Stuttering of stammering is a disorder of speech in which speech flow is disrupted with involuntary sound prolongation, repetitions of syllables or phrases. There are blocks and silent pauses due to which sounds are not produced. Speech impediments like stuttering cover a spectrum of severity of speech disorders.
The stuttering is not a physical disability but it is more of psychological nature. The stuttering has no effect on intelligence but has a great effect on the personality of the person. The people who have anxiety, stress or low self-esteem and nervousness may show more stuttering although there is no physical bearing of these on stuttering. The stuttering increases when the person is aware of the surrounding and there are many people around him. The stuttering may be more while speaking on telephone.
Characteristics of behavior in stuttering:
There are two types of behavior known as primary behavior and secondary behavior which are seen in the people suffering with stuttering.
· Primary behavior in stuttering displays such behaviors which are overt. The dis-fluency in speech in stuttering is may be profound and prolonged. The repetition, prolongation and blocks are commonly observed in the overt behavior. The person may prolong a word or sound or may repeat some syllable or word. The cessation of sound may also occur and the movement of tongue and lips may freeze.
· Secondary behaviors are the learned and acquired behaviors which include escape behaviors. They may stop eye contact and head jerks etc to hide their speech disorder. Some people mask their disability by using starter sounds like “um”, “ahh” or words like “you know” etc. secondary behavior also use avoidance strategies like avoiding words and situations that cause hesitation or increase the stuttering.
Types of Stuttering:
There are two subtypes of stuttering – developmental and acquired. The developmental stuttering occurs when the child begins to speak. There may be some structural and functional changes in the brain that cause stuttering. Mostly recovery happens and only about 1% childhood stuttering continues till adulthood.
The acquired stuttering may occur due to some neurological cause like head injury, stroke, tumor or drug abuse. Psychogenic stuttering occurs if the person has any traumatic experience like bereavement or breakup.
Treatment of stuttering:
The treatment of stuttering is more of behavior modification than medicines. One is the Fluency Shaping Therapy and the other is Stuttering modification therapy. Fluency shaping therapy encourages the people to speak more and speak fluent. In the second method, stuttering is not eliminated but is controlled. The techniques are used to make stuttering acceptable to the stutterer. Electronic fluency devices are also used but they are not very effective.
The person suffering from stuttering must take it without any anxiety and try to control it as much as possible through behavior modification.

Filed under: Ear nose throat disorders

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