The President of the Ghana Stammering Association, Mr Emmanuel Addo, has advised fluent speakers to desist from completing the sentences of people who stammer (PWS) during conversations.
He explained that while fluent communicators may assume they are being helpful, completing the statements of persons who stammer prevents them from fully expressing themselves and being truly heard.
In an interview with The Mirror in Accra last weekend, he explained that stammering is not a result of forgetfulness or an uncertainty as to what to say and so completing the sentences prevented them from being heard.
“From experience, those who do this will realise that the person who stammers goes back to repeat what they were supposedly helped to say.
This is because stammering is not a result of forgetfulness or uncertainty as to what to say. I would suggest that the public ask the person who stammers what they find useful.”
He also mentioned that it was common practice to see people ridicule PWS and described that as cruel.
Mr Addo said since stammering was out of a person’s control, ridiculing only deepened stigma and reduced quality of life. Instead, fluent speakers must show empathy, kindness and support to encourage PWS to speak freely.
Causes of stammering
A paediatric speech and language therapist, Adelaide Emma Yirenkyi, explained in an interview on Tuesday that stammering was linked to neurological differences, where the brain’s wiring and coordination of speech processes function slightly differently, making speech fluency challenging.
Also, genetics play a significant role, as the condition often runs in families and may be inherited from parents, grandparents or other relatives.
She cited speech therapy as one of the ways to help manage stammering, saying, “There are various strategies that will help them to be less dysfluent.
In terms of stammering management, sometimes a lot of the work is psychological because when people are afraid of how others will respond to their stammering, it can also cause them to stammer more. For instance, speaking in front of people and being worried about how they will react to how you speak can worsen the stammer.”
The speech therapist who is also a part-time lecturer at the Department of Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, University of Ghana, explained that in some cases, counselling and psychological support are needed to reassure people who stammer and learn how not to let high-pressure environments or people’s impressions impact them.
“Parents can be a bit more supportive by not being nitpicky about it. For instance, shouting at children to speak in a particular way, being harsh and shaming your child will increase the anxiety about speaking, which will make the stammer even worse.
She confirmed that no matter how long or uncomfortable speaking may look, parents should not complete the sentences of their children who stammer but give them the time to talk without interference.
Parental support for children
The President of the Ghana Stammering Association also advised parents to appreciate and celebrate the achievements of children who stammer, just as they would for non-stammering children.
He cautioned against discouraging a child from pursuing their dream profession or vocation simply because of their stammer.
“Rather, encourage them and assure them you will be there to support them to achieve their dreams.”
Advocacy and support
Mr Addo explained that the association supports PWS and creates advocacy in Ghana for their rights and dignity. As part of its support services, they link PWS to speech and language therapists (SLTs) and also organise monthly support groups where they share experiences and knowledge.
He said while they face challenges such as limited funding for initiatives, restricted access to schools for outreach, and difficulty reaching PWS outside Accra, they continued to advocate education, tailored school plans and stigma reduction.
On Wednesday, the team caught up with 13-year-old Kennedy Mensah Dogbe, a PWS who was part of the ‘Camp Dream.Speak.Live’, an initiative of the Ghana Stammering Association.
Held from August 11 to 15, this camp was to help children from basic schools around Chorkor, Korle-Gonno and La who stammer build confidence and communication skills using the CARE model: Communication, Advocacy, Resiliency and Education.
Master Dogbe, who aspires to become an archaeologist, said that regardless of how he spoke, he had been encouraged to study hard and pursue his dreams. He added that he was advised not to avoid words he found difficult to pronounce, but to keep using them as a way to build confidence and improve fluency.
“I learnt that if I am talking to someone, my voice, voice volume, the speech rate, emphasis and how I use my body and facial expression can help me communicate better,” he said.
When asked how he felt about being ridiculed for the way he spoke, Master Dogbe said: “These days, I choose to educate my peers about stammering. I explain to them that it is neither a disease nor contagious. My stammer often worsens when I am angry or trying hard to explain myself.
Mr Theophilus Agbo, a teacher at the Chorkor Presby JHS, Accra, who was one of the coordinators for the camp, said he realised that the students who stammer shied from answering or asking questions in class out of fear of being ridiculed.
“Being a person who stammers, I know and understand how challenging it is for young people who stammer. Some have parents who do not even understand that stammering is not intentional, so rather than supporting them, they treat them harshly.
“From the camp, I have realised that most of them are building on their confidence, which means that with the needed support, they speak better and more confidently,” he added.
Source: GraphicOnline
ALSO READ
