Stuttering is a verbal communication disorder that can cause one to repeat, interrupt, or
prolong words during speech. Not being able to say what one needs to say effectively can
severely affect one’s self-esteem. This isn’t something they can do alone, though it may feel like
it sometimes!
You may know what you want to say if you stutter, but sometimes you find it hard to get the
words out. You may repeat syllables over and over, or your words may seem to get stuck on
your tongue. Sometimes this happens with certain sounds more than others.
Stuttering is caused by disruptions in the brain’s communication pathways. For cases of learned
stuttering that occur early in childhood, stuttering can be treated using behavioral modification
strategies like self-monitoring and awareness, generalization strategies like chaining (where one
learns to produce longer strings of words without interruption), and metronome pacing
strategies (where one learns to speak at even rates throughout different word patterns).
However, severe cases of stuttering remain best managed with neuromodulation approaches
rather than strictly behavioral approaches. These include brain mapping, medications,
neurosurgery, and newer technologies like high-frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation (rTMS).
How is stuttering treated?
Treatment for stuttering will likely depend on a person’s age and communication goals. A
speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help determine which therapies may be most effective
for someone who stutters, depending on that individual’s specific situation. Support groups for
stuttering can also provide people with much-needed, ongoing encouragement and advice
throughout their ongoing treatment process.
1. Treatment for children:
Managing frustrations when communicating with children can
be very beneficial for decreasing stuttering in children. Parents and guardians must be
careful not to interrupt their children whenever they’re listening intently because this
could make the child feel like there’s something wrong with what they’re saying, which
would ultimately increase their frustration levels. This could also cause the parent or
guardian to miss out on potentially valuable, informative information about how best to
handle stressful situations like public speaking!
2. Stuttering Therapy:
Some people who stutter experience stress and anxiety. The more
tense and nervous they become, the more difficult it can be to speak fluently. They may
also worry about how they sound, which can make their stuttering worse. As a result,
it’s important to focus on ways to relax and calm your mind, whether through breathing
exercises, hypnosis, yoga, or learning to do things in a slower, less pressured way.
Advising our clients to practise these techniques daily can be very helpful in teaching
them strategies to maintain relaxation and control their anxiety.
3. Medication:
There are no FDA-approved medications that treat stuttering, but some
medications and herbal remedies that people with this condition have used to manage
the problem. Speak with an expert like a doctor or SLP for guidance, especially about
any side effects you may experience when trying these drugs or herbal remedies.
4. Medical devices:
Researchers are exploring ways to aid in speaking fluently, such as
devices that could fit into one’s ear or using brain stimulation to help communication.
More research is still needed in this area.
Tips to help reduce a stutter
One of the best ways to manage to stutter is to speak slower. Not only does slow speech help
you have time to consider your words, but it also helps give others time to internalize your
message. It’s easy to stutter more when you rush through your sentences because there isn’t
enough time for you to let everything sink in before continuing.
Reach out to a close friend or family member and see if they can sit with you and give you their
honest feedback. Practicing your speech in a safe environment is often more beneficial than
practicing it yourself (or at work or home, for example). A friend or family member might also
be more sympathetic and understanding of what makes you feel anxious about public speaking.
Joining a self-help group may even help clarify any issues that cause you to stutter when
speaking. Whether you choose to practice alone, with others who have similar problems or try
to expose yourself by being in situations where public speaking is required, talking in front of
people who are willing/wanting to listen can greatly help lessen one’s stuttering problem when
holding conversations.
Being mindful of the present moment is an ancient method of meditation that many people still
practice. This particular sort of focus can help you feel relaxed and aid with relieving anxiety,
which comes in handy for anybody who may be suffering from stuttering. And because
mindfulness can help one be focused, it specifically helps with instances where one might
struggle with stuttering while speaking or attempting to say a certain word or phrase. Some
research shows that practicing meditation, especially mindfulness specifically, might improve
the symptoms associated with stuttering. However, more studies need to be done to know
which types of meditation work best and if they’re even effective at treating this specific
disorder.
You can listen to your voice to pick up on words or phrases that bring about stuttering. Doing
this slowly and with care because listening to your progress might be encouraging but could
cause anxiety if it triggers further stuttering behavior. You can also enlist the help of a speech
therapist online (or in-person) for this particularly sensitive task.
In some cases, a stutter machine device – which mimics the way your ears and brain process
natural speech – may help increase fluency and improve your ability to communicate even if
you stutter. The stutter machine delays certain aspects of the sound of your voice, such as pitch
or volume, for example, so it feels more natural than when you’re talking through regular
means.
While some evidence supports this product’s efficacy, it remains unclear whether these effects
are long-lasting.
People who stutter should not feel that they have to avoid particular words, but there are some
strategies for reducing their use of problematic phrases. This can be achieved by creating a list
of problem words and phrases you’re aware of and working out alternatives to these.
