Stuttering is the practice of repeating the same word over and over again, getting stuck in a hurry, or inadvertently pulling out a word.Stammering can be replaced as a synonym for stuttering. About 1% of the world’s population suffers from this problem. Stuttering can occur in people of any age. However, stuttering is more common in children between the ages of two and five.
The problem of stuttering can be termed as psychological and physiological disorder. The sufferers of this problem want to mix less and talk less with people. They feel more comfortable spending time alone. Usually they want to keep themselves away from others; they don’t even like to talk on the phone. Research shows that this problem is more common in boys than in girls.
Main causes of stuttering:
Although the exact cause of stuttering is not yet known, various studies have suggested various causes.
[1] Hereditary causes: If there is a problem in the father, mother or someone in the family, it is likely to be passed on to the child.
[2] Psychological causes: This problem can also start from stress. Excessive anxiety, fear, can cause stuttering.
[3] Neurological causes: Stuttering can be caused by neurological causes. This part of people who suffer from stuttering problems may be less active due to neurological reasons.
[4] This problem can occur in children even when they are beingpressurised to speak quickly during the time of learning.
[5] This problem can occur even if someone has a head injury. Stuttering can be caused by a brain injury that damages the nerve cells in the brain.
Some behavioral habits are observed in those who are suffering from this problem while talking.Repeatedly eye blinking, abnormal movement of hands and legs etc. can be the secondary behavior of stuttering.
Symptoms of stuttering:
[1] Not finding words suddenly in any sentence while speaking. I will eat ri……ce
[2] Repeating the same letter at the beginning of a word. I… I… I will eat rice
[3] Repeating the last letter of a word. I will eat rice….ce.. ce..
[4] The last word in a sentence is repeated. I will eat rice…. rice… rice… rice.
Superstitions or misconceptions have been around in the world since immemorial time. A misconception about stuttering is that stuttering can be cured if you put coin in your mouth. No scientific basis of this idea has been found so far.
Ways to overcome stuttering:
There is nothing to be disappointed with stuttering. This problem is controllable. The world famous Isaac Newton, Aristotle and many others had problems with stuttering.
To overcome stuttering:
[1] Speak out loud: Experts recommend speaking out loud as you can emphasize pronunciation and find out your own problems.
[2]Mirror talking: Talk to yourself in the mirror. It will help to boost your confidence.
[3] Talk with people: To get out of the problem of stuttering, talk to people without keeping yourself wrapped up. Identify your own problems.
[4] Prepare Before You Speak: Set your head on what to say before you speak. This will help reduce your stuttering problem.
[5] Speak slowly: Speak slowly, not in a hurry. This will relax your brain and reduce the problem of stuttering.
[6] Take a break: Instead of talking continuously, take a break and stop for a while. During this time, take frequent breaths and exhale. It is very effective in reducing stuttering.
If the problem of stuttering is increasing; to overcome it, in addition to various breathing techniques, reduction of speech rate, reduction of muscle tension and some more Speech Therapy can be helpful.
The supportive attitude of the family and the people around you can help to overcome this problem. So if someone is suffering from stuttering problem, help him without getting angry or upset and talk to the appropriate Speech therapist.
Author,
Nishat Nabila Bushra
BSS, Communication Disorder, DU.
