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Stuttering Can Be Stopped

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Stuttering can be embarrassing and frustrating for many people. You are not alone. In fact, many famous people like James Earl Jones and John Stossel stutter.
Between 4%-5% of the population experiences stuttering, and most are boys or men. Stuttering is 4 times more common in boys at an earlier age.
In most cases, stuttering appears between the ages of 3 and 5, but recovery can happen at any age. Up to 80% recover by age 16 years. Now that you know stuttering can be stopped, here is some information to get you started on the road to recovery.

Defining and Diagnosing Stuttering

Stuttering is commonly described as a condition in which the flow of speech is broken by abnormal stoppages, repetitions, or prolongation of sounds and syllables. It appears to be caused by a timing disruption in the part of the brain that controls speech. When another part of the brain tries to help out, it goes too far. The two parts of the brain get overloaded and results in stuttering.
Keep in mind that stuttering is not a nervous disorder, but a communication disorder. Some think that stuttering is a nervous reaction to frustration, anxiety, or embarrassment about speaking, but that is not the case.
Here are some common symptoms of stuttering:
  • Repetition of sounds, words, or phrases
  • Pauses between works with lack of sound
  • Speech that sounds like "blurting"
  • Speech may be better or worse depending if speaker is in private or in public
Along with the vocal difficulties, those who stutter often nod, squeeze their fists, and blink their eyes in an attempt to force the words out. These gestures can make those who stutter more self-conscious.
Stuttering is not always easy to identify. Speech therapists use clues to detect or diagnose stuttering in children which may not be noticeable. They include:
  • Rate of speech
  • Language skills
  • Patient reaction to disfluency (like teasing)

Risk Factor for Stuttering

There are several things that may increase the risk of a child stuttering. Here are some common factors that therapists look for:
  • Genetics— immediate or extended family member who stutter.
  • Temperament—activity level, ability to adjust to different situations, intensity of reaction to disappointment and failure
  • Sensory—evidence shows that how we hear things may be affect our speech patterns
  • Motor skills—mistiming or problems with balance or posture
Knowing the reason may help you determine the best way to approach treatment. Remember that recovery happens in most cases.

Speech Therapy

Some people do not need therapy and recover on their own. It depends on how severe the stuttering is and your reaction to it. If you need help, look for a speech therapist who can help you refocus how you speak. Keep in mind that earlier treatment has been shown to have better results, especially in preschool children.
Here are some common goals of speech therapy:
  • Fluency shaping to improve fluency of speech.
  • Stuttering modification to improve communication skills, like eye contact and phrasing.
  • Reduce fears and avoidance by decreasing stressful moments.
So far, medicine has not been shown to have sufficient effectiveness to justify side effects and risks. However, increasing understanding of stuttering may lead to the development of safe and effective drug treatments.

Getting Help

Stuttering interferes with social, work, and family life. People who stutter often avoid speaking situations, and are teased or bullied. Sometimes stuttering will go away on its own. If it does not, do not be shy about getting help from a professional. Chances are, your stuttering will be a thing of the past.

RESOURCES

National Stuttering Association http://www.nsastutter.org/

Stuttering Foundation of America http://www.stuttersfa.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists http://www.caslpa.ca/

Canadian Stuttering Association http://www.stutter.ca/

References

Bothe AK, Davidow JH, Bramlett RE, Ingham RJ. Stuttering treatment research 1970-2005: Systematic review incorporating trial quality assessment of behavioral, cognitive, and related approaches. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2006;15(4):321-341.

Howell P: Signs of developmental stuttering up to age eight and at 12 plus. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007:27:287-306

Howell P, Davis S, Williams R: Late childhood stuttering. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2008;51:669-87.

Jones M, Onslow M, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention. British Journal of Medicine . 2005;331(7518):659.

Lawrence M, Barclay DM 3rd. Stuttering: a brief review. Am Fam Physician . 1998; 9:2175-2178.

Prasse JE, Kikano GE: Stuttering: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77:1271-6.

Sommer M, Koch MA, Paulus W, Weiller C, Buchel C. Disconnection of speech-relevant brain areas in persistent developmental stuttering. Lancet 2002; 9330:380-383.

Stager SV, Calis K, Grothe D, Bloch M, Berensen NM, Smith PJ, Braun A. Treatment with medications affecting dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms: effects on fluency and anxiety in persons who stutter. J Fluency Disord. 2005;30(4):319-335.

Stuttering. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering.htm. Accessed November 19, 2012.

Stuttering. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthlibrary/. Updated September 2012. Accessed November 19, 2012.

Stuttering Information. National Stuttering Association website. Available at: http://www.nsastutter.org/stutteringInformation/generalInformation.html. Accessed November 19, 2012.

The Experience of People who Stutter. National Stuttering Association website. Available at: http://www.westutter.org/opencms/export/sites/default/nsa/stutteringInformation/pdfs/NSAsurveyMay09.pdf. Updated July 2009. Accessed November 19, 2012.

Yairi E: Subtyping stuttering I: a review. J Fluency Disord. 2007;32:165-96.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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