Stuttering and its causes
Verbal communication is fundamental to quality of life and society. Stuttering is a disruption to verbal communication. Instead of moving forward with speech, words and syllables are repeated, and sounds are prolonged and/or “blocked” completely. These interruptions can often have struggle and tension, and unusual movements of the body and face. The speech disruptions of stuttering range from mild through to severe. In severe cases, a speech interruption of stuttering can last for 30 seconds. Stuttering is a common condition, with 1–2% of people affected.
There are many theories and popular beliefs about what causes stuttering. However, after considerable scientific research from the second half of the 20th century, Multifactorial condition involving factors such as genetics and the way the brain processes speech production.
In short, stuttering is a physical condition and is not caused by psychological factors such as nervousness or stress, or parenting practices, or the way parents communicate with their children when they are young. Although stuttering is not caused by psychological factors, such as anxiety or stress, they can make stuttering worse.
The onset of stuttering
A recent study that followed a group of Australian infants found that by three years of age 8% of them had begun to stutter, and 12% of them had begun by four years of age. Onset typically occurs as children are starting to put words together into short utterances. The onset of stuttering can be gradual or sudden, and, at onset, the severity of stuttering ranges from mild through to severe. In a few cases, onset can be so sudden and severe that parents think their child has a serious illness.
In most cases, the first sign of stuttering is the child repeating syllables such as "I… I… I… I… want…" or "Where… where… where….. where is… ?" Stuttering may change soon after it begins and the child may start to show fixed postures of the speech mechanism. For example, instead of repeating syllables, the child may hold the lips and tongue in one position for a while. This can seem to be a complete stoppage of speech as the child attempts to start a word, such as in "…………………can I have a drink." Soon after onset, sounds may be prolonged during moments of stuttering, such as in "wwwwwwwwhere is my drink?” Often, as stuttering develops, children show signs of effort and struggle while speaking.
Natural recovery
Natural recovery from stuttering by adulthood, without therapy, occurs often. At present, it is not possible to say whether an individual child will recover naturally or will require therapy. We recommend that all children who begin to stutter during the pre-school years should receive therapy. There is evidence that if a child stutters for some years, it can be harmful, even if natural recovery does occur without therapy.
The impact of stuttering on daily life
The impact of stuttering on people will differ. For example, someone who stutters only occasionally may experience extreme frustration and anxiety about speaking, while another person whose stuttering is more severe may not be affected in the same way. There is no doubt, though, that stuttering interferes with communication as soon as it begins in pre-school children. Sometimes, children show signs of frustration about their stuttering soon after onset. More commonly, school-age children report feelings of embarrassment about stuttering when answering questions or reading aloud in class. Adults whose work requires effective communication may find their stuttering prevents attainment of their vocational potential.
Stuttering may interfere with social interactions and may lead to development of social anxiety. Social anxiety can significantly impact day-to-day life. More seriously, it is known that adults who come to speech clinics seeking help for their stuttering are greatly at risk of having social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. Social anxiety disorder is a debilitating condition. It involves constant fear of humiliation, embarrassment and negative evaluation in social situations. Sufferers experience extreme distress in social situations. They can experience difficulty participating in relationships at work, socially, and with partners and friends. This can make them become socially isolated.
Early intervention for stuttering during the pre-school years is particularly important because it is known that social anxiety disorder starts to emerge in children soon after seven years of age. That is why we recommend that all children who begin to stutter during the pre-school years should receive therapy.