DEAR DR. GOTT: “The King’s Speech” movie has everyone talking about stuttering. We at The Stuttering Foundation are seeing a four-fold increase in inquiries. So are therapists. Please consider answering the simple question, “What is stuttering?” for the benefit of your readers. Our website, www.StutteringHelp.org, has a trove of helpful materials and can make referrals. President Jane Fraser can offer thoughts and advice. I’ve searched your site and did not see any information on stuttering. Thank you.
DEAR READER: I have not written about stuttering since 2009.
Stuttering, sometimes known as stammering, is a communication disorder. It is characterized by repetition, prolongation or abnormal stoppages in the flow of the speech. It can also be associated with unusual facial or body movements that occur when having difficulty speaking. Stuttering is not a sign of reduced mental capacity or intelligence.
Stuttering affects approximately 68 million people worldwide. There are more than 3 million sufferers in the United States. Men are affected four times more frequently than women. About 5 percent of all children will experience stuttering that lasts for six or more months. Of that, nearly 4 percent resolve by late childhood. The remaining 1 percent will have long-term problems.
About 60 percent of those who stutter have another family member who also does, suggesting a genetic cause. Children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to develop a stutter than other children. Families with high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can also contribute to stuttering. Recent research has also shown that those who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those with otherwise normal speech. Stuttering may also be the result of a combination of factors, and the cause may not be the same for everyone. It’s likely that the starting cause is different from the cause of prolonged or worsening stuttering.
Emotional and psychological problems are no more likely in those who stutter than those who don’t, so they are not believed to be a cause.
Stuttering is treatable and gaining near-normal or normal fluency takes time. There is no cure. In general, results are better and appear faster the earlier treatment is begun. For very young children, this may even prevent developmental stuttering from becoming a lifelong issue.
Treatment can vary from person to person and between children, teens and adults. Speech therapists and pathologists are often the first and best option for treatment. They can tailor care and find the therapies that work best for each person.
There is no approved medication for stuttering, but some drugs, such as those for depression, epilepsy and anxiety, have been used; however, studies have concluded that they are largely ineffective. Clinical trials using other medications are currently being conducted.
There are several types of electronic devices; however, they do not work for everyone. Long-term effectiveness is not known, and real-world effectiveness is questionable.
A final option is self-help groups. Many sufferers have found that therapy and self-help/study help are the most beneficial. Self-help groups also act as a support system where people can come together and learn from each other, find new information, and develop mutual friendships with others who understand the daily stresses, difficulties and challenges of dealing with stuttering. Support groups in general can be extremely helpful to sufferers of any disorder, regardless of what it may be.
Readers interested in learning more can visit The Stuttering Foundation’s website or call for free informational brochures and a nationwide referral list of speech pathologists at (800) 992-9392. You can also visit the stuttering information page on the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (a part of the National Institutes of Health) website at www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/stutter.html or by calling the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse at (800) 241-1044.
