Stuttering

[cyclecrash]

That sounds horribly frustrating msRrio! I have it where i can't think of words and stutter a little when stressed or having a bad day but not like that.

I don't understand why doctors or people don't believe us or our symptoms but yet we all have the same ones! Each of us has our own unique grouping of issues but most of the main symptoms are very common. How can we all be making it up/exaggerating/lying?

Its obviously real.

CC

[Mark in Idaho]

MsRrio,

You might ask your doctor for a prescription of an anti-seizure med. Neurontin (gabapentin) or some of the old standbys like phenobarbital or phenytoin (Dilantin). I was on both in high school (1971-2) and they settled my brain down. It sounds like your brain gets caught struggling and loses control of the timing processes needed to control a natural flow of information and speech.

The added stress of your son's struggles likely makes this brain stress much worse.

My best to you.

[Brain patch]

Ms rio,
I have major speech slurring and some stuttering or like a shaky voice when I get real nervous. Looks like it is normal for all of us. No worries. I know it is embarrassing though.

[MsRriO]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

MsRrio,

You might ask your doctor for a prescription of an anti-seizure med. Neurontin (gabapentin) or some of the old standbys like phenobarbital or phenytoin (Dilantin). I was on both in high school (1971-2) and they settled my brain down. It sounds like your brain gets caught struggling and loses control of the timing processes needed to control a natural flow of information and speech.

The added stress of your son's struggles likely makes this brain stress much worse.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark. I'm interested in what you think of the other symptom that accompanies the stutter sometimes. It's a very strong pressure in the middle of my forehead, sort of down into my sinuses almost, like a strong painful pulling sensation.

Wondering if this is related or just concurrent pain from trying to process speech. Probably just coincidence?

You're right about stress. The week since the neuro psych day has been torturous and a very disheartening setback. I feel consistently worse than I did even at two months post injury. Month three and four have sucked.

Next appt to see GP is Friday, will bring up meds again. Will try to remember.

[GillianGillian]

My speech therapist specializes in traumatic brain injury. When I first started the therapy, she said that I should expect to have more problems when I am stressed, tired, or under cognitive strain. Being relaxed, explaining something that I have said repeatedly (like how the injury happened) made my speech almost like it was before the accident.

I was really amazed at how much the speech therapy really helped. The breathing techniques and learning transitions from one syllable to another and easy onset of words made a huge difference. After a while I was able to self-correct. Now, unless I am exhausted or have not planned what I want to say, no one suspects that I ever had a stutter.

I wouldn't be concerned if the neurologist is not familiar with this, but your speech therapist says something different, I would look for a new speech therapist -- one with experience treating patients with TBI.

[GillianGillian]

By the way, I found that "trying harder" almost always made the stuttering worse. Learning to relax and learning the techniques to deal with the aspects of speech I found difficult were key to getting past the stuttering.