Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder
Stuttering is a speech condition that disrupts the normal flow of speech. Fluency means having an easy and smooth flow and rhythm when speaking. With stuttering, the interruptions in flow happen often and cause problems for the speaker. Other names for stuttering are stammering and childhood-onset fluency disorder.
People who stutter know what they want to say, but they have a hard time saying it. For example, they may repeat or stretch out a word, a syllable, or a consonant or vowel sound. Or they may pause during speech because they've reached a word or sound that's hard to get out.
Stuttering is common among young children as a usual part of learning to speak. Some young children may stutter when their speech and language abilities aren't developed enough to keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow this type of stuttering, called developmental stuttering.
But sometimes stuttering is a long-term condition that remains into adulthood. This type of stuttering can affect self-esteem and communicating with other people.
Symptoms
Stuttering symptoms may include:
Having a hard time starting a word, phrase or sentence.
Stretching out a word or sounds within a word.
Repeating a sound, syllable or word.
Brief silence for certain syllables or words, or pausing before or within a word.
Adding extra words such as "um" if expecting to have problems moving to the next word.
A lot of tension, tightness or movement of the face or upper body when saying a word.
Anxiety about talking.
Not being able to communicate well with others.
These actions may happen when stuttering:
Rapid eye blinks.
Trembling of the lips or jaw.
Unusual face movements, sometimes called facial tics.
Head nodding.
Tightening of fists.
Stuttering may be worse when the person is excited, tired or under stress, or when feeling self-conscious, hurried or pressured. Situations such as speaking in front of a group or talking on the phone can be especially hard for people who stutter.
But most people who stutter can speak without stuttering when they talk to themselves and when they sing or speak along with someone else.
Treatment Options
After an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist, you can work together to decide on the best treatment. Many different methods are available to treat children and adults who stutter. Because problems and needs vary, a method — or combination of methods — that's helpful for one person may not work as well for another person.
Treatment may not get rid of all stuttering, but it can teach skills that help you or your child:
Improve speech fluency.
Develop effective communication.
Participate fully in school, work and social activities.
A few examples of treatment methods include:
Speech therapy.
Speech therapy can teach you to slow down your speech and learn to notice when you stutter. You may speak very slowly and carefully when beginning speech therapy. Over time, you can work up to a more natural speech pattern.
Electronic devices.
Many electronic devices are available to improve fluency. With one device, you'll hear delayed feedback that requires you to slow your speech or the speech will sound distorted through the machine. Another device copies your speech so that it sounds as if you're talking along with someone else. Some electronic devices are small enough to wear during daily activities. Ask a speech-language pathologist for guidance on choosing a device.
Cognitive behavioral therapy.
This type of mental health therapy, also called psychotherapy, can help you learn to identify and change ways of thinking that might make stuttering worse. It also can help you get rid of or improve problems with stress, anxiety or self-esteem related to stuttering.
Parent-child interaction. Practicing techniques at home with your child is a key part of helping your child cope with stuttering, especially with some treatment methods. Follow the guidance of the speech-language pathologist to decide on the best method for your child.
Medicine
Although some medicines have been tried for stuttering, and studies continue, no medicines have been proved yet to help the condition.