Stuttering
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is a disruption in the flow or ‘fluency’ of speech. It is also referred to as ‘stammering’ in some parts of the world.
Stuttering can be different for each person. It can have the same features or a mix of different types.
Stuttering can vary across the day or across weeks, and may increase when a person is feeling worried, excited, or tired.
Stuttering can sound like:
- Repeated sounds: “Ye-Ye-Yesterday,”
- Repeated words: “Yesterday, Yesterday, Yesterday,”
- Repeated syllables: “Yes-Yes-Yesterday,”
- Repeated phrases: “Yesterday I went, Yesterday I went, Yesterday I went.”
Stuttering characteristics can also include:
- The stretching of sounds or prolongations: “ssss-soon”
- Blocks: Feeling like the words are getting stuck and no sound comes out.
Other features can include unplanned eye movement or facial movements. These are called ‘secondary behaviours’.
How common is stuttering?
Stuttering can present at different times in a person’s life and the onset can be sudden or developed slowly over time.
Around one in 10 children will stutter over the preschool years. For adults, the prevalence is approximately 1%.
What causes stuttering?
The specific cause of stuttering remains unknown but genetics are thought to play a large role in its occurrence. People who have a family history of stuttering are more likely to stutter than those with no family history. Researchers continue to investigate differences in neural networks and brain connectivity that may provide more information about the causes and mechanisms of stuttering.
Experiencing strong emotions may result in stuttering symptoms increasing but it is not the root cause of stuttering.
In some cases, stuttering can occur following a brain injury or after commencing certain types of medication, however this is different from developmental stuttering (stuttering that begins in early childhood).
Is speech therapy always required to eliminate stuttering?
For some children, stuttering will resolve without needing any intervention, but for other children, stuttering will persist into adulthood if not addressed.
Research has shown that early intervention, particularly in the preschool years, is the most effective approach for eliminating stuttering and minimising the psychosocial impact that stuttering can have in later years.
For adults who stutter, the aim of therapy is to improve overall fluency (rather than eliminating the stutter entirely). Adults who have been stuttering for an extended period of time may need strategies to manage and control their stuttering in their daily activities.
How can speech pathologists support people who stutter?
Speech Pathologists will usually conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine whether the person is likely to benefit from a stuttering therapy program.
Speech Pathologists may also provide resources for the client, parent, family members or teachers about supporting the person who is stuttering. This may include communication strategies or ways to minimise the impact that stuttering might be having on the person’s confidence or mental health.
The Lidcombe Program
This program is typically used for children under the age of six but can also be used for older children where suitable. It is a behavioural treatment program that focuses on providing positive reinforcement for smooth speech.
The Westmead Program (Syllable-Timed Speech)
This program is typically used for children under the age of six but can also be used for older children where suitable. It involves saying the syllables in words in time with a rhythmic beat.
The Oakville Program
This program is most suited to children who have more severe stuttering or have not experienced success with the Lidcombe Program. It is more likely to be used with children over 6 years of age, although some of these children, especially those with mild stuttering, may still respond well to the Lidcombe Program.
The Camperdown Program
This program is recommended for adults and adolescents over the age of 12. It uses smooth speech strategies to teach individuals how to control their stuttering and in turn, aims to reduce stuttering frequency and severity.
Self-Imposed Timeout
This is a therapy strategy (rather than a specific program) that involves pausing immediately after a stutter.
Smooth Speech Strategies
This is a collection of techniques that help to reduce stutters by slowing down speech, easing into sounds at the beginning of words, and making sounds ‘softer’ when articulating words.
At Box Hill Speech Pathology, we believe in offering a range of evidence-based treatment options for both children and adults.
Please head to our contact page for more information or call 9899 5494 to book an initial consultation.