I can't talk clearly---long..

[shakebake]

Hello all I'm new.

I just got braces about two weeks ago. I have a Class III underbite and surgery was recommended, but I decided to take the braces only route. I've always been self conscious about my bite and about my slight speech impediment that I have because of it. I am 30 years old and I've always been extremely shy( maybe social phobia) and depressed because of my teeth and speech. So finally I decided to do something about it.

I started a new job about six months ago that requires that I interact with a lot of people and I talk on the phone almost constantly. I figured that this was a good way to try to break out of my shyness. It is very hard for me, especially when people are constantly asking me to repeat myself because my speech is so unclear. Its embarrassing, but I'm trying to better myself, so I figure I have to do this to get over my shyness. I'm a very smart woman but I think my speech makes me come across as being dumb as a brick and it's really holding me back in my career. People just dont take me seriously because of the way I talk.

The thing is I work in a small office, where you can hear everything. So the people in my office can hear me making phone calls and always having to repeat myself to clients that can't understand me, and I've even heard the girl in the cubicle next to mines laughing at me under her breath. And whenever I talk, my boss is always saying "what did she say?" And then everyone starts giggling. I'm the office joke. Thats why I finally got braces, I'm sick of it. I can't even pronounce my own last name correctly. I really think my jaw position makes it hard for me to pronounce words correctly.


Anyways, I was not expecting braces to make my problem worse. Now I feel like there is no room in my mouth to form words at all. The past two weeks has been horrible for me. I had a slight lisp at first but now its really obvious. I'm terrified to speak because everything that comes out my mouth sounds like jibberish. I was supposed to make very important phone calls at work on Friday and I didn't do them, because I'm tired of my co-workers laughing at me.

This is bothering me so much, that I'm actually thinking about quitting my job. My job requires a clear an professional speaking voice, and I just dont have it. Maybe I can find a job doing data entry or being a cashier .


I talked to my boyfriend and it says that maybe I should see a speech therapist. How would that look at my age??

[Kallisandra]

Hi,

If it's an issue of self esteem, hang in there. No need to quit a perfectly GOOD job over the fact people are talking about you! It's a tough economy! We always make things seem worse than they really are in our own minds! There are many successful people out there with disabilities, people with lost limbs and in wheelchairs with MS! People with far worse disabilities are making it work so why shouldn't you? People will always talk, but does that mean you should be scared of your own shadow for offending someone. Maybe they should watch their own productivity instead of trying to micromanage what you are doing.
Take care! Just remember there are people in far less fortunate and we should be grateful for what we have!

[LB]

Wow, your co-workers sound like idiots. Congrats on taking the step to get braces and to improve your speech. I think your boyfriend's suggestion to see a speech therapist is a good one - lots of adults have speech therapy for a number of reasons and I don't think you should feel embarrassed about that. And taking control of a situation by doing something positive about it can really help with confidence.

Also, I wonder if your speech has become worse over the last couple of weeks because you are now even more worried about it, which makes you less relaxed and so less able to pronounce words? I've recently had lingual braces fitted and it initially affects speech. And I quickly noticed that my speech was so much better when I wasn't worried about it. Speech therapy can probably help you with all that.

I really hope you find a solution to this and that your confidence in your speech improves. Good luck.

[laxtreme56]

Hello shakebake, like you I'm also a Class III underbiter who will begin my braces journey soon. Like you surgery was recommended but I will more than likely go the braces + extractions route. I always had a slight to moderate lisp growing up. I took speech classes from kindergarden through 5th grade. I thought it helped until my middle school teacher asked if I ever took speech therapy and I became quite self conscious of the way I talked after that. I was mad fun of a bit in high school and did my darndest to avoid words wits s, z, c, and th. Little by little I "taught" myself how to speak properly by talking in front of a mirror and also voice recording. Slowly but surely my lisping decreased and am more easily understood now. Because of the underbite and small openbite I still tend to pronounce some words a bit slushy but my speech is still dramatically better than it was 5 years ago. Try to slow down a bit when you talk, and position your tongue as best you can. I think I did a decent job at improving my speech but still believe a speech therapist would have helped even more. My best advice is to stay strong and don't let a couple of immature jerks force you to quit your job. Don't let them get the better of you, just think of how great you'll look and sound at the end of your treatment. Good luck on your journey and hope all your troubles soon subside.

[sauerkraut]

Hi shakebake. Well done you for taking steps to get your bite sorted. You sound a heck of a lot more mature than those people you work with.

I can sympathise up to a point, because I had an expander for a long time, which makes your speech quite slushy. Also, I live in Germany and although I'm pretty good at the language by now I still make stupid mistakes and often have to simplify what I really want to say, so I sometimes wonder if people think I'm thicker than I am!

In the end, though, who cares what other people think! From your post, I reckon you're stronger than you think you are -- you've overcome your fears to have a job with lots of people contact, and you've got a supportive boyfriend, and you've taken the plunge with orthodontic treatment. I think you're doing great!

I can understand you thinking about another job but if you do, please don't shut yourself away. And don't let people who ought to know better drive you out, either, if you otherwise enjoy your current job.

And I also think speech therapy is a great idea. Yes, speech therapists work with adults, too. Think of stroke victims, for example.

You go for it, and show 'em all

[classII]

Absolutely go for speech therapy and don't think anything of it. In fact if you need to motivate yourself, fall back on that wearing the braces requires that you do have to have it. And if need be you can say that to anyone that is the reason if you want to. I had a bite plate in for 10 months which took practice to speak. Some letters simply didn't come out but relearning with the thing in, solved it. It didn't bother me at all, actually thought it quite funny watching people leaning in towards me trying to decipher what I was saying. I recall one time being in the supermarket drug store section and asking one of the closests servers if they had any "dye for clothes". I had to repeat it 3 times, then she took me to a shelf and selected a package of pills. I suppose "dyeforclothes" could sound like some impressive medication

But definitely go for it and just say to yourself its the braces

[junkee]

I can relate.... I had an expander put in about 5 weeks ago and it affects my speech. For the first 3 weeks, i felt so dumb whenever i had to talk. I had more than a few embarrasing moments. It will get better. My speech is still not back to normal but i don't seem to care as much. You have to think positive and think of the end result...especially when you wake up and dread going into work. The people in your office are incredibly immature. As time goes by, they will move on to the next item of gossip and forget about your speech. Try to practice by reading out loud to yourself and repeating the sounds you have difficulty with. Going to see a speech therapist definatley can't hurt.

[jenjen]

Shakebake, that's awful, I hope things improve for you. Just remember there are lots of us in this community who can sympathise to a certain extent and give you suggestions, or just feel your pain!

What type of braces do you have? As well as considering a speech therapist, have you checked with your ortho to see if there's anything that can be done to make your life a little easier on that front?

While I'm not suffering in the way you are, I do understand- I had a childhood stutter which eased later on- but now my braces are off and I'm in a retainer the stutter has returned with a vengeange . My theory is that my self consciousness is making it worse! I have trouble with 'J's amongst many other letters, so also cannot pronounce my own name!! The first day at work I kept taking the retainer out for phone calls/meetings etc, but now I'm forcing myself to keep it in, my situation's not too bad. Your issue might be physical as well as psychological tho, so do check with your ortho too.

Good luck and don't let them beat you. Let us know how it goes
JJ

[Cecily]

Seeing a speech therapist is a fantastic idea. I'm 40 years old, and I had misaligned teeth for most of my life. I learned to compensate for it by placing my tongue in different places in my mouth so that sounds would come out better, but still my speech was muffled. But because I spent so many years of my life talking that way, I've noticed that my speech has gotten a little worse since I got braces.

I'm seriously considering seeing a speech therapist once my braces are off so that I can finally learn to talk properly. You asked how it would look - it would look like a person doing what is necessary for her professional development, which to me would make me think you're a motivated individual who isn't afraid of a little hard work.

Go for it and don't look back!

[Susie R]

I have an upper and lower expander and also have trouble speaking plainly. Thanks for the "Rainbow" to practice with. I am supposed to have the expander for 6-8 months (3wks down).

I also have to talk on the phone alot. I am in the midst of a big project that I really need to project a good image of myself. We just have to do the best we can. I really think most people are understanding..

Hang in there and go for the speech therapy