Stuttering

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Stuttering is a speech disorder in which pronunciation of the (usually) first letter or syllable of a word is repeated involuntarily. For example, stuttering on the word "table" would become either "t-t-t-t-...t-table" or "ta-ta-ta-ta-...-ta-table". This normally happens with phonemes beginning with /p/, /b/ or some other plosive consonant. Stuttering is an involuntary process which hinders normal communication. Although there are some self-help techniques which can be taught, and which help some affected people, the person stuttering cannot stop the process, and anxiousness or nervousness often escalates the problem. In British English the term stammering is used to mean the stumbling and hesitation over words or syllables while the term stuttering is used for the repetitious speech described above.

Onset and causes

Usually, stuttering appears slightly before adolescence, and sometimes it disappears after puberty. However, if it continues to a mature age, it usually stays forever. It is three times more likely for boys than girls to get this disorder. Stuttering can be treated through speech therapy, but the results vary. Most commonly, the problems can be decreased, but there is no objective way to measure the results.

Stuttering sometimes develops into blocking, that is, even the first letter or syllable becomes impossible to pronounce, i.e. blocked. This often leads to nonsensical syllables in the place of the word; can often force multiple attempts to say the word; and in extreme cases can cause the person to give up trying to say the word altogether. A natural explanation for this is that while trying to avoid stuttering or in fear of stuttering, the person cannot utter the word at all. This too is an involuntary action, even though the development from stuttering to blocks can be partly intentional.

There may be some genetic component to stuttering, as it can be hereditary; a specific gene has not been found.

In the past, this disorder was often attributed to psychological problems, such as children learning to speak and unable to find specific words becoming nervous. Perhaps the most prominent current view is that stuttering is caused by neural synchronization problems in the brain. Recent research indicates that stuttering is correlated with disrupted fibers between the speech area and language planning area, both in the left hemisphere of the brain. This disruption could have been caused by early brain damage or a genetic link.

Stuttering may be psychogenic (having its origins in the mind), although that is not very frequent. It happens in people who have mental illness or stress.

The only thing truly known is that it is aggravated by anxiety. Great anxiety can also, although rarely, cause it to manifest in people who have never before stuttered. This said, the only way known to reduce stuttering is by teaching the person relax. This can allow people to go for years without stuttering, until something stressful happens. Of course not everyone can be taught to relax, and not every who appears to relax will receive any noticeable benefit.

Practical advice

A person who stutters may encounter difficulties with people they don't know, making it more difficult to make new friends, for example. As a practical note for non-stuttering people: most people stuttering would wish that the problem be ignored in normal situations. However, if stuttering causes a problem for the listener, then one should not be afraid to talk about it.

Some treatments for stuttering

There are many treatments for stuttering; none of them is 100% effective. Therapy can help to stop the disorder before it becomes a problem for life.

One way of helping the children is to educate their parents. Some advice:

1. Offer a relaxed atmosphere at home and spend some time speaking with the child every day.
2. Don't force the child to repeat the stuttered word until he/she says it properly.
3. Don't force the child to talk in front of other people.
4. Avoid telling the child to think what he is going to say.
5. Listen to the child attentively.
6. Speak slowly so the child can imitate.
7. Let the child say what he is thinking and don't try to complete his thoughts.
8. If the child asks about it, speak with him/her frankly.

The del Ferro method to combat stuttering focuses on proper control of the diaphragm.

There are also other treatments such as medicaments and electronic devices.

Famous stutterers

• Lewis Carroll
• Winston Churchill
• Gareth Gates
• George VI of the United Kingdom
• Alvin Lucier (I am sitting in a room)
• Marilyn Monroe
• Kim Philby
• Mel Tillis
• Alan Turing
• Emperor Claudius
• Vernon Hill
• Scatman John
• James Earl Jones

Famous fictional stutterers

• Warner Brothers animated character, Porky Pig
• the South Park character Jimmy
• Ken Pile in A Fish Called Wanda. Ken Pile was played by Michael Palin, who has done a considerable amount of work to support charities which work to help people who stutter.
• Claudius in I, Claudius
• Arkwright in the British sitcom Open All Hours
• Professor Quirrell, character in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, by J.K. Rowling.
• Stuttering Bill Denbrough, character in It (novel by Stephen King).

See also

• Some treatments for stuttering
• Dyslexia, another disorder affecting communication.

External links

• The British Stammering Association
• The Stuttering Homepage
• Information for Listeners - What to do and what to know when speaking with a person who stutters
• American Institute for Stuttering

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