Intro Class Fluency

Ratio female to male

1:4

*over 300 million Americans stutter

*more than 1 in 100

ETIOLOGY: unknown

Stuttering does NOT vary in the same person over different times and places

FALSE

• can have good / bad days with speech

T or F Anxiety is the cause of stuttering occurences

FALSE

• can develop anticipatory stress as a result but anxiety is NOT the cause!

• (can exacerbate)

People who stutter often let the disability determine the vocation they choose

TRUE

NO FIXING but we can…

help to reduce situational stress, teach control / strategies to implement

(NO MIRACLES)

How could you help a CWS during popcorn reading?

• unison reading

• have the child advocate for themselves (disclose stutter, ask to go first, ask to be called on ONLY when hand is raised)

• Do “pass” system

How many children go through a stage of development which they encounter disfluencies severe enough to concern their parents (as speech/lang. become more complex)

20%

Stuttering doesn’t become an increasingly formidable problem in teen years as dating and social interaction begin

FALSE

Myths about Stuttering

• No link between stuttering & intelligence

• Nervousness DOES NOT CAUSE stuttering

• Stuttering cannot be “caught”

• Does NOT help to tell a person to take a deep breath, think of what you want to say, speak slower etc.,

• STRESS does not cause stuttering but stuttering can cause stress

Rights for people who stutter

• to stutter or be fluent to extent one is able or chooses to be

• communicate & be listened to regardless of degree of stuttering

• accorded all rights for all citizens regardless of degree of stuttering

• redress of grievances for documented evidence of failure to be treated fairly under the law (dignity & respect)

• informed about therapy programs & prognosis

• receive therapy appropriate for ones unique needs, concerns and characteristics from professionals trained to tx stuttering

• choose & participate in therapy change therapy or clinician without prejudice or penalty

Responsibilities for people who stutter

• understand that listeners or conversation partners may be uninformed about stuttering & its ramifications, may have different views of stuttering

• differentiate those reactions from listeners that are the result of lack of awareness/knowledge & those that result from a lack of respect or fairness

• inform listeners if need additional time to comm. (advocate!)

• open and collaborative partnership with qualified service provider

• do whatever one can to overcome life handicaps that occur because of stuttering : develop realistic appraisal of one’s strengths and weaknesses and develop sense of humor about oneself

Escape vs. Avoidance behaviors

escape: occurs when the speaker is stuttering and attempts to terminate the stutter and finish the word

• Person: “I—I—I want the…”

• They get stuck on /w/ and then force the word out, change their voice, or add a starter like “um” to break the block.

👉 Think: “I’m already stuck → I need to escape.”

avoidance: occur when the speaker anticipates stutter and tries to avoid it

• Substitute another word (“fruit”)

• Don't raise their hand

• Avoid ordering at a restaurant

• Stay quiet instead of speaking

👉 Think: “I might get stuck → I’ll avoid saying it.”

There are 3 types of stuttering

• developmental stuttering

• neurogenic stuttering

• psychogenic stuttering

Stuttering can be considered a disability under the Americans with disabilities act (ADA)

TRUE

—> disability: physical/mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including speaking & communicating

Stuttering typically begins between the ages of

2 - 6 yrs old

Many children experience periods of dysfluency during language development, but if it persists beyond a few _______, may indicate stuttering

MONTHS

PWS often feel a lack of…

• confidence, self-esteem, and courage to do things they desire due to negative perceptions/reactions from others

Stuttering is a speech condition that….

• disrupts the normal flow of speech, a lack of forward movement of speech production

Stuttering is not considered a mental illness even though it can have psychological and emotional consequences, rather it is considered a

• neurodevelopmental disorder (origins in brain development)

Stuttering can be cured

FALSE

• it can be managed through therapy, significantly reduced or eliminated but may persist

Many children do NOT grow out of stuttering especially if it starts before 3-3.5

FALSE they do!

*75-80% of children who start stuttering will show improvement in 12-24 months without therapy

If stuttering persists beyond ____ months or worsens, less likely to resolve on its own

6 months

Research suggests stuttering etiology is a complex combination of factors including

• genetics (family history)

• brain function

• brain development

• processing of speech

• speech motor skills

Moment of stuttering MOS does not equal the experience of stuttering