Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the person knows what they want to say but cannot say it at the time due to a problem in the control and fluency of their speech.
There are different types of stuttering:
Repetitions of sounds, syllables, words or phrases.
for example: “I, I, I, I want that”, “What, what, what is that?” “Can I, can I, can I go too?”
Prolongations or lengthening of a sound at the beginning or in the middle of a word, for example: “Rrrrrabbit”
Blockages where the person “gets stuck” and cannot pronounce the sound or word.
There may also be unusual movements of the face and body associated with stuttering.
Do all people stutter to some degree?
Young children can go through a “lack of fluency” stage in early speech development in which they can use repetitions similar to those of children who stutter. A speech pathologist can distinguish between these malfunctions and stuttering. Adults can use interjections like “Um …”, “Well …” and occasionally repeat words and phrases without being considered stuttering.
Does stuttering mean the same as stuttering?
Yes. In Australia we generally use the term stutter.
What Causes Stuttering?
Stuttering is now believed to be a motor speech disorder, in which the speech muscles become “overloaded” and stumble at the beginning of a sentence. It is caused to some extent by genetic factors, and a history of stuttering is often known within the family. Once a child begins to stutter, there are common factors that often trigger an increase in the frequency or severity of stuttering. These triggers can include excitement, tiredness, and competing for a turn to speak. Four times more boys stutter than girls.
Is stuttering caused by emotional or psychological problems?
No. Children who stutter are no more likely to have psychological problems than children who do not stutter. While emotional factors can make stuttering worse, there is no evidence that this is the cause of stuttering.
At what age does stuttering usually appear?
Stuttering usually begins between the ages of 2 and 4.
What should I do if my child starts to stutter? Should I wait or seek help?
You should seek an evaluation by a speech pathologist as soon as you feel concerned. While it is possible for a child to recover naturally from stuttering, it is also possible for stuttering to become a chronic, lifelong speech disability. Early stuttering very typically occurs in cycles. Stuttering episodes can occur over days or weeks, followed by an apparent recovery in which the stuttering may stop or decrease in frequency and / or severity. Stuttering often recurs. These cycles can persist for long periods of time, usually getting worse with each recurrence. Therefore, it is recommended that your child be evaluated by a speech pathologist even if the stuttering appears to have disappeared.
Once stuttering has started, can it be treated?
Stuttering in children can be treated very effectively, especially in the early preschool years, that is, before the age of 6. Treatment programs are available for adolescents and adults, but because their speech muscles are no longer as flexible as those of younger children, treatment techniques for these groups of people are aimed at teaching them how to control their stuttering in instead of completely eliminating it from your speech. A speech pathologist is trained to deal with people of all ages who stutter.
What should I do when I hear a child stutter?
Simply maintain eye contact and allow the child to continue his attempt to speak. It is important not to try to help by giving suggestions like “Stop and try again”, “Think about what you want to say and try again”, “Slow down”. These comments can make a child’s stuttering worse rather than help. A speech pathologist will be able to advise you on the best ways to help your child.
What should I do when I hear an adult stutter?
As with children, it is important to maintain eye contact and pay attention to what is being said and allow the speaker to continue their attempt to speak.
Terms that can be used in the topic of stuttering
stuttering, lack of fluency
Useful web pages
Private Association of Speech Pathologists, Perth, Western Australia
http://www.pspawa.com.au