People can't always understand my speech

[whatisforteamum]

Over the years I've had dreadful anxiety and I now suspect ADHD.
When I'm hyperactive or nervous or excited I ramble on.
Every now and then colleagues would say I can't understand her to each other.
Now my dh has said this after 34 yrs together.
Has anyone had this or had speech therapy without a formal diagnosis.
My dd had speech therapy as a small child .
It is knocking my confidence that others cannot understand me at times.
I'm in my mid 50s now.

Can you give examples? I have difficulty with being literal and being misunderstood.

But is it more not hearing you?

Yes I talk too fast and switch topics which is confusing for others.
It has got worse through menopause.
A therapist years ago told me I word vomit.
Didn't think much of it until now and so I want help really.
I have little filter either.🤔

Heartofglass what is wrong with being literal ?
Why do we have to sugar coat everything.?

The therapist shouldn't have said that

It's called info dumping and is a common ASD trait.

It's not me it's NTs who don't like literal talk!

I've got a GP calling back so hopefully I can get a referral.

Have you heard of the term cluttering? It might be what you’re doing - it’s basically when your brain is going faster than your mouth so you speak really fast, sometimes to the point of pushing words together.

Dave Fanning, an Irish radio pretty much made a living out of it!

I do it at times and it’s mortifying. Or sometimes it’s like I mumble, or try and say two different thoughts at the same time.

I’ve learned to take a breath and concentrate on slowing right down when it happens rather than getting mortified and either going faster or running away.

@Begonne I haven't heard the term "cluttering" used in a speech context before, but what you've described is what I do too. It usually only happens when I'm very tired but it feels as if I'm trying to get whole sentences or thoughts out all at once. What comes out is sometimes just incoherent sounds and, like you say, it's mortifying. What makes it worse in a way is that otherwise I'm usually very articulate, so people just look at me utterly baffled when it happens.

Begone thank you.That makes sense to be honest.