Latest news with #speechapraxia
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chris Kamara gives worrying update on his health as neurological disorder which forced him off air leaves him 'really weak' and struggling to walk down stairs
Chris Kamara has revealed he struggles to walk down stairs nowadays after being diagnosed with speech apraxia. Kamara, 67, was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition that affects your ability to speak in 2022 and was subsequently forced to step away from his television duties, including Soccer Saturday. The popular pundit made a return to TV screens on Boxing Day last year when he covered Nottingham Forest 's Premier League clash with Tottenham for Amazon Prime, and he recently opened up on travelling to Mexico to undergo treatment for his condition. However, Kamara stopped the treatment after the machine that transmitted radio frequency and magnetic fields into his body became less effective, and he has now admitted that maintaining his balance has become an everyday struggle. Having made his comeback in the latter stages of 2024, Kamara has now revealed he has to choose his TV appearances carefully due to his physical issues. 'I'm choosy these days,' Kamara told the Daily Star. 'That's what's happened with the work because even though I've got the acceptance of my condition, I still don't want to put myself in a situation where it comes back to bite me. 'So I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance. 'So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great. Going up these stairs is fine, but going down these stairs, the brain tells you you're going to fall even though you probably won't, so you have to hold on to the banister and getting on planes and things like that. Don't be in the queue behind me because I'll be 5 minutes getting down those plane steps!' Kamara's concerning update on his health comes just weeks after he admitted to apologising to his wife, Anne, for not speaking up when he first felt the symptoms of his condition. 'They spotted the signs (that I was struggling). I should have talked to my wife Anne, for which I have apologised to her. I didn't tell my wife what was going on,' he said. 'My family would have supported me rather than somebody I didn't know, Anne, and my sons would have helped me in the first place.' Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career that saw him feature for the likes of Brentford, Sheffield United and Leeds United, worked on Soccer Saturday for 24 years before stepping away in 2022. He became a fans' favourite largely thanks to his rapport with then-presenter Jeff Stelling and his hilarious on-air gaffes. He also hosted Sky's popular football highlights show Goals on Sunday between 2000 and 2022.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Chris Kamara reveals emotional ‘apology' to wife Anne after Sky Sports favourite was diagnosed with speech apraxia
SKY SPORTS legend Chris Kamara has revealed that he apologised to his wife after keeping his initial health concerns a secret. The 67-year-old was diagnosed with speech apraxia in March 2022 and subsequently stepped back from his role on Soccer Saturday. 2 2 Kamara - also known as Kammy - initially kept his condition from his nearest and dearest, incuding his wife, Anne. However, he now admits that he regrets hiding it. Discussing the impact his diagnosis had on his family, the Sky Sports icon told The Mirror: "They spotted the signs (that I was struggling). I should have talked to my wife Anne, for which I have apologised to her. "I didn't tell my wife what was going on. "My family would have supported me rather than somebody I didn't know, Anne, and my sons would have helped me in the first place." He added: "I kept thinking, for over 18 months, that it would go away. "I just kept thinking one day I'll wake up and I'll be back to the person I was. "But I have accepted the way I speak now. And that's because of the work on my mental health. "My therapist told me that the day you accept your condition is the day you will start getting better, and that is what happened. I can be my own worst critic but my speech has improved and I'm fine with how I sound." Kammy returned to sport broadcasting on Boxing Day for Amazon Prime's coverage of the Premier League. After his comeback, he told The Express: "If that's my last game as a reporter, what a way to go out. "At that time, I could hardly talk, wasn't able to remember the players names and was slurring my words. "When my wife told me Amazon had been on the phone I said 'I know I am getting under your feet, but I'm not delivering parcels!' "Andrew Hornet was on the phone asking me to work for Amazon Prime, covering the Forest v Spurs match with the unbelievable Jeff Stelling - and I loved it! "No anxiety, no slurring, the game was good and Nottingham Forest treated me like a returning hero."
