Can Stuttering Be Treated or Cured: Insights and Stories

Have you ever heard of the Country Music Singer named Mel Tillis? He was a stutterer until he started singing, and you'd never think he was ever a stutterer. And I doubt he had a speech therapist, but if he did, they did a decent job. I'm not certain if President Biden had a speech therapist, but I imagine he had some help from somewhere. It's like bullies who make fun of stutterers because they have their own 'issues' they should deal with but avoid it because they enjoy the distraction from their problems and NEVER SEEK MENTAL HEALTH until they go over the edge, as Trump may be about to do.

Can Stuttering Be Treated or Cured?

Technically, no, but functionally, yes. Methods are taught which cause the brain to pause briefly and prevent the misfire that causes stuttering. I know one method is teaching them another language, then they translate their words in their mind to that language and back to English, which takes just enough time to calm the stutter.

Control and Training

It can be controlled with effort and training. Beyond that, no.

Hope and Success Stories

Maybe. Have you seen The King's Speech? I suspect that stuttering is an expression of ambivalence that might yield to watching the mind to understand conflicting currents. Just pausing to await a settlement of the conflicting impulses might ease the stuttering. It may be that both conflicting impulses are incorrect, and correct processing would emerge after both have dispelled.

I believe it is. Not an expert here, but I've watched a few movies, like The King's Speech, which is a great movie on this topic.

Yes, it is. One of the greatest examples is the recently passed NBA legend Bill Walton. As a young man, through his UCLA years to NBA championship and MVP, he struggled during interviews. After retirement, he decided to start a career in the stuttering had to be conquered. With diligence and dedication, he overcame what was once thought to be incurable. I'm sure most younger NBA fans who witnessed his play-by-plays would never believe his stuttering was so bad that he would appear very shy or even aloof and distant. But he did it! Rest in peace, Bill Walton.

Conclusion

While stuttering is not yet fully curable, there are many effective methods and success stories that prove that with effort and training, individuals can significantly improve their speech fluency. Each person's journey is unique, and there's hope for those who are willing to seek help and put in the crucial effort.