Stuttering Devices

• Making and Maintaining Eye Contact


The person who stutters often develops the habit of avoiding eye contact with the people to whom he is speaking. He has become so accustomed to his faltering speech that he does not want to see the reaction of the listener. This can cause you to become even more self-conscious, and stutter even more.

You can turn this negative habit around to your favor. While it may take some practice, it is well-worth the effort. When you are preparing to speak to someone, make a point of making eye contact with him. You can begin by reminding yourself that he really does want to hear whatever you plan to say. In most cases, you will receive a spoken or unspoken affirmation of this, before you begin to speak.

As you speak, hold eye contact with the person. If you speak pleasantly, and reflect this pleasant attitude in the eye contact rather than a bold stare, you will see that he is listening graciously to whatever you are saying to him.

This technique can help you to develop the habit of appreciating one-on-one communication. It can help you to focus on the interaction itself, instead of on your speech difficulty. You will gain control over your verbal communications, and find them to be much more enjoyable. As these habits start to come naturally, your speech will also begin to flow more naturally.