Chris Kamara has admitted he was ashamed when he was first diagnosed with apraxia, a motor disorder caused by damage to the brain that significantly affects speech.
In 2021, the broadcaster was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then apraxia of speech, which led to him stepping away from most of his TV roles for a time.
Chris has explained how he kept his diagnosis a secret for a year, even from his wife Anne, and how his friend Kate Garraway helped him get treatment.
Speaking about the day he first realized something was wrong, Chris told ITV's Lorraine on Monday: “One day I woke up, went downstairs and tried to talk to my wife and It was slow from my brain to my mouth, and I thought I must have drunk too much the night before.'
Chris Kamara has admitted he was ashamed when he was first diagnosed with apraxia, a motor disorder caused by damage to the brain that significantly affects speech
Chris told ITV's Lorraine on Monday: “I woke up one day, went downstairs and tried to talk to my wife and I thought I must have had too much to drink the night before.”
“And a few hours later I was slurring my words and then you realize something is wrong.”
Apraxia is a poorly understood neurological disorder that affects the body's ability to perform natural motor functions, and apraxia of speech is a specific motor speech disorder that makes speaking difficult.
“I went through the first year and a half alone, I didn't tell anyone, but people guessed it, my wife guessed it.” “At some point people realized that my reports were not skillful, but slow.”
“I thought I was a hindrance to the family.” I realize now that I was stupid to think that. I was ashamed too. It makes me angry when I say that, I was ashamed of my condition.'
He added: “I apologize to anyone out there who has a language problem. Don't be ashamed, get help. “I'm really upset because I thought they (family) wouldn't take care of me if I had a serious illness.”
Lorraine then revealed that it was Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway who suggested treatment for Chris in Brazil.
“Experimental treatment,” Chris explained. “Now the language skills are back, but the only thing I'm missing is the speed. I used to talk around 300 miles an hour, but that's slowly coming back.”
“The treatment was amazing, but it wasn't approved by the world's medical associations. “I'm going to lobby them to try and get it here.”
“I kept it a secret for a year,” he explained. “But my wife noticed and people started asking if I was drunk.”
Lorraine then revealed that it was Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway who suggested treatment for Chris in Brazil
Chris has previously thanked Kate's GMB co-star Ben Shepherd and his co-host on Saturday night show Ninja Warrior UK after revealing how the presenter persuaded him to publicly share his speech impediment when viewers thought he would speak slurred.
“Can I say a huge thank you to Ben because without your help none of this would have happened,” he said during a GMB interview last month.
“I'm so glad Ben talked to me about doing GMB because in many ways I'd say I've felt 70% better since that day.” Acceptance was the hardest part, but I've got it now Determination to help other people with speech disorders.”
What is Apraxia of Speech?
Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder that makes speaking difficult.
This disorder can make it very difficult to pronounce the correct sounds and words and can be observed as slurring.
It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control muscle movement, resulting in apraxia of speech.
Chris has previously admitted that every time ITV announces the line-up for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! he is painfully reminded of his biggest TV regret!
Speaking about his close friendship with presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in his new memoir Kammy: My Unbelievable Life, the former footballer, pundit and TV presenter revealed that he had been approached several times to appear on the show, before he was diagnosed with the disease.
He wrote: “In my pre-apraxia days I find it difficult to watch myself – not that I've ever been a big fan of watching myself on TV at all – so I haven't scoured YouTube yet, but I made many of them happy.” Memories that sustain me, such as the six years I spent appearing on Saturday Night Takeaway with the brilliant Ant and Dec.
“I would have seen more of them if I had agreed to the regular requests for 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!' but I always turned down the jungle because of my commitment to Soccer Saturday and Goals on Sunday.”
He added: “My intention was to do it one day after my Sky contract expired, but unfortunately I'm in no condition to do it at the moment. “Neither my body nor my mind could handle it.
“I couldn't bear to hear the words, 'Chris Kamara is relieved of this duty due to health reasons.' No chance. It's a big regret.'
Health: The presenter was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then apraxia of speech in 2021, which led to him stepping away from most of his broadcast appearances