Stuttering is a communication or speech disorder that affects over 3 million people in the United States. People who stutter repeat sounds and may also experience stoppages when they are suddenly unable to complete a sound or syllable. Stuttering is also called stammering.
Stuttering affects the flow of speech. People who stutter may do one of these things when speaking:
• Make words sound longer than they should (llllllike this)
• Repeat words or parts of words (li-li-li-like this)
• Have a hard time starting a new word
• Have prolonged pauses while speaking
• Show other behaviors indicating stress when trying to speak, such as rapid blinking, or trembling of the lips or jaw
Stuttering Indicators
Stuttering can affect people of all ages. Certain situations may make stuttering more severe, such as speaking in public, feeling stressed about speaking to a group, or talking on the telephone. Some people find that they stutter less while singing, reading aloud, or speaking in unison with other people.
Stuttering is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 2 and 5 years who are still learning to speak. Some scientists believe children may stutter when their ability to speak cannot keep up with their verbal demands. Although the exact reasons for stuttering are not understood, there are four factors commonly seen in people who stutter:
• Genetics – Children are more likely to stutter if someone else in the family also stutters.
• Child development – Children with developmental delays or other speech and language problems are more likely to stutter.
• Neurophysiology – Studies show that people who stutter use different parts of the brain to process speech and language than people who don’t stutter.
• Family dynamics – A fast-paced lifestyle that demands quick responses may contribute to stuttering in children.
Approximately 5 percent of children stutter for six months or more as they are learning to talk. Boys are more than twice as likely to stutter as girls. As they age, boys are three to four times more likely to continue to stutter into adulthood.
Stuttering Treatment
While there is no cure for stuttering, there are treatments that can help. For very young children, early treatment can help keep stuttering from becoming a lifelong problem. If you are concerned that your child is stuttering, consider having him evaluated by a Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in stuttering. Treatment for teens and adults may focus on learning ways to minimize stuttering, such as talking more slowly and focusing on breathing. Treatment can also provide techniques to limit stress when speaking in public.
For children, treatment may include teaching the family how to support and encourage fluent speech.
• Set the tone – Make home a relaxed environment where everyone has time to talk without feeling rushed.
• Don’t be negative – Treat stuttering like any other difficulty the child may experience. Correct stuttering gently and praise clear speech when it happens.
• Don’t demand public speaking – Trying to “perform” on command can increase stress which increases stuttering.
• Speak in a slow and relaxed way – Demonstrate to the child that speech does not have to be rushed.
• Listen attentively – Pay attention when the child speaks and give him the time to get the words out. Don’t try to complete the child’s sentence if he stutters.
• Talk about stuttering – Let the child know it’s okay if speech is disrupted. Encourage the child to understand that he can still communicate even when he stutters.
Sources:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus
The Stuttering Foundation