Stuttering

Stuttering, also referred to as stammering, is a speech disorder in which the normal flow of speech is disrupted by frequent repetitions of speech sounds, syllables or words, or by an individual's inability to start a word. The speech disruptions during a bout of stuttering may be accompanied by rapid eye blinks, tremors of the lips and/or jaw, or other odd movements of the face or upper body, that a person who stutters may use when they make an attempt at talking. Some recent studies into stuttering have shown that people who stutter actually process speech and language in different areas of the brain, in comparison to those who do not. Brain scan studies have found no differences in a stuttering individual’s brain when they are not talking, compared to when they are talking fluently. However, during stuttering, changes are seen in brain activity. The left-brain areas that should be active during speech become inactive, while right-brain areas that should be idle during speech become functional when stuttering.

There is no cure for stuttering. However, treatment may dramatically improve stuttering. The main goal of therapy is to establish and maintain a feeling of control over speech fluency. A variety of everyday situations can act as a trigger, but are not specifically the causes of stuttering. These can include addressing a group of people, or simply talking on the telephone; whereas other situations, such as singing or speaking alone, often improve fluency. It is probable that what activates the stuttering in a person’s speech in the first place, in point of fact, differs considerably from what makes it continue, or indeed get worse.

Stuttering affects less than 1% of the adult population, although many do occasionally repeat words, phrases and sounds, but these non-fluencies - as they are known - are accepted as normal and usually are not a cause for concern. Interestingly, there are four times as many males as females, who suffer from stuttering. Although the percentage of sufferers is very low, it is of little consolation to those afflicted; however a quick look at some of the famous names who are known to have endured stuttering will be a source for comfort. People such as: Winston Churchill; Marilyn Monroe; Tiger Woods; Jimmy Stewart; Lewis Carroll; Andrew Lloyd Webber; Bruce Willis; Julia Roberts and Charles Darwin, are all acknowledged as experiencing bouts of stuttering.