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What is in a name?
Names are pointers. But for many of us they are labels, describing and defining our reality. A good name should describe the behavior, instead of labeling the person. Language often displays the skewed power relationships of the day; Therefore the name should be acceptable to the person / community thus described. Still better, a name should come from within the community in question, rather than thrust by the dominant community. PWS stands for People who stammer, based on 'People first' principle. It also indicates that stammering is something which we do, not who we are.
Introduction
Stuttering affects both the speaker and the listener. But both parties do not acknowledge it under some kind of unspoken convention or arrangement. Yet, there is a significant frustration on both sides. On the speaker's part, because he feels that he has failed one of the most basic requirements of social transaction. On the listener's side- because they have no precedent or understanding to make sense of what just transpired; nor did they feel free to ask questions. Stammering has often been compared to a hippo sitting between two conversationalists at a coffee table: unwelcome and unacknowledged- but very much there (see the cartoon below).
About 1 to 3 people in any adult population of hundred may stammer. This incidence is higher than that of HIV+ people in India, three out of a thousand males (1). Yet we know more about AIDS than about stuttering. Most of us stammerers and non-stammerers, alike have erroneously believed that the problem will go away if we do not acknowledge it, if we do not talk about it. It usually does by going underground- but always returns with a greater force.
Few Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs or Speech Therapists) specialize in stammering- so called fluency disorders. Even these few are forced to migrate elsewhere for lack of enough work and recognition in India. Why don't PWS come forward for therapy? Even when it is offered for free? They have explored every bit of their mind, mouth, speech and various strategies but have failed to answer the basic question: why do I stammer sometimes? Not all the time? How can I help myself?
Since we are dysfluent sometimes and fluent the rest of the time, we intuitively realize that the problem and solution both lie in our own mouth. And yet nothing seems to work consistently. The result is: we give up hope and become skeptical. Haven't we tried everything? What can a Speech Therapist tell us that is new? Either we withdraw into a receding shell of denial or go about life with a fatalistic acceptance of our speech and associated issues.
Today most PWS seeking professional help are young. They are at a stage in life when developing associations, building relationships and excelling at academics and career is of great importance. All of this requires communication skills. Hence most such young clients are desperate for a fast “cure” as they understand it. Even when SLPs are able to convince them for the need to work on a long term therapy goal of managing their stutter rather than eradicating it, few persist with the therapy and relapse into old ways of communicating. The reason is: few PWS are able to keep their motivational level high once they are out of the therapy program and secondly, there are no self-help groups, where they can practice their new skills and get ongoing support.
The Indian Stammering Association (TISA) tries to fulfill these needs through this self-help book. Use it as a manual and start a self-help group in your neighborhood, workplace or on the web. Stuttering is one health condition, where your well-being is truly connected with that of others. It has been termed a disorder of social presentation of oneself - we don't stammer when we are alone or talk to ourselves; Hence the “cure” too has to be found in social settings. One last word, this book will do little for you if you do not practice the concepts described here in! Instead of reading it as an informative book, work with it like a 'Do it yourself manual' over a period of 1-2 years or even longer.
This Manual
This manual is primarily meant for PWS, especially covert stutterers and those who suffer from so called “mild” stuttering; those with a greater degree of stuttering or related problems, should consider other approaches: consulting a SLP, joining a self-help group, talking to an older PWS etc. Finally those PWS who can not do any of the above, even they may learn some helpful ideas from this manual.
Equipment : This equipment will be needed for some of the exercises. A simple tape-recorder; a video camera (even a cell-phone with a video camera will do), a diary to keep notes (you could even blog if you are a Leo and courageous!), a mirror. Finally, having a sympathetic friend or a support group can help tremendously- by offering us objective feedback and other support, as we go along on this path of self-discovery and self-mastery.
Footnote: 1.
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Self Help Manual 
