The Baton Rouge chapter of the National Stuttering Association came together for its monthly meeting Sept 1. The organization meets the first Thursday of every month at the Goodwood Library in Baton Rouge.
Assistant professor Geoffrey Coalson got involved with the NSA ten years ago after battling with stuttering for most of his life.
“I got involved in the NSA specifically because I am a person who stutters, and I had never met another person who stuttered,” Coalson said. “If I did, I never really talked about stuttering.”
According to The Stuttering Foundation, 3 million people in the United States stutter. The National Stuttering Association seeks to encourage a sense of self-worth in those who struggle with this condition.
Coalson explained that a common misconception about those who stutter is that they are anxious or don’t know what they want to say. He noted the NSA helps those who stutter, as well as their friends and family gain a better understanding of stuttering.
According to the NSA, the exact reason why a person stutters unknown. However, The Stuttering Foundation explains the root causes of stuttering are most likely due to four factors: genetics, child development, neurophysiology and family dynamics.
Coalson spends much of his time working alongside his students in the lab. They focus on finding the possible roots of stuttering.
A 2014 article by Coalson in the “LSHA Lagniappe,” said, “Many adult clients will admit to avoiding words, phrases or situations to circumvent the moments of potential stuttering. Even if the speaker is relatively successful in avoiding stuttered speech, the individual suffers.”
Coalson explained that when a new member walks into an NSA meeting for the first time, he or she is not required to speak. Instead, the new member can sit and listen to the stories of others in the group.
“One of the best benefits of going to the NSA is knowing that you’re not alone,” Coalson said. “That there’s people out there who are going through the same thing. I can’t say it was an easy door to walk through, but, ten years later, I’m very glad that I did.”
According to the NSA, stuttering usually begins between ages two and five. About 5 percent of all children will experience a time during which they stutter, and that period of stuttering usually lasts at least six months. Males are also four times more likely to stutter than females.
The Stuttering Foundation website provides the names of many famous people who stuttered, including James Earl Jones, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Charlie Sheen, Bruce Willis and Vice President Joe Biden. Many of these figures continue to support organizations like The Stuttering Foundation.
The NSA says that stuttering can lead to anxiety about speaking. which brings about a constant cycle and only increases the likelihood of stuttering.
According to the NSA, there is no miracle cure for stuttering. However, the NSA provides a place where those who do can be themselves. Since its establishment in 1977, the NSA has created over 100 chapters across the nation.