Written by: Megan Smith / Fluency Therapy / June 23, 2021 / 10 minutes read

We all think that we know what stuttering is – a type of speech characterized by interruptions in the flow of speaking. For many people, stuttering breaks their expectations for how a conversation “should” happen, and as a result, it can be uncomfortable for listeners to hear (but even more uncomfortable for the person stuttering, as they are very aware that they are breaking the “rules”). As a result, people who stutter often tend to try to hide their stuttering as much as possible, either with gestures that they think will help smooth out their speech, with the subtle application of strategies from speech therapy, or by avoiding sounds, words or phrases that are consistently difficult for them.

Some people are more successful at these avoidance strategies than others. As a result, most people who listen to them talk would never hear even one stuttered word. These individuals are often referred to as “covert stutterers,” because they are able to create the impression that their speech meets expectations.

Not necessarily. For some people who stutter, becoming a covert stutter feels like an acceptable long-term goal. But many people who stutter covertly will experience many of the communication difficulties that a person stuttering overtly would experience. These might include:

• inefficient or inaccurate communication with others, because of switching out words that will trigger stuttering without having an equivalent word available,

• deciding not to speak, or pretending to not know the answer to a question, in order to avoid saying words that are likely to trigger stuttering,

• the intense cognitive burden of scanning ahead through all of the words they plan to say to see where stuttering may be triggered, so that they can switch out or avoid words as needed to keep their speech fluid,

• significant anxiety about communicating with others and accidentally letting their stuttering be seen (worsened by the fact that many of the people they know would not expect them to stutter).

For many people who stutter, the actual interruptions in their speech cause much less distress than the above social-emotional consequences of stuttering.

1-Experiment With Overt Stuttering

Much of the anxiety caused by covert stuttering is related to the idea that people may be “found out” for being an “imposter” in conversation. The sensation of stuttering, even when alone, can trigger that anxiety. Unfortunately, avoiding stuttering can often make this anxiety worse than it needs to be.

Experimenting with stuttering openly in safe conditions (e.g. alone, or with a very trusted friend, partner, or family member) can increase people’s confidence in their ability to get past a moment of stuttering if it occurs, and can reduce this anxiety.

2-Find a Community

Self-disclosure can be a powerful tool in managing stuttering. Often, it feels unrealistic for stutterers to disclose their secret identities to people who do not struggle with stuttering, for fear of judgment and social consequences.

Finding a group of people who also experience stuttering (covert or overt) can give some of the benefits of self-disclosure in a relatively safe space. Even listening to podcasts in which other people talk about their experiences stuttering (and stutter while they do it!) can give some of these benefits.

3-Choose Your Battles

In some situations, it may be worthwhile to practice stuttering more openly. In others, it may feel more worthwhile to keep stuttering covert. Your speech is your speech, and feeling comfortable with yourself can sometimes mean doing different things at different times. 

You may also find that some of the above strategies work well, while others need adjustment to work for you (or may not work at all) – this is normal too! Seeing a stutter-positive speech therapist, or seeking out a self-help group, may lead to the discovery of new strategies that are even better for you than the above.

Many people who stutter, and who stutter covertly, find the following resources useful:

The Canadian Stuttering Association – find support groups, scholarship opportunities, and information about stuttering.

The Stuttering Foundation (US-based) – find lots of information about stuttering and opportunities to connect with others who stutter.

Self Therapy for the Stutterer, by Malcolm Fraser – this book contains many of the exercises that stutterers use to become increasingly comfortable speaking or to smooth out their speech. For those who cannot afford or are uninterested in speech therapy, it can be a useful alternative.

To book an appointment at the clinic, you can call us at 697-795-5277 or book your initial consultation using the link below.