Stuttering Awareness

Articles

Oct 1

Most people are familiar with the term “stuttering” but might not understand what it actually is or why it can happen. Although it is more common in men than in women, about one percent of all adults have a stutter. Simply put, stuttering is a communication disorder where your speech is interrupted. It is believed to be related to neurological interruptions that get in the way of clear speech.

What is Stuttering

As your speech gets interrupted involuntarily, it can manifest in different ways. Some common ways a stutter will be exhibited is through a repeated sound or start of a word, a repeated, syllable, a long and carried out single sound, or a long pause in the middle of a sentence.

Because the stutter can also make a person feel uncomfortable or self-conscious, it can create anxiety around saying certain words or sounds or make a person feel self-conscious about speaking in front of others.

What Causes Stuttering

Although there is no concrete reason to point to for stuttering, for some people, it is genetic and inherited through their family history. Others may have a disruption or difference in brain activity which causes the stutter. It relates to both neurological and physical influences and is not something that is usually associated with situational reasons or emotional experiences.

Kids experience developmental stuttering more commonly. About four to five percent of people experience stuttering of some kind when they are a child. From this point, it is typical for the child to grow out of the stutter but it can continue later in life and become a chronic disorder as an adult. The pathways that develop in our motor control are happening while children are developing their language skills at a very rapid rate. A child’s motor control may not be progressed enough to handle increasingly complex language, and a stutter can develop as a result.

Acquired Stuttering

At times, a traumatic brain injury can cause an adult who did not experience stuttering as a child develop interrupted speech later on in life. It is referred to as ‘acquired’ stuttering.

Treatment for Stuttering

Stuttering can be managed with different routes of treatment. It of course, will vary depending on the individual case. Sometimes a person will work with a Speech-Language Pathologist to reduce disfluency. Focusing on fluency can help an individual develop new patterns of speaking and change how they are speaking.

Other methods would address the anxiety and affects of stuttering to become more comfortable speaking in all kinds of situations. If you reduce the physical tension associated with or caused by stuttering, it can have a positive impact on stuttering overall. Improving an individual’s quality of life is the goal, and success can be measured in many ways.

Early intervention is recommended to address stuttering at an early age when possible. Although there is no designated treatment that cures stuttering, it can help to join support groups or start a treatment plan to maximize quality of life and independence later in life.

Misconceptions About Stuttering

Although it is common and most people have heard of stuttering before, it can be a misunderstood disorder. Some may not realize that stuttering is due to an interruption neurologically and otherwise that person may be otherwise typical.

We all have moments of nervousness which results in speech interruption at some point, so many people relate stuttering with feeling nervous, which is not the case. Many individuals who stutter will experience the nervous feelings as a result of stuttering.

There are many successful individuals who stutter or have at some point and it in no way indicates whether a person would be extroverted vs. shy.

International Stuttering Awareness Day

The National Stuttering Association (NSA) is,

“a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter, their families, and professionals, through support, education, advocacy, and research.”

This year on October 22, the NSA promotes International Stuttering Awareness Day. The hope is to spread more awareness in communities around the world to help those who stutter feel supported and have resources for support.

There are many different resources featured, including informational pamphlets about interacting with a person with a stutter, how to find your local chapter, and some facts about stuttering that you can share in your community:

https://westutter.org/what-is-stuttering/international-stuttering-awareness-day/

Resources in Your Community

Visit westutter.org to learn all about the National Stuttering Association and get access to their local chapter information along with many other informational resources. Learn more about your location so you can find support in your community. Monthly meetings were normally held in many locations until this year’s recent restrictions - check with your location to find out if there are any virtual events you can attend. Here you can find information about who to contact in your community:

Southern Nevada

The meetings in Southern Nevada are separated between adults and family times and locations.

https://westutter.org/find-nsa-meeting-near/nevada/

Northern Nevada

https://westutter.org/find-nsa-meeting-near/nevada/

Oregon

https://westutter.org/find-nsa-meeting-near/oregon/

Stuttering can make a person feel as if they are not in control of their own speech and form sentences the way they intend. These sensations can feel very uncomfortable and frustrating. It is important that we all become more knowledgable about this disorder and recognize that it is neurologically related instead of something learned or picked up from our family members.

Speech-Language Pathologists are skilled in many ways relating to stuttering. For adults experiencing this disorder, working with a speech therapist can help relieve stress associated with stuttering and your therapist can help you work through a process of strengthening fluency or developing strength in self-advocacy and tools to be used in speech.

If you’re looking to get started with Tilton’s Therapy, begin with our new patient information. Fill out a new patient registration to take the first step or contact us to learn more.