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Stuttering
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is a communication disorder that affects fluency of speech. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds. Starkweather (1980,1987) suggests that rate and effort are critical to fluency, thus, a fluent speaker effortlessly produces speech at a rate comfortable for them. It is also defined as abnormally high frequency and/or duration of stoppages in the flow of speech. Core behaviors/symptoms of stuttering include repetitions, which consists of a sound or single syllable word repeated several times, prolongation, which is sound or airflow continues, however movement of one or more articulators stops, and blocks, which generally is the last core behavior to develop. These behaviors occur when the person who stutters inappropriately stops flow of air or voice and often the movement of the articulators. Symptoms of stuttering can vary significantly throughout a person’s day. In general, speaking before a group or talking on the telephone may make a person’s stuttering more severe, while singing, reading, etc. stuttering is not present. Secondary behaviors are learned behaviors that are triggered by the experience of stuttering or the anticipation of it. Escape behaviors occur when the speaker is stuttering and attempts to terminate the stutter and finish the word (ex. Eye blinks and head nods). Secondary behaviors include avoiding eye contact, leg shaking, foot tapping, hand tapping, and head nodding, etc. These behaviors are absent during fluent communication productions. Four factors most likely to contribute to the cause of stuttering; Genetics, approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also, child development, children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter, neurophysiology, recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter, and family dynamics/environmental, high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering. When treating stuttering the SLP wants to help the client reduce the number and severity of stuttering events, help the client reduce the number of maladaptive or defensive reactions to speaking and stuttering, help the client to increase their speaking and social activity, help the client transfer fluency skills to everyday activities, and collect data throughout their treatment.
– Jocelyn S.
