Daniel Hunter outlines his techniques for easing anxiety and managing conversations. Plus letters from Eleanor Dennison, Dean Swift and Tony Butler
I would like to say a huge well done to Kimi Chaddah for being brave enough to write about her experiences of becoming more open about her stammer (I used to do anything to avoid talking to people. But now I’ve stopped hiding my stammer, 20 November). I hope her journey to openness will inspire the 1% of adults who stammer to be able to maximise their own potential.
When people ask me if I’ve stammered all my life, my usual response is to say: “Not yet.” Nowadays, when faced with a difficult speaking situation I always introduce my stammer before I introduce myself. It’s a remarkably efficient way to ease away the social anxiety and discomfort for both myself as the speaker and for the listener.
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