Talking is the form of communication most of us take for granted.

But for one in 100 people who have a stammer an order at a chip shop, a telephone call or just chatting with friends can prove an unimaginable ordeal. Many try to avoid situations where they fear their stammer will cause embarrassment.

Nabeela Ahmed, chairman of a support group in Bradford for stammerers, which uses a new approach to combat the problem, said she first noticed her stammer when she was about seven.

It affected her schooling, and even just a couple of years ago she couldn't ask for food from a takeaway.

In contrast Antony Harker was in his early twenties when he became aware of his stammer, which got worse after he took a bigger role in the family garden centre business in Tong.

Dealing with staff in presentations and group discussions became a trial until he turned to an intensive course of therapy which combines using a breathing method from a different point in the chest with overcoming fears about speech.

Antony, 29, of Birkenshaw, said it was important to control the stammer rather than having it control you.

"Stammering is all about fear," he said. "We figure if we can get rid of the fear we can control the stammer.

"I knew I was never fluent but it never caused me problems, but then I started to take on more responsibility in the business, I had to chair meetings of staff and so on, and it started becoming a problem and got worse as time went on.

"It was affecting my work, demoralising me and tiring me out. I could see situations coming up and I would do my best to avoid them."

Nabeela, 23, of West Bowling, who is an accounts adviser with Yorkshire Water, said she tried to cover up her stammer, which develops for many different reasons and takes a number of forms.

She tried traditional speech therapy, which helped, but not enough. She decided to take further action while she studied for her degree after fearing she might never hold down a job without help.

"I avoided things and if I had to do something I would cry," she said. "It was just a fact of life and my family were really protective.

"They knew I would block. Even as a 21-year-old I had never been to a fish and chip shop or McDonald's and ordered meals because there was no way I could queue up and ask for something.

"The worst thing with a stammer is the perception of it - people think you're a bit slow. Now I'm 99 per cent in control and do what I want to do."

The pair both turned to the McGuire Programme, which costs £600 for lifetime membership, beginning with an intensive course of treatment over five days with follow-up help in a weekly support group held at Bradford Central Library, and through a helpline.

A new course runs from August 25-29 in Harrogate. For further information call 0800 917 6579.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.