What is interiorised or covert stuttering?

Interiorised stuttering is also known as covert stuttering. Someone with an interiorised or covert stutter typically presents as ‘fluent’ to others - this is because they place a great deal of effort into concealing or hiding their stutter from others. They do this by avoiding words, sounds, certain situations, or people so that they do not stutter. An analogy is being like a swan - to others you appear to be gliding through the water, but non-one can see the effort of paddling that goes on below the surface. Avoidance skills can be so well practiced that you may seem to others that you have no stutter at all. Although the stutter may be considered as mild in terms of the amount of outward stuttering in your speech, or as less of a problem as someone that stutters more frequently, we view it as a different type of challenge or as having a different impact on someone’s day to day life. 

 Although your avoidance may have reduced the stuttering, the fear of stuttering remains. You may have the fear of being recognized as ‘a stutterer’ and feel immense pressure not to stutter and to keep your stuttering a secret from otters. When you do stutter, you may feel ashamed, upset or embarrassed. You may have managed until now to keep your stuttering hidden but you feel you are no longer able to cope or to conceal it from others.  It may be affecting you in your work environment and in your relationship with others. 

Speech and Language Therapy can support you in understanding covert stuttering, reducing your avoidance, reducing your negative feelings about stuttering and being a person who stutters to make talking easier and enable you to confidently say all you want to say when you want to say it.  We are Clinical Specialists in Stammering. Feel free to book a free consultation or email us for further information.