Speak Confidently Living with Stuttering

By Dom Kemp

Growing up with a speech impediment can be difficult for anyone, so imagine the challenge it poses for young Dom! While attending elementary school, Dom was diagnosed with severe stuttering. He never gave up hope and worked hard through twelve long years of speech therapy to overcome his impediment. Despite being teased in school, Dom persevered. His journey and inspiring story of courage, determination, and hope will move readers to action.

In Speak Confidently, Living with Stuttering, Dom shares his experiences not just with speech impediments but also the life-changing power of therapy.

For anyone living with a stutter, this story is filled with great advice! It's an inspiring account of how one person found the strength to overcome his impediment and pursue his dreams. It's also an empowering call to action for anyone struggling with speech challenges, reminding them that it's never too late to believe in themselves and reach their full potential.

Dom acknowledges celebrities, who he has admired for many years that opened up about living with stuttering, to illustrate the importance of having a positive mindset and persevering. Dom hopes that his story will help others in similar journeys and encourages readers to never give up on themselves.

With the help of a supportive network and the power of belief, Dom is now living his dream life as a truck driver. Dom hopes to empower others to achieve their career aspirations too! By sharing his journey of self-discovery and growth, he hopes to inspire readers to be their best selves and follow their dreams — no matter how impossible they may seem. It's time to take the courage and never give up on you or a loved one's desire to speak fluently whether with or without speaking technology!

Readers will come away with a greater understanding of how speech impediments can impact someone's life, as well as practical advice on how to manage their own stutter, if needed. Dom says, "Having a speech impediment can be a challenging and frustrating experience, but it is important to remember that it does not define who we are as individuals!"

For anyone living with a speech impediment or simply looking for an inspiring story of hope and courage, Speak Confidently: Living with Stuttering, is the perfect read sure to motivate and encourage you! Dom's honest account of his own struggles and successes will bring readers closer to understanding the reality of living with a stutter — and motivate them to never give up on themselves.

Pick up Speak Confidently: Living with Stuttering, today and learn how one young boy turned man accomplished his life goals, no matter what obstacles stood in his way. Buy now and start your journey towards success!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dom Kemp
• Release date: Jul 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798850521103

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Their mannerisms say , they are uncomfortable speaking and listening to us, our mannerisms show them, We know. They could be you, a spouse, parent, friend, person at work, foe, or stranger.

In this book, I will share the following: my firsthand experiences growing up with a speech impediment, an overview of what stuttering is and theories about what may cause it. Additionally, I will explore how having a stutter can affect daily life and discuss approaches to managing stuttering. Lastly, I will look at what can be done to prevent or reduce its impact on children and the stuttering community.

My hope is that by learning more about stuttering, we can create a better understanding of this condition and help those who are struggling with it find support and strategies to manage it. I also hope that through greater knowledge, we can plan for preventative measures to reduce its occurrence in future generations.  

The journey to knowledge and understanding of stuttering is just the beginning for some of you reading this book and for others you are still searching for answers. I hope to equip you with the tools you need to better comprehend and support those of us who are struggling with this condition as well as those who love us. 

Growing up with a stutter was tough. It was a constant reminder that I was different from the other kids, that I didn't fit in, and that no matter how hard I tried, I would always struggle to express myself. People would often interrupt me, finish my sentences for me, or just tune me out altogether. I was labeled slow, dumb, and lazy, just because I couldn't spit out my words as quickly or as smoothly as others. 

I often found myself frustrated when trying to communicate, as my thoughts seemed to race ahead of my words. Overthinking conversations to move them along quickly and avoid judgment only exacerbated this feeling, leaving me perplexed and discouraged. I became fixated on my struggle to articulate my thoughts, feeling as though it was a punishment for my shortcomings.  

Living with a stutter is a daily challenge that can be difficult to articulate to those that don't have the same experience. It's like having a barrier between our thoughts and the ability to express them clearly. Simple conversations that come naturally to most people can be incredibly frustrating and require intense concentration. 

For instance, imagine trying to say a simple sentence like I love ice cream but instead getting caught on the first sound of I, resulting in repeating I-I-I-I-I multiple times before finally moving on to love, which is then replaced by like to avoid stuttering. It's a frustrating cycle where one constantly tries to balance clarity with fluency. 

Growing up with a stutter makes us feel isolated, and it can impact even the simplest of conversations. The speaker knows what they want to say, but the words just won't come out. The experience can cause anxiety and can make a person hesitant to speak up in public or social settings, fearing judgment or ridicule. However, the journey towards fluency can be rewarding. The progress may be slow, but it's a constant improvement towards feeling more confident and comfortable while speaking. Speech therapy can provide the tools needed to overcome these challenges, allowing someone to be more themselves without being rushed or judged. 

It's essential to understand the significant impact that a stutter can have on someone's life. By being patient and empathetic listeners, we can help those with a stutter feel more comfortable and heard when communicating. Being that I stutter, I am sensitive to those who have a similar challenge and so I practice what I preach and allow them to feel heard. 

Living with a stutter can prove incredibly challenging, but the journey of self-improvement is immensely fulfilling. By increasing awareness and showing empathy towards those who stutter, we can create a more inclusive society where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves regardless of their fluency. 

As a child, I questioned everything, even turning to prayer in search of answers as to why I was affected by this impediment. Moses in the Old Testament had a speech impediment. Moses was the greatest leader of Israel and was a stutterer. The Bible doesn’t say anything specifically about stuttering, but I did find 2 verses that are within the realm. Matthew 12:34 says Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Colossians 4:6 says, Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt. My mother compared me growing up to Moses and my brother to Aaron, Moses’s brother. Aaron was Moses’s interpreter for most of his life, but Moses had to stand up for himself in many cases when his brother was not around. That’s how my brother Victor was about me and still is to this day. 

I prayed about stuttering. I learned that everyone has their own struggles whether seen or unseen, yet we hope that others will understand whatever those issues might be. We are left feeling disappointed when we realize that professionals, family and friends sometimes cannot provide us with solutions to our problems. There are life challenges that we must learn to manage on our own with the help of the one who has created us.

My faith has taught me that we are born in God’s image. Therefore, that is a gift that we ought to cherish, but oftentimes we take our lives for granted while not considering others. Everyone has flaws and nobody is perfect! Some imperfections can simply not be explained, yet people insist on wanting answers to everything!  

The Holy Bible says we walk by faith and not by sight. At times, believers forget we can ask God anything. Yet, what happens is we lean on our own understanding and internet research, rather than our Almighty Creator. Proverbs 3 verses 5-8 states, Trust in the LORD with all your heart; And lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. The scripture further advises, Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It shall be health to the navel, And marrow to the bones."

All of us have the free will to do whatever we want at any point in time. People tend to forget about our right to choose whether for good or evil. When they say, Why did God allow this to happen or that to happen? Consider choices you made whether long ago or recently and how they impacted not just your life but others. For instance, people steal and kill. The 10 commandments advise that we don’t do these things, but if we do regardless of the reasons, actions come with consequences.

Now my journey I share with you is not going to be riddled with biblical verses throughout this book. However, what I do want you to think of are those times you asked of God to heal, to stop, to quit whatever the challenge was with a family member or friend. They may have stopped, only temporarily or not at all. Ponder why that might have been. Did they explore options to get aid and stick with it? Some people are incapable of making good decisions due to a range of factors, from the environment they live to mental challenges. Before you judge, take the time to read the 10 commandments and other biblical scriptures. Notice where you are in error or in sin before judging others. Think twice about thinking or listening to people who say that we are cursed due to a disability. It may be so for some, but not for all. 

Life is about choices. Some will affect you in the moment, others for the remainder of your life. I believe so many people are living their lives full of regrets because of one poor decision after another. Maybe you regret getting involved with someone with a disability, rage about having to care for them, or maybe depressed that you have an impediment like a speech challenge, but rather than wallowing in regret or resentment, think on all the wonderful things you can do with your life beginning now, and how you can be a beacon of joy and hope even in the littlest of things you do for others.