Stuttering Changed Her – Episode 71
Posted on: October 25, 2011
Episode 71 features Megan Hutson who hails from Fairmont, West Virginia. Megan is a 25 year old self described “professional student.”
She is studying American Sign Language (ASL) at Fairmont State University. Megan shares how she wants to use her stuttering as an inspiration to others who have difficulties with communication. She thinks she would be good at, and enjoy being, an interpreter for the deaf.
Megan shares an example of her teacher assigning the class to perform a song using ASL. (Here’s an example.) Megan talks about how different it was for her to sign instead of using her voice.
She recalls how when she would prepare a speech using her voice, she always prepared less material. She needed to give herself time to stutter. She realizes that this is not the case with ASL, because (as of yet) she is not stuttering while signing!
Listen in as we talk about some other unique perspectives. Megan did not start stuttering until age 17. We discuss late onset, and what it was like being fluent. Megan shares that she was actually timid as a fluent speaker and afraid to put herself out there. Now, as a person who stutters, she finds herself much more outgoing and willing to take chances!
We also chat about how she has handled negative reactions to her stuttering and Megan’s perspective that with stuttering, people have no time to prepare themselves to talk to us, like they might when a person encounters someone in a wheelchair.
This was a great conversation. Thanks Megan for being so honest and letting us get to know you. Feel free to leave comments or ask questions in the comment section.
Music used in this episode is credited to ccMixter.
7 Responses to "Stuttering Changed Her – Episode 71"
October 27, 2011 at 3:29 AM
I really loved this episode. Thanks Pam and Megan.
The forgetting the name analogy with the person with one arm/wheelchair was really good. The other incident which you told there and the way you handled it was really amazing.
I just wanted to tell a recent experience of mine which happened this Monday. I got a call from a delivery manager for an interview for the new project allocation in my company. I went there and he started asking me questions and being my usual self i stuttered my way through the interview. I could see that he’s uncomfortable through out. He then told me to stay relaxed and take it easy. I told him that i have a stutter and i’m not tensed at all and that’s how i talk. He said ok and then told me that i’ll have to face a client interview on the phone & he didn’t want to expose me to him. Cutting long story short, After a failed attempt to convince him that its not an issue for me, i thanked him for calling me and left his office. After reaching my desk i sent him a big email telling him what stuttering is & problems we face in the work environment coz of that. To my surprise he called me immediately and fixed an interview with the client the very next day. Its a different story that the client didn’t select me coz he needed a resource with different requirement, but this goes to show how little people know about stutter and how their decision making could change just because of their ignorance/lack of knowledge about stutter.
~Vivek
November 2, 2011 at 3:33 AM
Hahahaha..I’ve seen that Cee Lo Green – “F Bomb” sign language video myself!!!
I checked it out again and its really funny. Its by youtube user: amrobi314.
I can’t imagine beginning to stutter so late! It would be and I’m sure it was a definite shock for Megan. But its great to hear someone who underwent such a change so late still be so confident and effective communicating!
One of the most inspiring stories I’ve heard so far.
November 23, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This site has given me renewed hope and is helping me to make the best of a not-so-great situation. I am a 55 year old teacher (10 years teaching second grade), who was in a bad auto accident 15 months ago. It has left me with a stutter which is sometimes so bad, I’m unintelligible. Some days, it’s barely noticeable, other days…well…I just want to hide. I have always been a dynamic and vocal person. I absolutely LOVE teaching. Unfortunately, the powers that be have put the wheels into motion that I may not be able to ‘perform my duties as a teacher’ because of this problem. My heart is aching, but I continue to search online for other stories of women who have been challenged by a stutter, whether lifelong, or later in life. Thank you again, and I will continue to check this site for more podcasts of these remarkable women.
Bridgette
Pennsylvania
November 24, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Bridgette,
I am so happy you found this blog and the podcasts and have taken some comfort from other women’s stories. I have stuttered all my life, and have gone through all of the feelings associated with it -shame, fear, guilt, anger, hopelessness. It must be very frightening and overwhelming for you.
Please do check in often and learn about how women who have stuttered for years manage it, and still lead amazing, productive, successful lives.
We can all learn from each other, and I hope you will share again, and let us know how you are getting on.
Have you tried any counseling or speech therapy? Sometimes therapy can be helpful – but you have to find someone who is knowledgeable about stuttering.
Unfortunately, not all speech therapists are!
Best to you and keep doing what you love and do best!
~Pam
September 4, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Bridgette,
I hope your situation has improved and that you are starting a new school year, still teaching! Hang in there and keep the faith,
Michelle
March 31, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Hallo Megan! You are a strong and free human being and I admire you. Your stuttering is of a very pleasent kind and I enjoy it. Bengt
Make Room For The Stuttering 
October 25, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Thanks, Pam…..and Megan. Enjoyed that so much. Honesty truly is the description of Megan. Ruth Mead