Definately the interaction w/ people. Cindy C. On Mon, 1 May 2000 22:21:44 +0100 Deri James <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Betty Alfred <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > [snip] > > > > Are people patient if they don't understand something you've > > said? I guess I'm just wondering what the worst thing is about > > having speech difficulties -- if it's the speech itself, or the > > people you interact with during the course of the day. I guess > > this question is for anyone who wants to answer. > > > > Betty (I'm changing my name to curious George. At least nobody > > will call me boobs anymore). > > > > > Hi Boobs, > > Speech is the most common form of communication by far. > > Having problems communicating verbally is the MOST frustrating > part of CP. We all want society to accept us, appreciate us, but > if we can't "talk" to society, how are they to know there is > anything there to appreciate. > > This is a particular problem in social situations, since they > often occur in "noisy" environments - pubs, discos, > bowling-alleys. In a group social setting you find sub groups > form where the norm is for pretty unstructured conversations - > everyone chips something into the conversation - this is the most > difficult time. You may think of the wittiest, sharpest, bon mot > to interject into the flow of the conversation. Several things > can go "wrong", noone understands what you say, the whole > conversation stops, and you have to keep repeating it, changing > the words here and there in the hope someone "gets" it, by which > time the original context and whatever nuances you hoped to > impart has been completely lost and its no longer funny at all. > Or, worse, the person closest, catches what you say, repeats it > themselves, and happily receives the plaudits of laughter. > > Yes, it is frustrating, and there is no way around it. Just > because I can be hard to understand does not give me a right to > expect everyone to make the effort to listen. > > -- > Deri James