For 32+ years I have seen pws stutter on the word stutter and tell me they fear the word! I used to stutter on the word stutter nearly 100% of the time. The bottom line is that we attach a strong negative meaning to stuttering on stutter- shame and embarrassment. Many people who stutter refer to it as "my speech" or a "speech impediment." Ironically, "speech" is a different /s/ blend word! But, we take stuttering on "speech" less personally than "stutter." Some pws are reluctant to disclose that they stutter because they fear stuttering on "stutter." Listen in.
