When children are learning to speak between the ages of nineteen months and five years, most have problems with pronunciation. For example, many children have a normal repetition of sounds and syllables or mispronunciations are they learn to speak.
True stuttering however is characterized by the following
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Repetition of sounds, syllables or short words
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Pauses or hesitation in speech
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Lack of a smooth flow of speech
Through the ages, scientists have tried to explain why some individuals stutter. The Roman physician Galen felt that an individual who stuttered had a tongue that was too long, too short, too wet or too dry. Freud felt stutterers had repressed conflicts and even today, some therapists see stuttering as an outward sign of emotional distress.
There have been a number of famous stutterers in the past. Moses had his brother Aaron speak for him since, as he stated in the bible “I am not eloquent…I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue.” Winston Churchill stuttered and John Updike, the famous author preferred to write rather than speak. John Stossel and Marilyn Monroe are famous individuals who were able to overcome their speech disability.
Teens who stutter may have difficulty in academics, self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image. They may also encounter discrimination in college admissions and job seeking.
Who is likely to develop stuttering?
Stuttering occurs in one percent of children and is four times more likely in boys than in girls. Although for many years stuttering was felt to be psychogenic, in fact now there is a growing body of knowledge in neuroscience, radiology and genetics to suggest that there is a biological root for this disorder. There is clearly a focus on a gene related aberration underlying some of the cases of stuttering. Some adults with stuttering have activation of the wrong side of their brains when they are speaking. In fact, according to information from PET scans, the right hemisphere may be activated during speech in stutterers and this may be interrupting the work of the left hemisphere, which is responsible for speech. When stutterers have a period of fluency, their PET scans resemble those of non-stuttering individuals.
This unusual brain activity sends faulty messages to the speech producing muscles including the vocal cords, tongue, diaphragm and lips. Stutterers plan a message well, but they have difficulty in selecting speech sounds, sequencing them and producing them.
Recent research from several laboratories suggests that there may be a “stuttering” gene. Work from the University of Chicago with Hutterites from rural South Dakota has revealed three different locations in the genome where the stuttering gene may be located. It seems apparent that stutterers do not learn to stutter from relatives who stutter. Rather the problem probably arises through a genetic basis since about half of all stutterers have a relative who is also affected with this speech problem.
What are the symptoms of stuttering?
Beside problems with fluency, repetition of sounds and hesitation, an individual who stutters may become hung up on the pronunciation of one word. For example, a stutterer may try to say his own name such as Mark as follows:
“Mmmmmmm…mmmmmmm…mmmmmmmmarkkkk!” And he may spray his friends with saliva as he spits out the last part of Mark. Adolescents who stutter often develop a fear of talking. Stuttering may be more frequent with the teen is stressed or tired. Stuttering usually vanishes when the teen whispers or sings.
How is stuttering evaluated?
A complete history and physical examination by a clinician should be the first step in the evaluation. Reports from teachers and parents are helpful. Referral to a pediatric neurologist may be indicated. Treatment by a speech and language pathologist who is experienced in working with teens who stutter is usually recommended.
How is stuttering treated?
Physicians from antiquity advised stutterers to blister the tongue, or wrap it in towels soaked in lettuce juice. Today, while some psychiatrists have used anti-anxiety drugs to treat the symptoms found in stutterers, most individuals will do better with behavioral therapy. This type of therapy aims to rebuild the teen’s speech from scratch. One of the approaches is to attend a camp like speech therapy program. One program teaches stutterers to deliberately prolong syllables. For example, using the word economy, one might say “eeeeee…caaaah…nooooh…meeee.” The individual attempts to move his or her jaws, tongue, vocal cords and breathing muscles meticulously while pronouncing economy. Many graduates of an intensive program like this one have increased fluency that persists for more than one year. Practice is continual, and the speech is often very slowly paced.
How is stuttering prevented?
If stuttering is due to a genetic cause, then it may be difficult to prevent. However the following may encourage children to have normal fluency:
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Encourage conversation with your child by sitting down and talking at least on a daily basis. This speaking time should be low key and fun.
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If a child develops mild stuttering and is not uncomfortable, then it should be ignored. Reassurance that you can understand your child is helpful.
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Do not express disapproval for stuttering. This may be normal speech at the time for your child.
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Allow your child ample time to finish what he or she is trying to say and do not finish the sentence for your child.
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Do not ask your child to start over or repeat the message. Rather, guess at the message.
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Do not ask your child to practice certain words or sounds. This may make him or her self-conscious.
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Do not ask your child to slow down when he or she speaks.
The following guidelines are suggestions when to a parent should contact a clinician if one’s child continues to truly stutter.
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He or she is over five years
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There is a family history of stuttering in adults
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Your child is fearful or self-conscious about his or her speech
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Your child’s speech is not improved after two months of trying these preventive techniques
Related topics:
Academics, body image, disabilities, self-esteem
