—stuttering can definitely feel like a “monster” at times, and fighting or fearing it often gives it more power over us. I also love the point Frank made: people who stutter can absolutely get their message across, they just need a bit more time and understanding, and it’s up to us to help the world become more aware of that.
Thank you both so much for sharing!
Dear Cherie, thank you for your kind message and support! We’re glad that Frank’s sharing resonated with you. You’ve highlighted an important message: people who stutter have so much to express, and sometimes a little more time, patience, and understanding from listeners can make all the difference.
Together, we can help create a society where everyone feels heard and valued, regardless of how a message is expressed.
Hi Faith and Frank,
I loved getting to know you both, and I thank you Frank for sharing your story. I am inspired to continue learning more about stuttering and have grown immense respect for your bravery to use your voice to make a difference.
I would love to ask a question. What advice do you have for a friend of someone who stutters to best support you?
Hi Lucy,
Thank you for your comment and support.
I think the best support is the patient and understanding. Treat your friend like a normal person but giving him more patience and understand that stuttering sometimes is uncontrollable.
Moreover, you may offer help when your friend may find difficulties in some scenarios such as ordering food.
Hello Faith and Frank! Thank you for being so open, vulnerable, and honest. It’s nice to see someone who looks like me in this community and field. What are some things you do that allow you to be more accepting of your stutter rather than controlling it?
Hi Frank and Faith, it is lovely to meet you both! I appreciate you sharing your backgrounds, and Frank your stuttering journey. As a future SLP, it is my goal to take suggestions from current clinicians and people who stutter to make myself a more understanding and compassionate SLP.
What is your advice for beginning SLP’s when working with someone who stutters, and how can we best support you based on the best advice you have received?
Hi Amelia, thank you for your comments! My advice for beginning SLPs is to be accepting, stay open-minded, and genuinely listen to what the person who stutters has to say. Remember that the person is more than their stutter, and their experiences, feelings, and goals should guide the therapy process.
I believe it is important to find a balance between embracing stuttering and exploring speech techniques, without making fluency the sole focus of therapy. Work together with the person to identify meaningful, functional goals that matter in their everyday lives. Most importantly, build a strong therapeutic alliance based on trust, respect, and collaboration. Sometimes, the best support we can offer is to create a space where people feel heard, understood, and empowered to communicate in their own way.
My name is Ayleen Yamaki, and I am a second-year SLP graduate student at Chapman University. Thank you for sharing your experience and advice, Frank! Faith, thank you for giving us the opportunity to hear from Frank and for answering our questions. I have another question for you: How would an SLP approach supporting someone who stutters and feels pressured to conform to the societal expectations and norms of their culture?
Thank you for this thoughtful question, Ayleen! Research has also highlighted cultural differences in how stuttering is perceived and accepted across countries. While we need to be sensitive to each client’s cultural context, I believe it is equally important to help clients understand perspectives and approaches beyond their own country, so they know that there are different ways of understanding and responding to stuttering.
We can also empower clients to develop self-advocacy skills, so they feel more confident in challenging misconceptions and communicating their needs. As SLPs, we have a role not only in supporting our clients but also in educating the public and promoting greater acceptance of stuttering.
Hi Frank and Faith, thank you for sharing this video! I really appreciated Frank’s perspective that stuttering is not something that needs to be fixed, and that people who stutter deserve patience and consideration from their listeners. It was a great reminder that stuttering does not mean someone is unable to communicate their thoughts effectively, even if it takes more time and effort. I was particularly interested in Frank’s experience of letting go of control. What do you think is the most important step in helping people who stutter shift away from trying to control their stuttering and toward accepting it as part of their communication?
Thank you for your video! What has been the best advice/skill/strategy you have received or been taught from a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Thank you Faith, for every year highlighting one of your clients, telling us about their journey. It’s so heartwarming you include your clients, giving them a voice, for others to learn from.
Frank, thank you for your openness to be interviewed. Many fluent people wouldn’t dare to do this, while you share your story and your advice with all of us.
Keep (them) talking
Anita