Good question!   Some people define stuttering by the amount of dysfluency (repetitions, interjections, prolongations of sounds, words, and phrases) in a person's speech.   Surprisingly, both stutterers and non-stutterers exhibit dysfluencies.
          I define stuttering as being the undesirable behaviors that occur during speech, primarily the excessive muscular tension evidenced in the speech system related to breathing, phonating, and articulation, as well as the excessive muscular tension evidenced in the non-speech system related to gestures, extraneous facial movements and whole or part-body movements.  These characteristics are features of speech common only to people who stutter.
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          Another good question!   The answer:  no one knows!  Stuttering does appear to have mental, emotional and physical components.  Many professionals believe it has a neurological base.  I don't know what causes it -- I only know what increases stuttering and what decreases it.
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          Estimates are that there are 2-3 million people who stutter in the United States.
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           I don't believe there is a "cure" for stuttering; so, no....I don't believe it ever goes away forever.  I do know the frequency of stuttering can be greatly decreased and the release of natural speech greatly increased.  The Freedom to Speak Approach is based on that knowledge.
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           YES!  It helps!  Stuttering should never be a taboo topic to talk about with your family, friends, or a speech/language pathologist.
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           That depends on what your goals are in therapy.  Professionals utilize either a direct or an indirect approach to therapy.  It has been my experience, personally and professionally, that when direct therapy (fluency training/fluency shaping/stuttering modification) is implemented, talking decreases and "fluent trained" speech is the target.   Some research indicates the degree of severity of stuttering increases with direct therapy.  I have found this type of approach to be harmful and creates anxiety.

           The Freedon to Speak Approach is an indirect therapy approach that offers the outcome of the release of natural speech.  I know The Freedom to Speak Approach works.
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           No, it will not.  And, depending on the help (therapy) you receive, it could get much more severe -- or it could get better.
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           I used to -- not any more!
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           I used to -- not any more!
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           I never use to.   I can, and do, now!  Hard to believe, but stuttering has helped me.
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           Yes.  I used to wish this every day.  However, I have learned to not care about my stuttering.  I am much more interested in being an effective communicator and "turning on" my natural speech.
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          Yes.  I used to hate it when I stuttered.  Now, though, I don't really care if I stutter.  I just want to be a good communicator!  It is hard work to be angry with stuttering!
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