Conquering a fear of speaking

Hassen lacked self-confidence in high school and his peers would make fun of him because he stuttered.

“I was really excited about the programme because I knew that it was going to help me with my speech,” said Hassen at his home in Kelvin.

He said he is learning a lot from the programme and is finding it easier to speak to people. “I still have a few challenges like speaking to girls,” joked Hassen. “It is not a cure for stuttering but the programme teaches me techniques to help overcome the stuttering.”

He said some people lose patience with him because he takes longer to speak and this becomes a challenge for him because, as part of the programme, his coach encourages him to make contact with as many people as possible – face-to-face and on the phone.

Hassen explained, “As stutterers, when we attempt to speak, our diaphragm gets closed up and we struggle to breathe which is why we struggle to say a few words.”

The programme has been teaching Hassen how to control his breathing so he can articulate his words with more ease when expressing himself. He is currently studying transport and logistics in Johannesburg. He said he has a new-found confidence and improves with every session.

Hassen said his colleagues and lecturers have commended him on his improved speech. “I want other stutterers to know that there is hope if you are a stutterer,” he said.

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