What is Stuttering?

Fluency

What is stuttering?

It is a complex interaction between the child’s inherent abilities and his/her internal/external environment.

There is a lot of new research out there about stuttering and with the age of technology, some information can be overwhelming and some information may be incorrect. New research shows that stuttering does not have an adverse affect on one’s life if it is left untreated. Research has  also shown a link between stuttering and language, stuttering and pragmatics (social use of language), stuttering and phonology (speech sound patterns), and stuttering and language complexity; however there is no consensus on the exact effects stuttering has on these areas. Additionally, research has concluded that the onset of developmental stuttering is usually observed at the same time of their child’s language spurt.  Children who stutter might experience increased anxiety levels and decreased self-esteem. Some physicians might tell you that stuttering is of no concern  and that your child will “grow out of it”. A speech/language referral is the first step to take to help your child.

In every day speech, we all display many types of disfluencies. These disfluencies are considered ‘normal’ because they are heard in normally fluent speakers as well as those who stutter. They are:

     1.       Whole word repetitions 

     2.       Phrase repetitions

     3.       Interjections

     4.       Revisions

9 Types of Disfluencies:

    1.       Sound repetitions ( i-i-it was me)

    2.       Syllable repetitions ( Bi-bi-bicycle)

    3.       Whole word repetitions ( I-I-I want to go too)

    4.       Phrase repetitions ( I don't I don't I don't like it)

    5.       Interjections (um, like, uh)

    6.       Prolongations (W-------------e will play later)

    7.       Blocks (Mmmmmmmmore please)

    8.       Incomplete phrases/revisions "I want mi-mi-mi" (milk), "I want water"

    9.       Broken words

Types of stuttering:

    1.       Developmental-onset between 2-5 years of age

    2.       Neurogenic stuttering associated with acquired neurogenic disorder (e.g. stroke, head trauma)

    3.       Psychogenic stuttering- may occur in people with mental illness or who have experienced mental stress. It is very rare

    4.       Cluttering-fluency disorder that is not stuttering

Fast Facts:

·         More males than females

·         About 1% of the population stutters

·         A large genetic component

Treatment:

An in-depth speech and language evaluation should be conducted. The evaluation is comprised of an interview, assessment, counseling, case history, and audio and video recording. After the evaluation, there are 4 possible situations:

   1.       The child is fine, no stuttering behaviors, no at risk behaviors
   2.       We aren't quite sure, not totally concerned, but more red flags than in situation one. 
   3.      The child is at risk. They aren't actually stuttering yet, but there are red flags, family history, and disfluencies 
   4.       The child stutters

Treatment goals would include:

•      Reducing/eliminating the disfluencies
•      Master modification skills so the child can say what they want, when they want to say it, at any time, any place, and with any listener
•       Teaching self-evaluation skills
•      Teaching modification skills
•     Teaching self-correction skills
•     Building in generalization tasks

According to Bloodstein (1949), stuttering is reduced or eliminated when speaking:

    1.       Alone

    2.       In unison with another speaker 

    3.       To an animal

    4.       To an infant

    5.       In time to a rhythmic stimulus

    6.       When relaxed

    7.       In a different dialect

    8.      While simultaneously writing

If you have a concern about a child in your life who is stuttering, contact a speech-language pathologist in your area.

Additional resources can be found at:

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association http://www.asha.org

The National Stuttering Association

The Stuttering Foundation of America http://www.stutteringhelp.org