My name is John Kerr and I come from Glasgow, Scotland. I’m 48, and I have stammered since the age of 4. When I was a child, my mother took me to numerous Speech therapists but that had no real effect. I don’t believe that any of them had ever stuttered; so, it had to be hard for them to understand my problem. In my early teens, I also went to a couple of expensive Hypnotherpy sessions, but again that had little impact.
My most painful stammering memory was when I was 12 years old and starting High School. Everyone of the kids in the Biology class had to read two paragraphs of this book. The fear and tension within me was unbearable as my turn to read approached. I stammered on most words badly, and in particular the word ‘blood’. I just couldn’t get this word out for about 40 seconds but it seemed like an eternity and I started to cry in front of the other kids. Something like that stays with you!
In 1990 when I was aged 18, I found advertised an intensive 5 days stammering course that promised a Cure. The course was tiring, repetitive and just relied on a few techniques. Again, I don’t believe that any of the teachers had ever stuttered. After the course, my speech sounded unnatural and robotic. However, at least I had achieved a level of fluency. When I got home, however, my stammer came back after about two weeks and I felt utterly dejected and felt I let down my parents as they paid $1500 for the course.
All my adult life, I resigned myself to a lifetime of stammering.
Then in August of 2020, I bought Lee’s book on Amazon after reading all the positives reviews. Lee had stuttered and beat it. So, I thought ‘Why not’?
I thought I knew everything about stammering but reading Lee’s book opened my mind to the possibility of a cure or at the very least, greater fluency.
Crutch 11 in particular, has been a game changer for me and I began to see a dramatic improvement.
The great thing about the book is that it has 13 crutches/methods and there is something for anyone & everyone regardless if your stammer is mild or severe.
I began Skyping with Lee and that has been an enormous benefit as he knows what methods are best suited to use with each individual. In around one month, I learned ways to avoid all my stutters, and I just stopped stuttering. My brother said, “I can’t believe your speech.” My wife said, “It’s like you’re a different person.” And I am; I’m not stuttering and I ever so much happier. If you want to hear me speak, go here: https://youtu.be/JedKGAKbn28. That was a month ago, and I’m even better now.
The other great benefit was joining WSSA as there’s teaching videos on the book, Lee’s other books and a ton of coaching videos with other people, a blog, forums, a speech club designed for stutterers and much much more!!
For almost 45 years I stuttered, but it’s over now. I know ways to avoid it. I’m working on teaching myself to love to speak in all situations now, and I know that I can do it. I have a new and much better life now.
Do yourself a massive favour by getting Lee’s book and joining WSSA.
JOHN, Scotland, November 2020
