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Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the forward flow of speech is involuntarily disrupted. Stuttering generally involves forceful closures of the mouth or larynx (voice box), repetitions or prolongations of sounds and syllables, or hesitations or delays in making voiced sounds. It also may be accompanied by various behaviors intended to avoid, postpone, or hide the blocks. A person who stutters has no problem in finding the words to say, but rather in physically saying them.
How common is stuttering?
It has been estimated that about one percent of the general population stutters. This would amount to almost three million stutterers in the United States alone. Stuttering is about three or four times more common in males than females.
What causes stuttering?
The precise causes of stuttering are still unknown, but most researchers now consider stuttering to be a neurological condition that interferes with the production of speech. In some people, the tendency to stutter may be inherited. Although the interference with speech is sometimes triggered by emotional or situational factors, stuttering is basically neurological and physiological – not psychological - in nature. In all other respects, persons who stutter are perfectly normal.
The most common type of stuttering (sometimes called developmental stuttering) usually develops of its own accord in childhood, most often between ages two and eight (although in rare cases it may begin much later). Roughly 4 to 5 per cent of people experience stuttering at some time during their childhood. While the majority become fluent by the time they reach adulthood, stuttering may continue to be a chronic, persistent problem for other stutterers.
Stuttering is variable.
The severity of stuttering varies widely among individuals. It may also vary in the same individual from day to day and depending on the speaking situation. Saying one’s name and speaking to authority figures may be particularly difficult. For some individuals, fatigue, stress, and time pressure can increase their tendency to stutter. When stutterers feel compelled to hide their stuttering, it generally becomes worse.
Patterns of stuttering behavior also vary. Some individuals try to avoid stuttering by pausing before words, substituting words, and interjecting phrases such as “you know,” “well actually,” “um,” etc., whenever they anticipate a block. As a result, the person may create the false impression of being hesitant, uncertain, or confused.
A job interview may be the single most difficult speaking situation a stutterer will ever encounter. Stuttering is likely to be at its worst. Therefore, the degree of stuttering at the interview should not be used to predict how the person will actually speak on the job.
Can stuttering be cured?
Despite scientific breakthroughs in our knowledge about stuttering, there is still no reliable “cure” for the person who stutters. Many individuals benefit from various forms of speech therapy and from support groups like the National Stuttering Association. Meanwhile, researchers are experimenting with electronic devices, pharmaceuticals, and other still-unproven techniques.
However, it is unrealistic to expect that any treatment will make stuttering completely disappear. Despite common myths, there is no therapy, device, or drug that is effective all the time or for all people who stutter. Methods that appear to benefit some individuals may not work for others, and relapses are common. Controlling stuttering is a long-term project that begins with acceptance of one’s stuttering and which requires considerable patience and understanding. |
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