Speech Problems and Stress

When one has a speech disability or disorder, there is an inability to produce words and/or fluency for normal communication. Some of these conditions have a known cause. Apraxia is one where uneven speech sounds and/or rearrangements of sounds within a word are produced. Acquired apraxia, which usually occurs in adults, can result from a stroke or other neurological damage. (See www.asha.org) Dysarthria is another where weakness or a paralysis of speech muscles is often due to a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), head or neck injuries, surgical accidents, or cerebral palsy. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_disorder)

Sometimes a speech disorder is temporary. It may occur from the loss of a loved one or a job, or having been the victim of a crime or an unforeseen incident like a car crash. The stress from these emotional challenges may show itself in sudden stuttering or stammering. Such stress may even cause one to temporarily lose their voice.

Unfortunately, there are permanent speech disabilities that have no known origin. Among them are stuttering, cluttering (a form of stuttering where the fluency occurs at an abnormally rapid rate), and my disability – spasmodic dysphonia. As is the case with many temporary speech problems, it is popularly believed that stress exacerbates these conditions. Although unproven, in some instances it may even be the cause.

Many people with my disorder have said that their lives were extremely stressful when their voice and speech began to falter. Like myself, no one could pinpoint the exact moment it felt like stress took control. Yet, the overall sentiment was that the stress they experienced might have started and possibly caused the problem.

I lost my ability to speak normally at the age of twelve. At the time my home was full of tension. I noticed that if I could breathe and relax a bit, my choppy, staccato-like speech would smooth out a little. However, the daily stress of living in a very emotional environment created constant anxiety, and – from the onset – it felt like that tension found its way into my throat and would not budge. I loved my parents, but the anger and arguing that went on with them always made my speech worse. It was sad for me to realize that my throat loosened a little and my speech slightly improved when I was away from them. In addition, I quickly became aware that being with calm people, in a calm environment, or laughing, always eased the tension in my throat and improved my speech a little. 

Even if stress did not cause my speech disability, I am convinced that being tired (a form of stress to the body), anxious, or tense has always made it worse. Now that I have been speech disabled for over fifty years I can see how much I have learned about reducing the stress in my life. I hope these things will help you too.

Think of your needs first. In the past, there were many times I couldn’t explain myself to strangers. That immediately caused a lot of frustration that turned into stress and made my speech worse. Since I never knew if my voice was going to be okay or not, I sometimes carried a pad of paper and a pencil. I didn’t always do this because I grew up with the notion that I had to verbally respond to anyone who spoke to me, even if I couldn’t. However, as I aged and realized how ridiculous and harmful this was to myself, I began carrying that paper and pen all the time. Even now, in our modern technological age of email, texting, and a myriad of forms that can substitute for my voice, I still carry a small pad of paper and a pencil wherever I go. It gives me a feeling of calm and the assurance that, even if the power goes out, I will have some way to communicate with others.

Slow Down. If you have a voice, I suggest trying to speak slowly. This will help you to calm down and find a rhythm that enables you to communicate better. Don’t let anyone force you to speak faster or louder than you can because it will only create stress for you. (More than likely, that person is already stressed out.)

If you are without a voice, listen to the pace of your voice within. If your mind is racing, slowing it down will calm you right away.

Many accidents occur when people are fatigued or speeding. You and your speech or inner speech will be calmer if you don’t rush yourself. Try to stop multitasking and start taking your time. Whether you’re driving, walking, eating, or getting ready for work in the morning, the pressure to do something quickly will rob you of the little pleasures of everyday life. Give yourself the luxury of eating slowly so you can savor your food, and getting up earlier if you need to so you can enjoy viewing the sunrise or sitting peacefully with your morning coffee. These are simple things that add up to a lifetime filled with more serenity, and a healthier voice within and out.

Remove the clutter. I used to be a big clutter bug, but all the piles of books, bills, papers and other items just got in the way. Then, when I began to purge and organize, my life really changed. I instantly noticed that there was calm where it had once felt like chaos. Instead of staring at a barrage of papers that made me feel overwhelmed, I could look at a vase of flowers, a pleasant photograph, or even nothing. Creating calm on the outside, created calm for me within. If you have a hard time creating a calm living place, ask or hire someone to help.

For some, internal cleaning can be harder, so start with the basics. Eat right, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest, and adopt a daily relaxation or meditation practice. Some people begin by changing one thing. They might reduce their intake of caffeine, or walk more, or find a pastime to engage their mind. It doesn’t matter how slow the progress is, or how you go about it; the important thing is to start. All it takes is a little discipline, but the calm you’ll create for yourself will be more than worth it.

Laugh and have fun. A lot of us overwork and stress out about things that are out of our control. Along the way, we forget to take the time to enjoy life, laugh, and simply have fun. Watch a comedy or hang out with someone you think is funny. Go dancing if that suits you, or take up a sport or pastime that will make you smile. If you can’t think of anything, just get out there and try different things.

Above all, love and respect yourself. People with speech disabilities don’t always get this from the society, so it’s crucial that we do it for ourselves. Doing what is right and best for each of us is healthy and essential for anyone afflicted with abnormal speech.

If you have a speech disability, the calm you create in your life will make your condition easier to live with. It may not eradicate the problem, but it will give you the ability to think more clearly, be more productive, and look at life with a more positive point of view.