Breaking the stigma around speech disorders
The battle for three scientists to find their voice
Moments before I stand in front of a crowd and speak, I feel a familiar, imaginary hand clenching around my neck and turning my tongue into wood. I have had a stutter for as long as I can remember. It causes stage fright, has led to bullying and given rise to insecurities. Gradually, I accepted my speech disorder and eventually built my personality around it. But even now I often try to avoid my trigger words or introduce pauses before I have to say them out loud.