Trying to "Fix" Stuttering? What's Wrong with Strategies for Fluent Speech
April 30, 2020
American Institute for Stuttering
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If you've ever had speech therapy for stuttering, you may be familiar with strategies that are meant to improve fluency - strategies like easy onsets, breathing exercises, or drilling certain words or sounds.
You may also have noticed that strategies like these, while they may help in the short term, can often be frustrating or ineffective when you try to use them in daily life.
You're not alone. Many adults have tried these techniques without success. They come to us with questions like Can a stutter be cured?, How do you stop stuttering?, and What is the main cause of stuttering?
That's because stuttering is one of the most complex speech and language disorders.
And effective treatment is not simple.
Children and adults who stutter can reduce stuttering symptoms by speaking with a speech-language pathologist who understands that it's not enough just to improve speech fluency. It's about finding your own voice, making eye contact, entering social situations, and building self esteem.
Stuttering can be effectively managed.
Speech therapy helps children and adults who stutter talk with confidence in all kinds of settings. Whether you want to make a speech or read aloud, treatment is available.
Causes and types of stuttering vary, from developmental stuttering in early childhood to adult-onset stuttering from a variety of causes.
When a child stutters, speech therapy can help, but don't over-emphasize improving fluency. Instead, support the child in being an active participant and great communicator who can talk with confidence.
Support groups and stuttering strategies ease anxiety and boost self esteem, empowering each person to thrive in life, whether or not they speak fluently.
Myths and misperceptions about stuttering from children and adults alike contribute to stigma around this and other speech impediments.
Stuttering affects about 3 million children and adults in the United States.
Approximately 75 percent of children who stutter lose this stutter with time as they develop their language skills.
Adults who stutter are unlikely to stop stuttering, though their stuttering will likely fluctuate with time, and treatment can facilitate easier stuttering and reduced life impact for the person.
Adults who stutter are successful in all areas of life - we know doctors, lawyers, athletes, actors, and many other adults who stutter in every kind of career, including those that involve a lot of speaking.
Stuttering is neurological, meaning its origin is in the brain.
Stuttering is caused by a combination of brain development, language development, and genetics.
Stuttering tends to occur at the beginnings of words or sentences.
Learn more: Myths About Stuttering: Separating Fact from Fiction
The most common form of stuttering is developmental stuttering, which begins in childhood.
Developmental stuttering is a natural way of speaking for about 1% of the population. It is caused by a combination of genetics, neurodevelopment, and the way the child acquires speech sounds and language.
Unfortunately, due to social stigma around stuttering, many people think the primary goal of speech therapy should be to stop stuttering. Instead, good stuttering treatment focuses on:
Understanding speech patterns to support easy, forward-moving speech.
Providing support for both the physical and mental aspects of stuttering.
Addressing how stuttering impacts confidence and participation, to ensure that the person who stutters can talk when and how they want to talk, without anxiety.
Improving overall communication skills including eye contact, listening, being present, speaking in multiple situations.
Practicing mindfulness to be able to stay present and aware during a moment of disfluency.
Teaching self-advocacy, such as educating others or requesting reasonable accommodations.
A speech-language pathologist can help you decide on the best treatment after an evaluation.
Many therapists offer online speech therapy services tailored to individual needs.
There are two types of stuttering (or "stammering," as it's known in the UK) that can be acquired as an adult.
Neurogenic stuttering results from a stroke, traumatic brain injury or other brain change.
A health history and cooperation with a neurologist are essential for treating this kind of speech disorder. A speech language pathologist may work on motor speech techniques to re-teach the adult how to speak fluently. Participation and life impact will also be important.
Psychogenic stuttering results from mental health conditions, but that does not mean it's "all in your mind"! Instead, it is a complex interaction between these mental health conditions and the speech motor system, in the same way stress can cause headaches or anxiety can affect digestion.
Stuttering therapy for this type of stuttering will vary greatly depending on the needs of the individual.
When a child stutters, parents naturally worry about how their child will cope.
While no method guarantees that a child will stop stuttering, early treatment can help prevent a small problem from becoming a big one.
If your child stutters, you can talk to the child's pediatrician - but it is also okay to go straight to a speech language pathologist who specializes in stuttering therapy for children.
(Stuttering expertise is important, because we still regularly hear stories of outdated strategies such as deep breaths, slow speaking, and electronic devices.)
Encourage your child to speak in their own voice!
Shift your focus away from speech fluency, and don't insist your child reduce stuttering
There is no evidence that speech therapy, medication, or any other intervention can cause adults to stop stuttering completely.
But speech therapy can help! Specialists in stuttering therapy for adults are trained to address the unique challenges of stuttering speech therapy.
Fluency techniques are a high-effort way to alter how you say words or slow your speech to avoid stuttering. Holistic treatment, which deals with the underlying thoughts and feelings that impact your stuttering, can also have a positive effect on fluency - and it's an effect that is easier to maintain in the long term, because it is not superficial and does not require constantly monitoring your words.
Do quick fixes for stuttering really exist?
We get asked this all the time. And if you've done any web searches on the topic, you've probably come across many commenters - and even businesses - promising easy cures.
We have a saying when we talk about these kinds of promises: "Anything new, works." Until it stops being new!
You could talk with an accent, sing your words, slow way down, use an electronic device, or talk with your mouth full, and you would probably stutter less. But once your brain adapts to these methods, chances are you will start stuttering again.
Don't underestimate the power of your stuttering community.
Many clients tell us that meeting other people who stutter was the most important part of their stuttering journey. People often feel alone with stuttering, and quickly discover that many of the things they have been living with are shared experiences.
At AIS, we provide multiple opportunities to connect - in therapy groups, at speaking workshops, and at social events throughout the year.
Joining social media groups can also be a helpful practice for individuals who stutter.
Whether you are an adult or a child, a man or a woman, a working person or a retiree, what you have to say matters. It matters much more than whether you stutter when you say it!
If you're reading this, it is because you are concerned about stuttering.
And if you take away one thing, we hope it is this: you don't have to change your stutter.
The way you talk is fine just the way it is.
That's not to say that stuttering is never hard - we wouldn't be here if we didn't know how very hard it can be. And there is plenty you can do to make stuttering easier every day.
If you're curious about some of the ideas discussed here, check out our blog for more resources:
5 Reasons to Attend a Stuttering Self-Help Event
Read this blog post if you would like to learn more about the benefits of group therapy and community building.
When a Student Stutters: Advice for Teachers
If you're a teacher looking for ways to be a great ally for a student who stutters in the classroom, this blog post contains a wealth of information and advice.
7 Tips for Parents Whose Grade-School Child is in Stuttering Therapy
Read this for ways to make a difference in your child's life once they are working with a speech-language pathologist.
"Fight or Flight" in the Stuttering Experience
Learn how the autonomic nervous system plays a part in the development of stuttering struggle, and in therapy.
