Here is one teen’s response to “what do you fear the most when it comes to stuttering?”:

•I fear people will think that if I can’t talk well, I can’t think well.

•I fear I won’t be able to say “I’m sorry” or “I love you” when I really want to.

•I fear people won’t believe what I say.

•I fear phones.

•I fear the way people look at me.

•I fear that people will burst out laughing when I speak.

•I fear the eyes that stare and the looks that bite.

The drawing above is from the collection of Adriana DiGrande, an SLP in Stoneham, MA who has collected many drawings from the children she works with.