University News Last updated 22 October 2024
"People with a stammer face stigma. People think you鈥檙e not capable - and that reduces your confidence. But it shouldn鈥檛 define who you are or what you can do. People who stammer aren鈥檛 less able. They have their own strengths. They might just be different 鈥� and that鈥檚 OK.鈥澨�
These are the words of Farzana Kausir.听
Farzana is assisting Barbara Moseley Harris, a doctoral researcher and speech and language therapist, with a new research project at 探花直播 (BCU).听
The subject, as you might have guessed, is stammering.听
What鈥檚 different about this project is that Barbara has chosen to give a voice to people who stammer right from the outset, in order for them to play a leading role in shaping the research.听
鈥淭here are plenty of points in the research cycle where people who stammer could be involved, but often aren鈥檛,鈥� said Barbara. 鈥淚鈥檓 changing this by asking for input at every stage possible.鈥澨�
According to research conducted in 2022 by the national charity , identify as having a stammer. This equates to over 100 million adults worldwide. 听
Stammering, also known as stuttering, is a speech difference. It can include repeated or prolonged sounds or words, and/or silent blocks. People do not stammer because they are nervous, or not breathing properly, or doing anything wrong 鈥� it鈥檚 neurological. 听
鈥淧eople who stammer can experience challenges in being heard,鈥� explained Barbara.听听
鈥淲hile some speakers report developing strength and resilience, others describe long-term negative impacts on their self-identity, education, employment, or relationships.听
鈥淪ome even learn to avoid speaking or saying what they mean so that they do not stammer.鈥澨�
Joanne Lloyd, who, like Farzana, is helping Barbara with her research, said: 鈥淭his is an opportunity to create something positive that benefits people who stammer in society.听
鈥淚 hope it will change people鈥檚 outlook to reduce stigma.鈥澨�
Joanne also has a stammer.听
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to be at the forefront, driving the research,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y overcoming my own challenges and putting myself out there, I hope to be a role model and empower others.鈥澨�
Data gathered from an initial questionnaire, issued to a hand-selected group of around 25 people who stammer, is being used to launch a national survey 鈥� and help Barbara identify research priorities for her PhD.听
It鈥檚 an unusual approach, but Barbara believes it will help create research that is clinically relevant and applicable to practice.听听
鈥淚n my professional life, I always asked people who stammer where they are first and work from there,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 tell people what they ought to do.听
鈥淢y research won鈥檛 be any different. It鈥檚 easy to fall into the trap of thinking stammering is something to be 鈥榝ixed鈥�. This simply isn鈥檛 the case. 听
鈥淚鈥檓 not the expert. I have knowledge. People who stammer are the experts. I want to understand their priorities to shape the direction and focus for my PhD.鈥澨�
Both Joanne and Farzana have bought in to Barbara鈥檚 methods.听
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 done anything like this before,鈥� said Joanne. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a difficult subject for me. I wasn鈥檛 sure I was ready to go inwards and revisit the feelings I had as a child with a stutter. 听
鈥淏ut I needn鈥檛 have worried. Barbara鈥檚 support has been incredible. She鈥檚 made us feel safe to share our experiences and research ideas. There鈥檚 a real team spirit among the advisors.鈥澨�
Farzana added: 鈥淚鈥檇 like the research to produce strategies to help people who stammer cope with challenges, reflect on their journey, and achieve their goals by believing in themselves. I鈥檓 sharing my experience to ensure it improves people鈥檚 lives and gives them hope.鈥澨�
Discover more about the stammering research and how to get involved.听听
The have provided a grant to fund vouchers for survey participants.听