Yes this is also somthing I struggle with. Although it does not effect me to the same degree as your husband, it does cause me to avoid any situation where I may have to communicate verbally. It may sound wierd, but even a chat room freaks me out. I always wrapped it up with the whole anxiety thing. I suffer from social phobias and anxiety. Medication has helped me somewhat, but I still find myself very uncomfortable socially. My former solution was alcohol. But I became addicted, and life got really out of hand. Today AA helps me a whole lot. At first I could barely speak at meetings. But its getting a little better There are so many opportunities to speak in AA, weather its reading aloud, sharing at tables, or leading meetings. AA is like my one safe place where I have started to get more comfortable with myself. And that is starting to spill over into the rest of my life also. I wish the best for you and your husband.