Anyone who has grown up with a stutter can tell you about the overwhelming and debilitating sense of isolation. The desperation they feel when the words get stuck, heads start turning, and jaws start dropping, and it seems as if every set of eyes in the world has suddenly stopped to witness the personal suffering that is playing out in real-time.
It is estimated that approximately three million Americans stutter. It generally occurs in childhood development between the ages of two and six and manifests in approximately 5-10 percent of all children in the United States.
These children are trapped in a cone of frustration and embarrassment and are desperate to break free and assimilate into the unfamiliar expressive world occupied by their peers—a world where words flow freely and stories advance effortlessly.
Stephanie Jeret is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a Master’s of Science from Brooklyn College and a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). She is a recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for excellence in continuing education, reflecting a dedication to professional learning beyond an academic degree. She has dedicated her life to helping clients who have struggled to break free from the reality of their speech disorder. In this world, where children and adults often live shrouded in darkness, Stephanie brings the light to drive out the shadows.
“Often times these individuals don’t understand why they struggle so hard with something that comes so naturally to their peers,” Stephanie said. “And as a result, they withdraw. I want them to understand that they aren’t alone and that millions of others are just like them. I want to teach them to come to terms with their own situations and, most importantly, show that with a committed effort working with a trained speech-language pathologist, this condition can be improved enough to allow them a significantly better quality of life.”
Stephanie is an experienced professional who has worked with children and adults in various settings. She is committed to helping children and adults reach their potential. She has worked in schools, hospitals, nursing facilities and private practice and is both inspired and gratified to help her clients reach their goals.
“I often get notes from my clients,” Stephanie said.
“I had one mother thank me for helping her son. When I started working with them, she told me that her son had stopped talking at school because he was bullied every time he spoke. I remember her son being so determined. So strong-willed. He went on to become valedictorian at his high school graduation, and he gave a keynote address to the entire class. There really is no better reward in my field than receiving a letter like that. Each one of those notes impacts me so directly and so powerfully. Each one of those notes validates my decision to do what I do.”
The exact cause of stuttering remains unclear.
Some research suggests that stuttering may have a genetic basis because of the higher concordance rate with family members. Other research proposes that excessive dopamine activity in the brain may lead to stuttering. Brain imaging studies indicate that stuttering could be due to an underactive left cortical hemisphere, where the speech areas exist.
What is known for sure is that people who stutter have abnormalities in the way their speech muscles contract when they talk and that the condition ultimately attacks an individual’s self-confidence and leaves a stigmatizing effect that can be overwhelmingly traumatizing, especially for children.
“Some of these clients come to me questioning their competence,” Stephanie said. “To me, that is one of the more devastating aspects of stuttering. This is not a purely psychological or intellectual condition.
It has a physical characteristic, no different from nearsightedness or fine motor functionality.
So, the clients I treat must understand this. They need to know that they are normal in every way except when they try to communicate with others.”
In her private practice, Stephanie provides individualized therapy to children and adults who stutter or have articulation, voice, or learning disorders. She creates personalized and customized therapeutic goals tailored to meet an individual’s specific needs. She also understands that working as a collaborative team with parents, family members, teachers, health practitioners and other therapists is essential to providing an optimal environment for a client’s success.
Consider, for a moment, the loss that is experienced when you cannot access a universal form of communication in your daily life.
Consider how vulnerable and dependent you feel and how lonely your life might seem. Consider this for a moment, and you will understand why Stephanie’s work is so important. You will recognize why her ability to reach down and lift others up is so very inspirational.
Stephanie returns a level of self-assurance to those desperate for confidence. She returns a level of eloquence to those desperate for fluency. And she provides her clients a way of life once thought to be out of reach. Everyone who stutters has a personal and sometimes heartbreaking story to tell.
But the common denominator for all those who have been able to fight back against this disorder is that they have had the great fortune to have crossed paths with a professional like Stephanie along the way.
“As a profession, our highest priority is to give these people their voices back,” Stephanie said. “Whether that is through speech therapy or self-help or support groups, we need to help them through their fears and anxieties and show them that there is a path to a brighter future. Just think of how many more valedictorians, astronauts, engineers, and doctors are, right now, hiding behind a blanket of insecurities because of their stuttering. Just imagine what the world is losing. It’s simply not acceptable to fail them.”
To get in touch with Stephanie, visit her website or email her at Stephanie@speakwithstephanie.com.
