Hello, my name is Evan. I’m 16 years old, from Ontario, Canada, and this is my stopped-stuttering story.
I began stuttering around three years ago, and at its worst, it affected nearly 70% of my words. Most of my struggle came from blocks — long, heavy, embarrassing blocks that made me freeze mid-sentence. I tried traditional speech therapy in the past – Lidcombe Program, and techniques like gentle onsets, but nothing ever helped me long term in real-life situations. I honestly started believing that I would always speak this way.
Then I found The Short Course book by Lee G. Lovett. Reading that book was the first time I felt real hope — the kind that makes you think, “Maybe I can actually stop stuttering.” That led me to WSSA, and on July 20th, 2025, I had my first session with CSS Prathusha.
During Session 1, I was not confident at all with my speech. I had blocks, I sometimes pushed or forced words out, and I spoke too quickly without control. But in that very first session, something shifted.
Prathusha drilled me repeatedly on two main speech plans: Extreme Pronunciation (Crutch 9) and Short–Link–Stop. These two tools were game-changers for me. They slowed down my racing speech, reduced pressure, and gave me a sense of control I hadn’t felt in years.
Setbacks & Breakthroughs
My journey wasn’t perfect. I definitely had setbacks. One moment that hit me hard was when I tried to compliment my teacher on her new Blundstone shoes. I couldn’t get the word out. I forced it, and the block felt awful. But instead of hiding it, I told Prathusha right away. She immediately drilled me on how to manage the first few words of a sentence — and after practicing, I recovered much faster than usual. That moment actually became a turning point for me.
But I also had many fluency wins. One of my biggest achievements was speaking on the phone with an Apple employee for almost four hours, completely fluent. No blocks. No forcing. Just calm, controlled speech. For someone who used to fear phone calls, that felt like a massive victory. I also went to a few parties with my friends. Most of the time, things went really well because I was speaking slowly and using my speech plans. But there was one tough moment — I felt left out, the pressure built up, and I gave in to the stutterer. I forced a few words. It wasn’t pleasant, but it didn’t undo my progress. I bounced back.
Where I Stand Now
I’ve now gone four weeks without a humiliating bad incident. Yes, there are still small moments of choppiness, but that’s normal — and I don’t let it spiral anymore.
The biggest shift is in my mindset. I’m learning to keep my mind in a positive space through daily mind training, which is still a work in progress but something I committed to because I know it matters. I’m also slowly pushing myself to expand my comfort zone — one step at a time — instead of avoiding situations that scare me. Every small step feels like a milestone.
Looking Ahead
I’m not done yet. I’m still a work in progress — but a proud one. I know what to do when pressure builds. I know which tools to use. I know how to recover from setbacks instead of letting them define me. And with the help of CSS Prathusha, Coach Lee, and the entire WSSA team, I truly believe that becoming a long-term PWSS is not just possible — it’s inevitable.
This journey has changed the way I see myself, my speech, and my future. And for the first time in years… I’m excited to speak.
Evan, 16, Canada