An exploration of the experiences of women who stammer

摘要: The experiences of women who stammer have not been explored for over 30 years, with most stammering research recruiting only men and differentiating the results by gender. Therefore, to date, can be seen as exploring male or androgynous stammering. Furthermore, speech language therapies (SLT) that are based on this arguably inappropriate in addressing stammer. In light above, study aimed explore stammer, whilst taking into account influence societal gender norms these experiences. 12 were recruited from either British Stammering Association (BSA) City Lit (college offers SLT). Individual interviews conducted using semi-structured data was analysed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The four main findings suggested had a profound women’s lives. They described other’s reactions their stammers mostly unhelpful thought due lack understanding mediated norms. These negative consequently impacted self-perception. also found affect relationships, starting within family spreading other future relationships. There trend want break relationship difficulties own children. showed school, bullying teacher support, led feeling though potential overlooked. then seeking jobs minimal speaking ‘pushing’ themselves academically professionally. Finally, journey, whereby they started off ‘hiding’ it others learnt accept it, support SLT. The discussed relation literature clinical implications suggested.