Adult Stuttering
For adults who stutter, effective therapy focuses on managing the physiological, emotional, and cognitive impacts of stuttering. By the time we’re adults, we’ve had many experiences which have shaped our communication and our attitude towards it, so we need to go deep to address these issues.
Our goal at the Chicago Stuttering Center is to empower you to speak confidently and courageously. This may look different for every person, but is always grounded in education, awareness, action, and advocacy. From everyday speaking situations like ordering coffee or talking on the phone, to work presentations, dating, and interviewing, we provide the support you need to feel successful with your communication.
What does adult stuttering look like?
Stuttering in adults may include:
- repetitions, such as “I I I I I want to go to the store.”
- blocks, like “T_____omorrow is Saturday.”
- prolongations, such as “I saw the mmmmmmovie.”
- secondary behaviors, such as facial tension, eye blinking, or tensing other body parts to help get the words out
- avoiding specific sounds, words, or situations
- missing out on opportunities because you may stutter
- feeling like stuttering negatively impacts your ability to communicate and live your life
What does therapy look like?
Some common ideas and situations we explore in therapy are:
- learning about what’s happening physiologically and mentally for you when you stutter
- exploring management strategies and tools to empower your communication
- advocating for your speaking rights as a person who stutters
- day-to-day speaking situations
- socializing, dating, and networking
- career-related situations, such as interviewing, job performance, presentations, and communicating with management and colleagues