How do you react to a person who stutters or stammers while speaking?

1. 58

   LensMan999posted 10 years ago

   How do you react to a person who stutters or stammers while speaking?
   
   Do you laugh at or sympathise at such people?
   
   

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2. 73

   Lavender Jadeposted 10 years ago

   You have to be patient with them, and not let them get upset which would make it worse, you just have to listen to them and once they have started to relax then they should stammer less.  I would sympathise with them but not in a way which would make it seem like I was belittling them.

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3. 73

   Abby Campbellposted 10 years ago

   I don't laugh or sympathize with people who stutter. Having an adult daughter with autism and a speech impediment (i.e., stuttering), I know she doesn't want me to feel sorry for her. She wants to be treated the same as everyone else. Sometimes her stuttering is much worse than at other times. It all depends on her energy levels and her nervousness. I just have to be patient and attentive in listening to her. If her stuttering is really bad, I know she gets frustrated because she can't get her words out. When that happens, I will try to guess what she is trying to say. She is relieve some days when I do this. Other days, she still feels the need to get those words out even though I already know what she's going to say.

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4. 61

   fpherj48posted 10 years ago

   It's not necessary to sympathize and by no means, would I LAUGH.  This would be simply rude and terribly mean.  There are many factors involved, as to why a person may stutter...(as with any speech pattern or impediment).   Someone very near and dear to me, has a serious stutter.  To be perfectly honest, it seems to me that everyone is so used to his issue, it barely matters or causes any concern.  I know I am hardly aware of it now, after all the years of knowing him.  I can assure you, his stutter does not get in the way of his sweet, intelligent, personable demeanor.
   I'm sure that I do not react any differently to individuals who stutter, than to those who do not.  It's all about acceptance, tolerance and understanding.  I'm pleased to interact and converse with all interesting people!

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5. 61

   Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

   I pretty much just think, "Oh, this person stutters," and go on with the conversation.  I certainly wouldn't have any urge to laugh because I don't see a thing funny about a person's "challenge" (if that's the right word).  I don't particularly feel sympathy because I know that something like that is no indication of how intelligent, strong, weak, etc. anyone is; so I see no reason to sympathize.  Sympathy suggests feeling bad for someone, and a) I respect the other person enough not to think they're "less" because of their problem, and b) the person probably learned long ago how to comfortably get through life while having that kind of "challenge".
   
   Is it always easy and effortless to listen to someone who has that particular challenge?  No, but there are a lot of things/people in life we have to listen to/hear that aren't all that effortless. 
   
   My thinking is this:  I do with that what I do with, say, a person who has a very thick foreign accent - I hope they feel fine about it and know I don't have a problem with it either, have no impatience or problem whatsoever with understanding that it may take them a little more time/effort to say what they need to say; but also hope the other person understands that if I can't understand something he has said neither of us should feel bad about that either and should just do our best to work with it.

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6. 95

   cat on a soapboxposted 10 years ago

   When I encounter a person with a speech impediment, It forces me to take a breath and slow down. Patience is key because stress often causes the speaker to have more difficulty. I would never laugh and try not to sympathize or feel sorry either because I don't want to appear patronizing.

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7. 0

   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   There is no one answer for all situations. I have a speech impediment. I do not stutter, but I have an articulation issue, so I mispronounce words. I got some good therapy in college and it is less of an issue today. However, I find younger people, are less patient. If I am doing some business on the phone, I have gotten some remarks like "I can't understand your accent, or what country are you in." When I advise that I am an American living in Louisiana (it is part of the U.S.) they say, well I could not understand you. To say they were sorry would be nice, but it is really not their problem. So I either rephrase, spell it out, or say have a nice day and hang up. It depends on the situation.

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8. 64

   TNT Huskyposted 10 years ago

   I have patience with them. some people simply have more difficulty wording things than others. not because of their minds, but because they may be trying to think on their feet about the best possible way to say something.

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9. 77

   JohnGreasyGamerposted 10 years ago

   Depends on the situation. In comedy it's usually done with someone who doesn't have a speech impediment or stammer, therefore they can follow lines perfectly and do it at the right time for the full effect. There I would laugh, but in reality I empathise because it's a serious matter. I find myself on numerous occasions stammering because I use my gob before my brain's ready for it, so I only say half a sentence before stammering until I begin Act 2.

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10. 66

    Mercia Collinsposted 10 years ago

    You listen to them as though they were anyone else. Let them get the words out and do not be tempted to finish their words for them. Let them relax and the speech impediment will get better. Treat them normally. Never laugh at a speech impediment, it is cruel to do so. Do not patronize them, with sympathy but instead believe in them.

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11. 69

    ienjoythisposted 10 years ago

    Sympathize. Individuals who stutter or stammer cannot control it. Listen patiently and do your best to understand, responding in the same manner you would with anyone else. Simple.

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12. 62

    krisaclarkposted 10 years ago

    Don't react at all, treat them like a normal person (because they are a normal person) and carry on the conversation like you would with anybody else.

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13. 50

    erorantesposted 10 years ago

    It is obvious that the person who does unvoluntary  movements and makes sound when they speak. They have a physical speech problem. Some people they do it on purposely to make others feel bad. Because they do not like the person around him or her. They really know that you write and they do not want to help you with your writing.  I saw both set of circumstances. The true and the false.

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14. 85

    liesl5858posted 10 years ago

    I just listen and try to understand what he or she is saying and I will never laugh at anyone who has stutters. They can't help being the way they are. Be more patient with them.

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15. 86

    Express10posted 10 years ago

    I treat them as I do anyone else, I listen. I definitely sympathize and get irritated with those who take the immature route in dealing with a person who's stuttering or stammering. Even as a child I never made fun of this type of thing. It could be a temporary or long term condition and I don't think that making them more self conscious would ever help them.

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