Communication Disorders: STUTTERING

What is stuttering? b b Speech impairment characterized by abnormal hesitations repetitions, blocks, and/or prolongations of sounds, words, or syllables avoidance or substitution of words

Specific Characteristics b Repetitions b Blocks b Prolongations b Tremors b Pitch & loudness rise b Avoidance of talking b Fear & Embarrassment b Irregular breathing b Related behaviors foot tapping, eye blinks, head turns

What causes stuttering? b No known cause, only controversy b Theories Genetic dispositionGenetic disposition Biological explanationBiological explanation Family FactorsFamily Factors Psychological factorsPsychological factors –ex: conditioning

Prevalence/Incidence Rates b Most frequent type of fluency disorder b About 1% of the population stutters (2-3 million people) b More boys than girls stutter (4:1 ratio) b >10% disfluency leads to stuttering b 50-70% of people who stutter have at least one relative who also stutters

Doesn’t Everybody Stutter Sometimes? b Yes. Speech disfluencies are a normal part of children’s speech/language development All children go through a period of producing speech disfluencies when learning to speakAll children go through a period of producing speech disfluencies when learning to speak Some children, however, will continue producing disfluencies and develop a fluency disorderSome children, however, will continue producing disfluencies and develop a fluency disorder

A Critical Period for Recovery from Stuttering b If children do not recover by age 6 or 7, they are likely to develop chronic stuttering Older children rarely achieve normal fluency, and the negative consequences increase over timeOlder children rarely achieve normal fluency, and the negative consequences increase over time Negative social and emotional consequences can be minimized with appropriate early interventionNegative social and emotional consequences can be minimized with appropriate early intervention

So...Who Is At Risk? b Certain risk factors can provide some clues: Number, nature, and types of speech disfluenciesNumber, nature, and types of speech disfluencies Length of time the child has been stutteringLength of time the child has been stuttering Family history of stutteringFamily history of stuttering Child’s reactions to stutteringChild’s reactions to stuttering Family’s reactions to stuttering (parent’s level of concern and attempts to help)Family’s reactions to stuttering (parent’s level of concern and attempts to help)

Who Should Be Referred for Evaluation? b It is impossible to determine whether a disfluent child is at risk for developing a chronic stuttering disorder through informal or casual observation

Referral Guidelines b evaluate if any of the following are true: The child produces 3 or more disfluencies during a brief spontaneous conversational interactionThe child produces 3 or more disfluencies during a brief spontaneous conversational interaction There is tension or struggle during disfluencies (even if the disfluencies are infrequent)There is tension or struggle during disfluencies (even if the disfluencies are infrequent) The child’s ability to communicate is affectedThe child’s ability to communicate is affected

Assessment/Diagnoses b b Speech and language pathologists read out loud pronounce specific words talk hearing tests b b Tests determine whether or not a person needs speech therapy ex: NIU Speech Clinic

How Is Stuttering Treated? b Helping children learn to speak more fluently Changing the timing and tension of speech productionChanging the timing and tension of speech production b Helping parents learn to facilitate children’s fluency in everyday speaking situations Parents can change their own speech and manage children’s speaking situations to help them speak fluentlyParents can change their own speech and manage children’s speaking situations to help them speak fluently

Interesting Facts about Stuttering b Stuttering occurs most often in left-handers b No stuttering when singing, speaking in unison, or whispering b Famous people that stutter George BurnsThomas EdisonGeorge BurnsThomas Edison Charles DarwinAlbert EinsteinCharles DarwinAlbert Einstein George WashingtonGeorge Washington Bruce WillisBruce Willis Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe

Summary b Early stuttering can be difficult to distinguish from normal “developmental” disfluency b Early intervention is critical for preventing the development of chronic stuttering and its negative social and emotional consequences b The safest practice is to refer children for evaluation by a stuttering specialist, especially if the parents or child are concerned about the child’s speech