(Stammering; Disfluent Speech)
Stuttering – Definition
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is interrupted by:
- Repetition or prolongation of sounds, words, or syllables
- An inability to begin a word
In an attempt to speak, the person who is stuttering may:
- Frequently blink the eyes
- Have abnormal facial or upper body movements
Stuttering – Causes
The cause of stuttering is not completely understood. Some experts have suggested that stuttering may occur when:
- A child’s ability to speak does not match his verbal demands
- Psychological factors in a child’s life (eg, mental illness, extreme stress)
- Problems occur in the connections between muscles, nerves, and areas of the brain that control speech
- Problems in the part of the brain that controls the timing of speech muscle activation
Stuttering – Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of developing stuttering. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
- Family history of stuttering (There is increasing evidence to support a genetic link in stuttering.)
- Sex: male
- Age: between 2-6 years of age
Stuttering – Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Repetition of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases
- Prolongation of sounds within words
- Between-word pauses and lack of sound
- “Spurting” speech
- Accompanying behaviors, such as:
- Blinking
- Facial ticks
- Lip tremors
- Tense muscles of the mouth, jaw, or neck
- Worsening symptoms when speaking in public
- Improvement in symptoms when speaking in private
Stuttering – Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam. Diagnosis may be based on:
- Stuttering history
- Circumstances under which stuttering occurs
- Speech and language capabilities
- Evaluation of hearing and motor skills, including a pediatric and neurological examination
- Further testing and treatment by a speech language pathologist (someone who specializes in communication disorders)
Stuttering – Treatment
Treatment can improve stuttering. The main goal is to get and maintain a feeling of control over speech fluency. Recovery rate is about 80%, more in girls than in boys. The doctor or speech therapist can:
- Evaluate the stuttering pattern
- Assess what strategies may work best
Treatment may include:
- Drug therapy — There is little evidence to support the use of drugs to improve speech fluency.
- Behavioral therapy — This focuses on behavior modifications that can be made to improve fluency.
- Speech therapy — A primary goal of this type of therapy is to slow the rate of speech.
Stuttering – Prevention
There are no guidelines for preventing stuttering. But, early recognition and treatment may minimize or prevent a life-long problem.
