Spouses

� Talk about stuttering with each other.

� Stuttering is not necessarily related to the mood of the moment.

� Most people who stutter do not like people supplying words or finishing their sentences for them.

� Accept that stuttering is an important issue for your partner; your patience and understanding are important.

� Ask your partner how you best can help them, and express how you are feeling too.

� Accept that you won�t always understand what your stuttering partner is going through � listen and don�t feel guilty.

� Be prepared to talk and keep talking about stuttering with your partner; lots of two-way communication is definitely desirable.

� If you are embarrassed or anxious about your partner�s stuttering, learn to accept and be comfortable with it.

� Remain calm and relaxed, maintain normal eye contact, and give time for your partner to communicate.

� Stuttering can affect people�s sense of self-esteem or confidence and can be an important aspect of how they see themselves as people.

� Your partner may stutter more or less with you than with others. Talk to your partner to find out how it is for them.

� Stutterers have �good� days and �bad� days; allow for them.

� For people who stutter, meeting members of their partner�s family for the first time can be particularly demanding.

� It has been known for people who stutter to put off getting married because they were anxious about saying their vows.

� Discuss any concerns you may have about having children who stutter. Although stuttering appears to run in families, your own experiences may help your stuttering child.

� Most people who stutter agree that there is much more going on �under the surface� for them than other people realize.

� If your partner decides to undertake stuttering therapy, be supportive. Your partner may appear to stutter more at first as they begin working on their stuttering and cease trying to hide it.

� Everyone�s stuttering is different, what works for one may not work for another.

� Working on stuttering is usually a long-term undertaking that requires commitment, courage, and self-acceptance.

� Stuttering therapy may bring about changes in a relationship. Through mutual flexibility, openness, and trust, you can allow the changes to strengthen the relationship.

� Something that affects your partner has an effect on you. Naturally it is understandable and acceptable to want to talk about it.

ADVICE FOR
PARTNERS / SPOUSES

SPEAK EASY Inc. - Canada's Organization For People Who Stutter - presents:

� Negotiate with your partner how to handle practical matters such as answering the phone, ordering in a restaurant, etc. You or your partner may wish to handle such things differently on different occasions.