Stuttering

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
The person who is Stuttering may frequently blink the eyes and/or have abnormal facial or upper body movements in an attempt to speak

Causes

Causes may include:
  • A child's ability to speak does not match his or her verbal demands
  • Problems in the connections between muscles, nerves, and areas of the brain that control speech
  • Psychological factors, such as mental illness or extreme stress

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
  • Family history of stuttering
  • Sex: Male
  • Age: Between 2 and 6

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

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform 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
In some situations you or your child may be referred to a speech language pathologist for further evaluation or treatment.

Treatment

There is no cure for Stuttering. However, treatment may dramatically improve Stuttering. The main goal of treatment is to establish and maintain a feeling of control over speech fluency. The doctor can evaluate the Stuttering pattern and assess what strategies may work best. Possibilities may include: Behavioral Therapy – this treatment often focuses on behavioral 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.

Prevention

There are no guidelines for the prevention of Stuttering. However, early recognition and treatment may help to minimize or prevent a life-long problem.