Stuttering
What is stuttering? Information about the different types of stammering, their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Symptoms and Causes
Stuttering, also commonly known as stammering, is a speech fluency disorder characterized by involuntary pauses and repetitions of sounds—even entire words.
Stuttering typically appears during childhood, usually between the ages of 5 and 8, when children begin speaking and acquiring language skills. In some cases, these disfluencies do not persist into adulthood, as they may disappear during the natural development of speech and language.
Based on its characteristics, stuttering is classified into three types:
- Tonic stuttering: speech is blocked when trying to begin speaking.
- Clonic stuttering: sounds or syllables are repeated during speech due to small muscular contractions.
- Mixed stuttering: involves both the repetition of sounds and the prolongation of certain syllables. When these repetitions become frequent, communication ability is significantly limited.
To prevent chronic stuttering, it is essential to begin treatment as early as possible. In many cases, therapy started before the age of 5 can completely eliminate the disorder.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of stuttering include:
- Repetition or prolongation of sounds, syllables, or entire words.
- Speech blocks or pauses in the middle of a word.
- Difficulty starting to pronounce a word.
- Mutism or inhibition when speaking.
- Use of filler words.
- Tics and spasms.
Causes
Studies suggest that stuttering can be caused by several factors, including:
- Genetics: stuttering is a hereditary disorder passed from parents to children due to mutations in the GNPTG and NAGPA genes.
- Sensory-motor coordination anomalies that interfere with speech production.
- Psycholinguistic difficulties: individuals with stuttering may have deficiencies in mirror-language thinking, leading to challenges in associating written words with their meanings, despite being able to recognize them easily.
- Trauma: prolonged stress, anxiety, or tension can trigger stuttering, which usually fades over time.
Risk Factors
Some factors that increase the risk of developing stuttering include:
- Family history.
- Delayed development.
- Speech-related disorders.
- Stress or traumatic experiences.
Complications
When stuttering becomes persistent, it can lead to communication problems that, in turn, make it harder to build personal relationships. People who stutter often feel isolated, avoid speaking, and may develop low self-esteem.
Prevention
Stuttering cannot be prevented.
What specialist treats stuttering?
Speech therapists (logopedists) are the specialists who treat stuttering. Pediatricians and family physicians are involved in the diagnostic process.
Diagnosis
Stuttering is diagnosed by observing the patient's symptoms and listening to their speech. Typically, parents notice changes in their child’s speech, which are then confirmed by medical specialists.
To determine the cause of stuttering, the patient’s medical history is reviewed, family history is analyzed, and a physical examination is conducted to check for physical tension that may affect the movement of the muscles involved in speech.
Treatment
The most common and effective treatment for stuttering is speech rehabilitation therapy, which includes exercises to improve fluency and build the patient’s confidence when speaking with others. The approach is tailored to each patient’s characteristics and specific needs.
Some of the strategies used include:
- Speech therapy: teaches individuals to detect the onset of stuttering in order to slow down their speech and prevent repetition. Over time, pauses decrease and communication becomes more fluid.
- Behavioral therapy: helps individuals recognize the situations or thoughts that worsen their stuttering, enabling them to avoid these triggers or address their root causes.
- Medication: although there are no specific drugs for stuttering, certain medications can help reduce the anxiety or stress associated with the condition.
- Electronic devices: worn in the ear like a hearing aid, these devices play back the patient’s speech and help improve fluency.
Family support is essential to help individuals with stuttering—especially children—overcome their fear of communication. It is recommended not to show impatience while they are speaking, to pay close attention throughout their speech, to foster a calm environment for conversation, and to avoid asking too many questions.
