STATEN ISLAND STUTTERING, STAMMERING, FLUENCY SPEECH THERAPY

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Stuttering is one of the most common communication disorders. People who stutter will have disruptions with certain characteristics in the way they speak. These disruptions or disfluencies typically involve repetitions (repeating parts of words), stretching out sounds or prolongations, and difficulty in physically getting words out (different than word-finding) or blocks. Blocks are when tension builds in one’s lungs, throat, or jaw.

The patterns and degree of stuttering can be different for every person who stutters. It can even change from day to day as stuttering is often influenced by stress, excitement, anxiety, and other strong emotions.

Stuttering is up to three to four times more common in males than females. In the United States, it is estimated that among the adult population, about one percent or three million individuals have the disorder.

Stuttering interrupts the flow of speech. It may involve the repetition, prolongation, or blockage of a word or part of a word that a person is trying to say. Other physical movements, reflective of tension or struggle with speaking, such as eye blinks, head turns, or facial grimacing may be present. Stuttering severity may vary considerably from one day to another and from one situation to the next.

Fluency stuttering therapy may include full assessment, indirect and/or direct treatment (depending on the age of the child), and teaching of strategies for disfluent speech ranging from mild to profound. Parent education and training is a crucial part of fluency stuttering therapy. Likewise, the social-emotional impact of the condition is addressed with older children and adults who stutter.

For most adults and children who stutter, the problem goes beyond disfluencies and difficulties in verbal expression. Stuttering can take a toll on one’s confidence and self-esteem. In many cases, it can also lead to anxiety, fear of speaking, and embarrassment.

The exact causes of stuttering are unknown, but it is often triggered and aggravated by strong emotions and tense situations. That said, stuttering is primarily neurological and physiological in nature. Research suggests that in people who stutter, the differences in their brain activity interfere with speech production.

Experts have also pointed out that family history can be a factor as to why a person stutters. According to studies, the condition is often inherited, and many individuals who stutter will likely have a family member with the same problem.

For children aged two to six years, it is not uncommon to go through temporary periods of disfluency. But stuttering may continue for some children due to some risk factors involved. These risk factors are:

Gender – Studies reveal that stuttering is more likely to persist in boys than girls.
Age – The condition is more likely to continue in children who began stuttering at age 3.5 years or older.
Family history – Stuttering may persist for children with family members who also continued to stutter.

Signs and Symptoms of Stuttering

Intervention or stuttering treatment, which includes fluency shaping and stuttering modification, may be necessary when a child’s period of disfluency lasts for more than six months. Children who stutter will exhibit the following signs of disfluency:

Repeating part of a word, such as, “I l-l-l-like your shoes.”
Repeating one-syllable words, such as, “Do-do-do you want to play?”
Prolonging sounds, such as, “Mmmmmy mom is here.”
Blocks or stops, such as, “I’m going to (pause) school.”
Getting frustrated when trying to speak in sentences
Lip tremors or tension in the face when trying to speak
Having difficulty speaking in social or public settings

Nodding, blinking, and avoiding or replacing certain words may also be exhibited by an individual as a way to stop or prevent stuttering. But these characteristics overlap with what’s called expressive oral language skills. A licensed speech-language pathologist can delineate if disfluencies are indeed stuttering or are part of oral expressive language.

When to Seek Help and Stuttering Therapy

Like all other speech, language, and communication disorders, early intervention is crucial in helping a child overcome and manage these difficulties. If you are concerned about your child’s disfluencies, seeking the help of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and considering stuttering therapy may be in order. This is particularly important if your child:

has been stuttering for six to 12 months or more
began stuttering late (3.5 years old or older)
stutters more often
has a family history of stuttering
tenses up or struggles when talking
avoids talking or complains that talking is too hard

During your consultation with an SLP, your child will undergo observation and evaluation to decide if stuttering therapy is necessary. The SLP will conduct some testing and look at the following:

types of disfluencies, which includes typical disfluencies associated with stuttering and stutter-like speech
number of stuttering-type disfluencies exhibited by the child
how the child reacts when stuttering
how the child attempts to fix their speech

WE ALSO OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES FOR ADULTS

Adult Speech Therapy

Accent Reduction Modification Speech Therapy

Speech- Articulation/ Oral Motor / Phonology- Evaluation & Therapy

Parents or caregivers will also have to answer a series of questions, which will help the SLP gauge the child’s condition. This includes the family’s own observations on how the stuttering affects the way the child plays, interacts with other people, and performs in school.

The child’s speech and language will also be evaluated by the SLP. This includes testing the way the child produces word and letter sounds, their understanding of what others say (receptive language), and how well they use words to express their thoughts (expressive language).

To learn more about our Stuttering Assessment, Click Here

How Can Fluency Stuttering Therapy Help?

Because the degree of stuttering varies from one individual to another, treatment strategies are individualized and aim to address disfluencies the child is exhibiting. Before designing the treatment plan, the SLP will need to consider:

the degree of stuttering
how the child reacts to or handles stuttering
how stuttering affects the child’s daily life
the child’s age
how others react to the child’s stuttering

For preschool-aged children, treatment usually involves direct and indirect strategies. Direct strategies are techniques that will help the child change the way he or she speaks. Indirect strategies, on the other hand, involve steps that parents, teachers, and family members can do to make speaking easier for the child. An example of this would be asking fewer questions and speaking slower when talking to the child.

Meanwhile, treatment for adults and older children is geared towards managing stuttering. This includes techniques that will help a person who stutters feel less tense when speaking, make them more comfortable in speaking situations (such as answering a call or ordering at a restaurant), and allow them to handle anxiety, stressful settings, and strong emotions.

Ways to Treat Stuttering

Treatment for Children: Professional treatment should begin as soon as possible because it is extremely beneficial in preventing long-term stuttering. A parent or guardian can assist children by being patient when communicating, listening carefully rather than interrupting, and reviewing their progress and feelings.
Stuttering Therapy: An SLP can use breathing and relaxation techniques, learn to speak more slowly, and address anxiety issues with children and adults.
Medications: There are currently no FDA-approved medications for stuttering, but some medications used to treat other conditions have been used to treat stuttering. Speak with your doctor or SLP for advice, especially if you are starting to experience any side effects.
Medical Devices: Researchers are looking into medical devices that could aid in speaking fluently, such as those that could fit into the ear or using brain stimulation to help communication. More research is needed in this area.

Stuttering Support

In many cases, stuttering does not only affect a person’s ability to communicate effectively. For many individuals who stutter, the condition can also have a significant impact on everyday life. This is especially true during social or professional settings where one is expected to express thoughts or share ideas. Such situations can often lead to anxiety and stress, which can then trigger and worsen a person’s stuttering.

In managing the condition, it’s important for someone who stutters to be able to express oneself without fear of embarrassment. Aside from seeing an SLP, an individual who stutters can also benefit greatly from support groups. These groups can provide an encouraging environment where a person can interact with peers freely and gain access to other helpful resources.

Below are some helpful websites and organizations that offer stuttering support:

National Stuttering Association

StutterTalk – The first and longest-running podcast on stuttering.

Proud Stutter – A podcast about changing how we understand and talk about stuttering, one conversation at a time.

Season 1, Episode 12

Nicole, our Director, has an 18-year-old son, Eli, who is a Person Who Stutters. Eli discusses how he became proud of his stutter and offers advice for other teens struggling with their insecurities surrounding their stuttering.

Stuttering is considered an issue with speech. But what about the listener? NY Times Video Series.

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