What is Stuttering
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is interrupted. The interruption of speech is caused by involuntary repetition of words or stretching of a sound. It is also known as stammering and usually goes away on its own by age of 5.
However, stuttering is more than just disfluencies. It also may include tension and negative feelings about talking. It may get in the way of how you talk and you may want to hide your stuttering. For example, you may not want to talk on the phone if that makes you stutter more.
Types of Stuttering
According to Healthline, there are 3 types:
- Developmental – Most common in children younger than 5 years old. This type occurs as children develop their speech and language abilities. It usually resolves without treatment. Developmental Stuttering particularly common among males.
- Neurogenic – Signal abnormalities (between the brain and nerves or muscles) are the main cause of this type.
- Psychogenic- This third type originates in the part of the brain that governs thinking and reasoning.
Signs and Symptoms
- Adding a sound or word (interjection) – “I um need to go home.”
- Making long sounds with words – “My name is Amaaaaaaanda”
- Repeating whole words – “Well well, I don’t agree with you.”
- Repeating phrases – “He is–he is 4 years old.”
- Changing the words in a sentence (revision) – “I had–I lost my tooth.”
- Not finishing a thought.
- Avoidance of using certain words or use different words to keep from stuttering.
- Physical changes like facial tics, lip tremors, excessive eye blinking
- Tension in the voice, face and upper body
- Frustration when attempting to communicate
- Hesitation or pausing before starting to speak
- Refusal to speak
- Rearrangement of words in a sentence
Cause of Stuttering
There is no clarity as what causes this condition. But 60% of people who stutter have family members who stutters too.
Treatment
Most developmental stuttering are outgrown by children. Therefore, in most cases, treatment aren’t necessary.
At the present, there is no treatment for stuttering. However, Speech Therapy can help reduce interruptions in speech and improve your child’s self-esteem. Speech Therapy often focuses on controlling speech patterns by encouraging your child to monitor their rate of speech, breath support, and laryngeal tension.
Early intervention can also help prevent stuttering in adulthood.