| Stuttering Foundation: A Nonprofit Organization Helping Those Who Stutter

Singing a ‘Safe Haven’ for Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony struggled with stuttering in his early years and found singing as a way to break free of his stuttering bonds.

Recognize the Risk Factors for Stuttering

Certain factors may place some children more at risk for stuttering. Knowing these factors will help you decide whether or not your child needs to see a speech-language pathologist.

New Year - Old Fears

For many people, ringing in the New Year brings hope and joyful anticipation. But for those who struggle with stuttering, the old fears of speaking and being teased are the same.

December 19, 2013

The Gift of Empathy

It’s the holiday season and I thought I would finish my last post for 2013 by discussing the "gift of empathy."

The tally is in, and we won … $18! It sure was an exciting couple of days at the Foundation, and thanks for all the kind wishes of luck on Facebook. Read more about our jackpot in The NonProfit Times.

November 25, 2013

Foundation Thanks 'Tonight Show'

With Jimmy Fallon set to take over the reins of The Tonight Show in late February, The Stuttering Foundation would like to express thanks.

What Do Rhymes & Music Teach Us About Cerebral Activity?

Singing is an activity that many children love. When we sing together in a happy and confidence-building atmosphere, the brain reacts by secreting chemical substances known as neurotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenalin.

Therapists Return Home to Make a Difference

By becoming more effective clinicians, these workshop graduates are making an impact on children’s lives. Here is some feedback from the Mid-Atlantic 2012 Class to prove just that.

International Stuttering Awareness Day

Language Undefined

October 22, 2013

Tips on Picking a Speech-Language Pathologist: What to Look Out For

This year’s International Stuttering Awareness Day theme (People Who Stutter Supporting Each Other) inspired me to read numerous articles by those who stutter and to listen to some classic podcasts on StutterTalk which has lead to this post on how to pick a SLP who understands stuttering.

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CELEBRITY FOCUS

Winston Churchill

Seeking to "remove Winston Churchill's stutter by second guessing the diagnosis" indicates neither a truthful retelling of history nor an informed opinion about a complex speech disorder, say experts in the field of speech-language pathology.

Recent news reports that quote Dr. John Mather, a Washington physician, as saying that Churchill's stutter "is a lie" brought adamant critical response from specialists in the field of stuttering and fluency disorders.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, is well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones has spoken some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

Frank Wolf

This Virginian congressman has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. The longtime supporter of the Stuttering Foundation drew national attention to childhood stuttering in 2006 when he submitted an article about Tiger Woods from the SFA newsletter to the Congressional Record. The congressman is featured in the Stuttering Foundation's Famous People Who Stutter brochure.