I thought you were my husband until you mentioned a daughter, as he is also 31 this year, and his biggest problem is blocking. For what it's worth, I have never heard of a single person who had the impression that he is a "blithering idiot." not me, not friends, not family, not strangers, no one has given the slightest indication that they ever felt there was any connection between his speech and his intelligence. The very worst he has to deal with is a little awkwardness because most people can tell how frustrated he is and it's awkward when you know there's nothing you can do to help.