SERVICES
FLUENCY DISORDERS
STUTTERING
What is a stutter?
Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a type of fluency disorder characterized by a disruption in the usual fluency or flow of speech. These disruptions, also known as disfluencies, occur more frequently in people who stutter and can interfere with their ability to communicate. People who stutter know what they want to say, but have difficulty getting the words out.
There are different types of disfluencies, including:
Blocks—an absence of sound when trying to speak
Prolongations—stretching out one sound.
Repetitions—repeating parts of words.
These describe the sound of stuttering, however, stuttering usually includes other less obvious features: Tension and negative feelings about speaking. The negative emotion develops from repeated learning that talking is difficult or embarrassing. This can lead to people avoiding speaking in certain situations, such as speaking on the phone, or in a group setting.
What causes stuttering?
It can occur at any age, but the highest incidence is in early childhood.
Stuttering is heritable, meaning it can be passed on to biological children from parents.
There is no known single cause of stuttering; however, like many other human phenomena, substantial evidence points to an interaction between genes and the environment. Stuttering has shown to be heritable, meaning that the child of a parent who stutters is at an increased risk for stuttering. However, it is likely the environment of an at-risk child that determines whether they will stutter. Most children begin stuttering around age two to five, when many early childhood stresses are occurring, such as the birth of a baby brother or sister, or attending preschool/school for the first time. Families often describe the onset of stuttering in their child as occurring closely in time to events such as these. Finally, individual differences in temperament, which affects how people interpret stress, are also a factor in stuttering. This is an example of psychogenic stuttering, or stuttering brought on by stress or trauma.
Is there a cure?
There are evidence-based treatments available to help reduce and manage stuttering in children and adults. As with other speech and language challenges, early intervention produces the best possible outcomes. Young children who receive treatment for stuttering tend to have the best results. Once children become older and the stuttering is more established, it becomes harder to treat. However, it is still possible to significantly reduce it. After puberty and into adolescence and adulthood, treatment tends to focus more on the management of stuttering, to provide individuals with techniques to assist them in their communication needs.