What are the best techniques?

[202]

Im feeling really bad these days, i feel like i have no future, all because of my severe stutter.What are the best techniques i can practice at home(not at a speech office)? Also, i mean actual techniques like airflow.... not some psychological nonsense

[andrewg818]

Does your stuttering mostly occur at the beginning of sentences or does it occur mid sentence/all over the place?

What situations do you perceive to be the most difficult?

Is there someone who can LISTEN to your practice/speaking and help you know when you make technique-mistakes? [i.e. parent, spouse? ]

How much do you CLOSET your stuttering? when /where/how?

The answers to these questions will help me answer YOUR question about techniques = D

androooo

[jekintel5]

Does your stuttering mostly occur at the beginning of sentences or does it occur mid sentence/all over the place?

What situations do you perceive to be the most difficult?

Is there someone who can LISTEN to your practice/speaking and help you know when you make technique-mistakes? [i.e. parent, spouse? ]

How much do you CLOSET your stuttering? when /where/how?

The answers to these questions will help me answer YOUR question about techniques = D

androooo


i also same condition here,istuttering mostly occur at the beginning of sentences, sometime all over the place. can u teach me the technique?

[andrewg818]

OK, if your stuttering occurs at the beginning of sentences alot:

1. Prior to speaking, feel what it's like to NOT intend to speak at all.. just REST... as you breathe in normally [not breathing as a technique, just the regular breathing you do all day long]--- begin thinking of rest..relaxation..you're not speaking, you're standing there...as you exhale naturally, you're still thinking rest.. then, as an after thought..on that SAME* exhalation

2. begin speaking--intending to only say ONE syllable... there should be a definite comma after it..say it gently.. like this:
My name is John becomes
[rest, rest] My, name is john

--3. Once you've said the first syllable "my"--gently/by itself--you can say the rest of the sentence naturally...as an AFTERTHOUGHT..

4. When you run out of air and NEED another breath..remember that exhalation--you should be taking another "time out" from speaking-- intending only to rest/relax--and then--the next fist syllable is slowed again.

5. Intending to speak while breathing out..forming words before they start, saying the first syllable hard, fast --or co-articulating it w/ the second syllable [letting the start of the second syllable be influenced by the end of the first syllable or vice versa]]] are all little mistakes--that R common--but that can still lead to stuttering when you're scanning words.

Doing this 100% correctly--renders blocking a physical impossibility BUT it is not usually that eays to do it correctly--without INTENSE,long-term practice..

So, lesson #1-- is NOT being fluent in the real world.. Lesson #1--is getting to the point where you can do this successfully in an EASY setting; one where you might not stutter anyway.. For the next week, spend 20-25 min in the morning and another 20-25 min in the evening-- READING sections of books or magazine articles..using this technique.. tape yourself and/or have someone there LISTENING To you--someone to whom you've explained the technique-- Their job is to MONITOR to you--to tell you when you miss one-- when you take a breath or start a sentence w/out proper technique-- PLay it like a GAME-- like a sport.. It's a challenge..but it can become easy-- See if, after 1 week, you can read anything/anytime-- w/ this technique.. The idea is to be able to play the BASIC sport against amateurs BEFORE you can play in the major arena.. Learn to play chopsticks on the piano before performing Beethoven's 5th in concert.. The reading at hoem is learning chopsticks-- Fluency in a "real life" conversation is Beethoven's 5th.. It will be a few weeks before we get up to real conversation..

Also, stop drinking CAFFEINE-- immediately.. no matter how much your body begs for it.. Switch to decaf for soda and/or coffee [or leave em out-- even better!]

Also, it would help if someone who knows what to listen for HEARS you using this first to make sure you are doing it correctly.. Feel free to call me at 352-429-5448..

-Andrew

[Adrian]

Im feeling really bad these days, i feel like i have no future, all because of my severe stutter.What are the best techniques i can practice at home(not at a speech office)? Also, i mean actual techniques like airflow.... not some psychological nonsense

202, You may want to look into costal breathing (McGuire) and fluency shaping (anyplace but Hollins). Keep in mind these techniques are very difficult to master. I would not recommend you try to learn them on your own.

[202]

thanks andrew.Im gonna do that

[catfishingdude]

Andrew, what if you are saying a long/2 syllable word first. For example, "Basketball is a great sport!" Would you just say "Bas" or "Basket" first. Do you understand what I'm asking?

[clark]

andrew,

what if you tend to stutter in the middle or more towards the end of your sentences and not so much at the beginning?

[andrewg818]

Hiya -- Here R answers to both questions:

1. multisyllable words can be hyphenated like
un-for-tun-ate-ly-- if you've ever seen my videos, you see how NATURALLY this can be done [like you're thinking]-- and should said gently/softly..
HOWEVER, in the beginning-and when tension is especially high, you will SUBTRACT more tension by sayign the FIRST syllable by itself as though it's all you are going to say

2. Re: mid sentence-- a lot of stuttering--adult stuttering is mid sentence [where a sentence is measured between breaths/ not grammatically]---was the same for me.. If done correctly, you cannot stutter mid sentence... I can give you a more detailed explaantion of why-- but it's going to attract too much "icky" attention on this board..been there, done that-- If you want me very clearly explain why you will not stutter mid-sentence [if you start your sentence correctly, please call me ]--- But be careful, if you see a feared word coming up, you might inadvertently take a new breath... this means you need to reapply technique.. each new breath must = technique or you CAN Stutter.... Eventualyl, your sub-c will become trained to sync breathing w/ technique w/ little or no concious involvmeent-- but first you need to evolve successfully through the practice exercises... ALSO, if you "see" a word coming up midsentence, it will usually be MULTIsyllable [not always ,but usually]--- pretend you are only going to say the first syllable.. i.e. instead of thinking "I'd like to order a large pizza"-- if PIZZA is the feared word, think "I'd, like to order a large PI [pee]"--I know you normally block on the "P"--buit there are brain/vocal reasons why you will not block if you think PI instead of PIZZA -- I can also explain

[clark]

ALSO, if you "see" a word coming up midsentence, it will usually be MULTIsyllable [not always ,but usually]--- THANKS ANDREW! And what if you "see" a mono-syllable word coming up. What should you do?

[andrewg818]

If you SEE a monosyllable word coming up, put the comma after it-- like so..
Say I'm asking "Do you know what TIME it is"
and the scanned word is "TIME"

If you use technique CORRECTLY, you will cancel this out in your mind, because you will be focusing on RELAX and then the first word only..after doing so CORRECTLY, you will KNOW that you can say "TIME" and you'll just "magically" glide over the word [and the more this happens the more your subconscious mind will become convinced..and gradually begin to STOP scanning]....
HOWEVER, if you have a major preform before the sentence[ not truly resting/relaxing]---or a fast start, hard start, or co-articulated start, you might still see the word coming--or stutter just slightly on it [you'll begin to see in time that the severity of the block relates directly to the severity of your technique mistake-- a minor mistake could yield only a minor block, etc;]--- But-- in the beginning especially, when you are still scanning words aggressively --you MIGHT do technique well..and then see a word coming up midsentence...in that moment--you MIGHT inadvertently take a new little breath..and proceed w/ a fast start-- almost unaware that you took that breath.. That new breath canceled out technique--and followed up w/ out any new technique.. In practice, this used to happen to me a lot when I would go up to strangers and ask questions.. . At first, I'd cry out "see? technique doesn't work"-- which is a pitfall many users fall into--and then quit/give up--and blame the technique.. But I followed one of the other directives: HAVE A MONITOR THERE w/ YOU ..My wife, who served as my monitor, would be able to tell me "No, Andrew, you took a breath between this word and that word..."--and every time--she'd plainly see the mistake I made... and-- as it turned out/w respect to the breath mistake--even though I wasn't CONSCIOUSLY aware of the breath [anxiety/fear makes ya go "un"concious]-- the 2 words between which my wife always said I took a breath..happened to be the same 2 I remembered suddenly "knowing" I was going to stutter.. I saw the correlation.. I saw that it works-- and I committed myself--to resvoling each error-- If the error was breaths.. I'd focus on the OUTFLOW.. watching my breath..
After success, the fear starts to go away..and the "out of fear mid sentence breath" stops happening..and the need to concentrate dissolves as well.. but first, you need success to convince your subconscious..
BUT WAY before that--- you need to be able to read for 20 minutes alone in a room [or to your monitor] w/ technique.. Want me to hear how you're doing ?

[andrewg818]

In my last reply, I didn't complete my train of thought..
if the question is "DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS"--and you see a block possibly coming on "TIME" and you've only made a minor technique error, if you only THINK "time" instead of "time it is" like so:

Do, you know what time, [it is]

the block will go away "magically" [it's amazing to experience this]

If the mistake is more severe, you'll want to reapply your technique before the word "time"
i..e do a full, new technique before it-- This will require lots of pre-practice sessions and comfort w/ technique-- since, if you think of "time"--you're preforming and doing it incorrectly...and it takes lots of practice to think of rest instead of talking--especially when your mind is screaming "your NEXT word, time, is a BLOCK"--so, agian, this why practicing in "real life" situations isn't advised yet--

[divisi]

Andrew: Now this looks more like help and less like an ad. I thank you for this contribution, and I encourage you to follow this style instead of your previous one.

[Jbradfo]

Andrew how did you come up with these techniques? Was it from a book you read or did you come up with them on your own? I myself have been using the techniques described in Bill Parry's book understanding and controlling stuttering and there are some similarities. But recently i've encountered problems with the technique and have been considering trying something else and your approach sound interesting. But I have a few questions for you if you wouldn't mind answering. You say in your technique you should breath naturally and pretend your just gonna relax after your exhalation then begin speech as an after thought. Do you yourself breath naturally through your nose or your mouth. I naturally breath naturally through my nose then exhale through my mouth and I fear this maybe be hindering me in my speech. Do you think I should alter my breathing for improvement? Thanks...Jerry

[bwelling]

Andrew -- you used a very interest phrase "closet your stuttering" This really caught my attention. Could you give further details?

bw

[hjose]

You can watch the technique explained by Andrew in the video here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zemu9EAd7wY
I have contacted Andrew and he gave me an in depth explanation of the technique. I have seen that when you focus on the first word and say it in a most relaxed stated and then pause for less than a second, and then say the the rest of the sentence or the phrase - it really helps. You might want to do relaxation methods to keep your vocal cords, throat and jaw at ease. I am still learning this and am feeling really confident about this.

But the road towards fluency is a personal battle in my opinion.

[andrewg818]

My description is based on the passive airflow technique--which is not explained fully in any published text. The breathing can be nasal/oral or mixed--but oral is preferred. For most stutterers in most situations, the first syllable part w/out any focus on airflow is enough.. but the technique as described is more of the "full package"--
The thing is: One of the reasons I invite people to call me--is that this is next to impossible to do over email/posting-- For one thing, the technique is only ONE component of the entire "program"---and mastery of it--takes too many exercises that vary from person to person-- also, w/ particular emphaiss on airflow-- mastery of creating the "flutter" sound needs to be monitored w/ respect to the slow start-- I would need to HEAR how someone is doing it--to correct them--so that they can practice the technique properly...

[andrewg818]

"Closet" or "covert" stuttering refers to behaviors used to hide one's stuttering-- often more stressful than stuttering itself.. Most PSW do this some of the time--A few are so "good" at it--that they spend their lives in secret--- going so far as to only buy cars w/ names they can say--- live at addresses they can say, etc;-- No one in their lives--or few people know about their "problem"--

[andrewg818]

just to clarify- the speaker in the referenced video is a man named PASQUALE-- who I coached personally for a few months to fluency...My own videos can be found via my site-- they USE technique--but do not explain it in detail like Pasquale's video does...
Also, plz note-- I do not use AIRFLOW although I know how- I only use the slow start component.

[hjose]

just to clarify- the speaker in the referenced video is a man named PASQUALE-- who I coached personally for a few months to fluency...My own videos can be found via my site-- they USE technique--but do not explain it in detail like Pasquale's video does...
Also, plz note-- I do not use AIRFLOW although I know how- I only use the slow start component.

I should had mentioned that the video is not of Andrew's. With Andrew's videos, you will not be able to really understand the method - since he has become "cured" - if I can use that term. With Pasquale's video, you can see how the technique works. I refer to the video quite often.

[bwelling]

Andrew - I believe that most stutterers want to simply get the words out - no more blocks - just fluent speech.

With this, I believe, with your guidance, many will come to a place for the first time in their lives of experiencing genuine straight-up fluency.

It is so important that every stutterer come to a place where they believe (and have proof positive) that they can be fluent.

I wish you well -- it is a noble calling

bw

[andrewg818]

Many people fall into any of the following pitfalls.. I certainly once did--before "getting it"

1. learning a technique--and trying to go out and use it in the real world; only to get frustrated when they still stutter--blaming the technique. In this case, the techniques prescribed renders stuttering an *IMPOSSIBILITY* for virtually all stutterers in all situations [there a few minor exceptions that require additional steps;but they are EXTREMELY rare]-- However, USING it in conversation and stressful situations usually requires an awful lot of step by step practice in easier situations first. A good technique user will usually have a MONITOR; someone who listens to them practice..and then monitors them WHEN THEY ARE READY to gradually ease into real life situations--to tell them what mistakes they make in their technique... It is common for someone to try to JUMP right into advanced useage/tough situations-- and make mistakes w/ names like co-articulation--and not REALIZE on their own t hat they are doing it, continue to stutter, and blame the technique--

2. becoming suddenly fluent-- this leads to a "false confidence"-- their base level tension drops..they think they are fluent..they almost believe they are "cured"--and they are able to ride on this for a while w/ no technique or compromised technique..and remain fluent-- Then, one day, they hit a multiple stress situation, haven't been using/practicing proper technique, go into a state of mini-panic..and revert right back--letting stuttering literally "relapse"

Mistakes like these and others..cause major issues and concerns...and generally. .need some support/coaching to get through..These 2 are far from the only ones..
I feel blessed--because I went thruogh these problems and others--and got thorugh them--and have helped others--but this is not really the forum for doing it...

[nate]

I should had mentioned that the video is not of Andrew's. With Andrew's videos, you will not be able to really understand the method - since he has become "cured" - if I can use that term. With Pasquale's video, you can see how the technique works. I refer to the video quite often.

Please can you post a link to the vid. I canna seem to find it.
Nate

[hjose]

This video is Pasquale's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zemu9EAd7wY

This video is of Andrew's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPKWwKGVVhI

Pasquale explains the method in the first video. Andrew has been very helpful.

[nate]

This video is Pasquale's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zemu9EAd7wY

This video is of Andrew's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPKWwKGVVhI

Pasquale explains the method in the first video. Andrew has been very helpful.

Thanks very much mate
Nate

[dzango]

amazing clips!!!
I have question for Andrew..
How different is your life now compared to then?... Did your dream come true and are you happy as you thought you would be when you were imagining how it will be to be fluent? :)

[andrewg818]

Here's what comes to mind..
"A little bit of everything" is the answer..
There are definitely ways that life is noticeably better..there are other ways in which I realized that "stuttering wasn't really the problem" after all--and I overcame other problems...and then there are those where it may be better...but I'm probably taking it for granted..[i..e I used to be VERY nearsighted..then, 10 or more years ago, I got Lasik surgery..and got rid of eyeglasses and contacts..at first, I was amazed by evertyhing..every flower..every sunset...Now, I don't think about it--same w/ speech to SOME extent]...
For example, I was fortunate to have business success BEFORE overcoming stuttering--life didn't change there..but SOCIALLY, I hurt-- I was very afraid of meeting new people, conversations, parties, etc; Learning to be fluent did not immediately heal those issues-- I was still fearful--and-- as part of a PROCESS, I realized that even though my mind said "you must be quiet because you'll stutter"--that wasn't the REAL reason-- as I overcame the real pain..the real reasons I was USING stutteirng to stay quiet, I experienced freedom-- So, now-- if I meet new people-- or go to someone's house-- Yes, I have dozens of new friends-- who never knew me when I stuttered [though I have told them of it--but they don't "get" it---partly, because stutteirng means NOTHING to most people-- reality!]-- so yes, I go to their houses.. I tell jokes, stories, I interact..and I am more free and alive than ever before...and, in the beginning, this created great excitement, thrill, pride..and then, which is good too, you sort of take it for granted..You forget about stuttering... or at least 98-99% so .. But knowing how to become fluent alone--doesn't take away many of the things you're scared of -- Stutterers believe--and I once did too "If I was fluent, I'd be the life of the party.. I'd do this..I'd do that"--and then they master a technique--but still can't do those things for fear of stuttering.. It turns out--and this takes A LONG time for most to accept [myself included]--that stuttering was a behavior protecting you..a scapegoat in THOSE situations---If you stutter and they don't like you..or if you stutter and you don't get the job, you blame the stuttering--you're upset..but you escape personal rejection..it wasn't YOU who got rejected, it was because of that darn, uncontrollable stuttering.. If you choose to avoid situations or to remain silent because you fear you'll stutter.. You can blame the stuttering--- "If only I didn't stutter, I would've been the life of that party---darn stuttering"--and, again, you escape personal rejection.. ALL HUMAN BEHAVIORS HAVE A HIDDEN *PAYOFF*--a REASON you do them..something you GET out of them-- This is WELL-documented in human psychology/journals/studies, etc;---
I don't really expect someone reading this to fully believe that there is a PAYOFF to their stuttering--but at least--considering it may plant the seed--if you WANT to conciously know what it is-- Then ask..and the answer will come up from your subconscious in time--and it will make sense and you'll realize, as I did "I've always known"-- BUT it's likely that the PAYOFF in each situation is DIFFERENT.
And that.. is one of the great things about technique.. Once you've worked on it for, say 6-12 months, and you're quite fluent in most common situations--but some situations still bug you and suddenly make you think "I'm gonna stutter"--even if you don't --- the REAL REASONS are forced to the surface..as you maintain fluency in the face of your mind telling you that it WANTS you to stutter, it EXPECTS you to stutter, etc;--you begin to understand fULLY the real reasons you were scared of THOSE situations--and then you can really work on the psychological aspects..EVentually, you work on enough of them--that you come to a place of "knowing"-- Realizing there are probably more situations..and infinite number...and that you can "win" any of them--but no longer need to keep trying..
I know this is a much more tangential answer than you expected-- the simple answer is yes, in most ways-- my life got BETTER-- WAY better..especially my own acceptance of myself SOCIALLY--but it wasn't just the technique that earned me THAT freedom... It was the PATH that HAVING the techinque led me down over the months and years..
As one of my mentors once asked me "Name 5 things you would have to give up if stuttering were no longer part of your life in any way"...

[dzango]

That was the exact answer that i wanted! Thank you very much, you confirmed me some things that i was thinking to... You are Great man Andrew. Wish u all the best

[klbrooks]

Go to my blog at www.madstutter.com for a look.

KB

[Jbradfo]

Why do you think oral would be best? Lately i've been focusing on just breathing natuarally which happens to be nasal. Are you saying it would be best to breath through the mouth when speaking or at all times?(even when not speaking)

[andrewg818]

There are several reasons I don't recall..but the main one I do recall.. is that well, obviously..when you SPEAK --you do so orally..so the flutter..the portion of the exhalation during which your mental intent is to rest--is best produced orally...so that there is no space/co-articulation/room for block between the exh. breath and the onset of speech..
Inhaling through the nose and then exhaling through the mouth works

[ronshor]

Andrew

I've read what you described about the technique and there's one thing I don't get about it

what if you stutter on one syllable ?
what would you do then ?

For instance
A lot of stutterers (and myself included ) tend to
stutter when someone asks you a question, Like

what is your name?
What is this guy's name ?
what is the name of the company you work for ?

So, if the answer should be a word with only one syllable
What are you supposed to do ?

Let's try an example to be more practical
Let's say your girlfriend's name is Pam, and somebody asks you for her name
and of course, as a stutterer you'll have a problem saying anything starts with P, T, K, etc.

What is the way to say the word "Pam" which has only one syllable with the technique ?

[andrewg818]

Whenever the following conditions exist:

1. The word you are going to stutter on is to be spoken by itself [i.e. PAM]
-AND-
2. It is the only word you intend to say [i.e. PAM]

--then you use the full technique w/ the flutter.. meaning:

on your natural exhalation, you think REST---and THEN, as an afterthought, remember to say "PAM" [and say it gently/softly]

so it goes like this:

THEM: What's your girlfriend's name?
YOU: [inhale naturally---thinking REST..exhale..relaixing your body--show them how well you rest--look up as if thoughtfully answering w/ a gentle smile] ----- Pam...

It will flow right out..

See-- the WAY you currently *get set to speak* when some1 asks "what's her name" --is to PREFORM--to lock up--you anticipate* the stutter..and you tense up --getting ready for the struggle you've gotten used to.
This introduces a NEW behavior..the opposite of stuttering--training yourself to get set to REST/RELAX..drop your shoulders.. MOMENTARILY..very quickly--zone out--and put your mind on RESTING..then--- your vocal muscles will be ready..set..for you to speak freely..
You know you can say "PAM"
you-- can prob say it 100 times in a row right now --alone in a room--- the difference is-- you have anticipatory stress when some1 asks you--and you get SET To struggle..because that's what you've *LEARNED* to be used to..
So now-- begin introducing a NEW behavior..
In time, the "rest" will become AUTOMATIC...and it will be the NEW you..
BUT-- this requires SO much practice, generally..
--for example, for me "What's her name" [re: my daughter"] remained a MAJOR challenge even after my first 6-12 months of fluency and pretty intense exercises.. I finally had to have my wife..ask me 150 times-- yes 150X day [doesn't take that long]--"what's her name?"-- using various voices, word order, etc;--and I would practice -- ... rest..rest... then say her name... [in my case, it was 2 syllable, so I also pretended I was only gonna say the first 1]...
The point is not whether or not I would've stuttered it to my wife [I wouldn't have]-- it's that-- I became so CONDITIONED*** that EVENTUALLY--after a few weeks.. when people asked me "what's her name?" in stressful situations-- I would smile..remember..and be able to break the cloud of tension--and go right into that mode--I had practiced/brainwashed myself to do--so that i could use technique correctly...[otherwise, I would've kept tensing up, preforming, blocking--doing the OLD/conditioned/trained stutter behavior]
I literally had to DEPROGRAM myself to use the NEW technique of RESTing instead of the old technique of TENSing up...

[ronshor]

So at the end, it all goes down to being able to relax before speaking

Pronouncing one syllable is the basic of speech

without being able to relax before speaking, nothing will work
(no matter what technique you are using )

there's an interesting thread in this board (I think it's the most viewed thread )
about a woman who cured herself by doing meditation (that included breathing exercises which helped her relax before talking)

here it is

http://www.stutteringforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153&postcount=31

How did you practice your relaxation technique ?
(not the the technique itself which you had already explained very well, the practice to make the breathing / relaxation automatic, what did you do exactly ?
just reading out load and practicing with your wife...?

By the way, many thanks for your great work in this forum and specifically for your posts in this thread.
It was very interesting to read

[andrewg818]

yes, but we all HAVE the power to relax.. none of us have a physiological nor any neurological problem preventing us from relaxing.. Only our CONDITIONED behavior patterns prevent it--- Largely from years of dealing w/ stuttering.. so we need to learn NEW behaviors that work in the opposite direction and then recondition ourselves. It is for that reason that people can rarely just HEAR about or READ about a technique and master it--- There is a progression of exercises and SUB-techniques that must be tweaked/adjusted for each person and their own unique situations, fears, etc;--and then followed over a period of time and monitored. It is for that reason that I have said I am hesitant to just "post the solution" --because it is simple--but yet it is not simple-- Each person is different..and even from the beginning--their technique needs to be heard.
You have LEARNED a way of getting setting to speak that ensures you will stutter.. As your subconscious mind becomes familiar w/ another way of getting set to speak--and it becomes convinced that w/ that new way, you will NOT stutter, it begins to adapt it more and more..
HOWEVER, MOST* stuttering is NOT on one syllable... There are the isolated examples ..i.e. "what's your name?"--but so much of adult stuttering is midsentence OR at the beginning of a sentence when one intends to say a lot more than just one word.. Thus, the full airflow is rarely needed.. as w/ me, the first syll start + softness is usually more than enough.

[hr88]

just wondering if anyone has tried what Andrew's suggested and how they are getting on?

Ive been very busy with exams and such so havent really been able to give it my full attention but it seems like something that could work for me

[jak]

The problem with the passive airflow tech /martin swartz method is you must practice all the time which some people cant do for the rest of ther life causing a relapse ,I did it for 2 years I had some luck but I found it hard to use during actual speech ,and what happens is you pratice for long periods then you fail once and get depressed and give up,Iv been doing valsalva for 5 years and have had better luck using it while talking ,I think different things work for different people passive airflow is a breathing tech used to relax vocal cords (short explanation) ,valsalva is a tech wher you contract and release your abdominals ,example contract abdominals then release then speak ,it does work to some degree

[andrewg818]

Jak-- I experienced those same pitfalls..that is why I offer to coach/help people 1on1--because, left to our own accord, most of us don't know what to do/don't have the tools to get technique to work in everyday life-- There MANY stumbling blocks..and lots of people crash at them. Being fortunate enough to have passed those stumbles..and having met so many others who have..and coached others since then, I know how to do w/ techinque--what you said you were unable to do.. But, yes, step 1--is learning what I said--there are many, many other steps for some of us to get it automaitc.. and multi situational.. bottom line: do it and it works... reality: doing it is NOT easy at first... other reality: it can be accomplished and it has been.. and I can help!

[hjose]

just wondering if anyone has tried what Andrew's suggested and how they are getting on?

Ive been very busy with exams and such so havent really been able to give it my full attention but it seems like something that could work for me

I have been trying out Andrew's technique. I have had relapse, and Andrew has helped me to get up again. Is it easy? I will say it is hard. But it certainly works.

[dzango]

I've been trying this technique too for 2 weeks... I think i'm doing ok, since i am completely fluent when i am saying only one untied sentence.. (even with my friends). But , when i want to tell some story, or joke, damn i have no chance to say it fluently.. Also, its very easier when sentences start with multisylable words, because i don't have to make a pause. But on onesylable words... it is so hard to take a brake. I sound too slow and unnatural. It doesn't fit in my fast speech at all (even in my slow)! I wonder, is there any way to avoid this pause, like smth to link it with the next word...

For example: instead of "My, name is dzango", to say "my-na-me is dzango" ....

I tried this too but it didn't work.. (sorry for my bad english:)

[baseball07]

A question/comment regarding this technique. First, I find that when I practice this technique I run out of breath alot mid sentence, since you're supposed to begin speech after exhale, which creates a pause mid-sentence as I run out of breath before finishing the sentence. I take a new breath, breathe out again and don't start speaking again until I convinced myself I am "relaxed". This creates a good 3 second gap in a sentence. Am I waiting too far into my exhale to begin speaking? How about when someone asks you a pop question you were not expecting and preparing for? Are you supposed to make them wait while you finish exhaling, breathe in, exhale until you're relaxed, then start speaking? I guess my question is how do you incorporate this into everyday conversation. It seems it creates alot of gaps in speech.

[jak]

try inhaling less air ,you dont need alot of air to speak ,if you run out of air mid sentence usually that means you did not ether prolong the first word or try slowing down your speech

[andrewg818]

Dzango,
I and many others experienced PRECISELY what you described..in the beginning-- but, see, this is why I've said that as simple as it is-- I can't really just "explain" it in an e-posting.. There are specific steps, ideas, and exercises to implement technique--that are somewhat customized from situation to situation... In your case, one simple answer--for example-- involves the fact that we have a hierarchy of practice exercises.. one of which --LATER ON --is the "joke telling" exercise..but there are instructions--at that stage re: practicing for the joke, who to tell it to, expanding your comfort zone to make it any joke/any time-- and there is a PROGRESSION of practice exercises leading up to that point--- over several weeks--w/ each exercise before it-- offering an increasing level of distraction from technique...while you are being coached and monitored..and NEVER proceeding to the next step.. until you've completed the original step.
What you are going through is NORMAL.. .you have the VEHICLE to make it [the technique] but I have NOT given you the ROAD MAP.. see ?
If you call me [352-429-5448]-- I can probably be of MUCH greater help.

[andrewg818]

you write:
A question/comment regarding this technique. First, I find that when I practice this technique I run out of breath alot mid sentence, since you're supposed to begin speech after exhale, which creates a pause mid-sentence as I run out of breath before finishing the sentence. I take a new breath, breathe out again and don't start speaking again until I convinced myself I am "relaxed". This creates a good 3 second gap in a sentence.

I reply:
Tape record it --and time it-- you'll probably find the GAP is closer 1 second. PSW tend to feel that silence lasts a LONG time--longer than it does--and realizing the true length will help you in many ways later on.

you ALSO write:
Am I waiting too far into my exhale to begin speaking? How about when someone asks you a pop question you were not expecting and preparing for?

I reply:
When you are doing full airflow.. i nthe beginning.. you are not to speak until you are at REST...you are "fluttering"--and not PREFORMING/tensing up/getting set to speak. When you are new at it, this takes a second or so longer than when you are more experienced. But it's just a SECOND--your mind will tell you "this is unacceptable.. this is unnatural"---we've all heard it before.. No one will run from you screaming in horror.. the only person picking at your speech, in REALITY, is YOU--- be kind to yourself.. Tell yourself "I want to do this for ME-- I am tired of the STRUGGLE.. I am tired of FIGHTING w/ my words.. This helps me get them out smoothly..and comfortably..I deserve to be comfortable..and I know it will get faster and smoother anyway"..
Read my previous post re: a hierarchy of exercises.. There is one-- usually given after about 3-5 weeks of practice and progress-- named "toughening"--in which you practice getting asked a series of sudden/unexpected questions--at high speeds. W/ full blown airflow, you get used to smiling.. looking up like you're thinking [you ARE..but about rest]--and responding.. It is a pensive, nice, gentle---relaxed..articulate way of speaking-- very calming to your listeners.. YOU are in control-- YOU set your reaction speed, not the listeners. And, yes, when you are new- -a sudden question can knock you right off of your technique as you quickly answer in "automatic" mode--but months of practice following a hierarchy of planned exercises..will make your TECHNIQUE become your automatic/unconscious response instead..but I don't know how to full guide anyone through all of those steps by e-mail/posting-- in person ROCKS-- by telephone is good too..

you also write:
Are you supposed to make them wait while you finish exhaling, breathe in, exhale until you're relaxed, then start speaking? I guess my question is how do you incorporate this into everyday conversation. It seems it creates alot of gaps in speech.

I reply:
Have you seen my videos, by chance? Begin w/ this one on overcoming stuttering:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FPKWwKGVVhI

<<Know in your mind that if you master the techinque, the worst that will happen is you'll be speaking as "poorly" as I do in the above video ; D