Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects 5-10% of all children. Most children will outgrow their stuttering, but up to 25% will continue to stutter throughout adulthood. Stuttering can be present as uneven speech rate, halts in speech or repeated words and sounds. If these signs are showing early, intervention can help resolve these problems. As stuttering persists into adulthood more problems can arise. Not all stuttering develops at a young age. There are multiple components that can lead to stuttering, and there are three different types.
Developmental Stuttering
This stuttering is very common in children under five, about 5% of children will experience developmental stuttering. Only 1% will have it persist through adulthood, so it is common that this form of stuttering will resolve on its own. This type of stuttering occurs as children are developing their language abilities. All children develop at different rates, and some children’s verbal demands may not match their language abilities.
Neurogenic Stuttering
This type of stuttering can appear in adults after an injury to the brain or spine which affects the central nervous system. This can happen to individuals at any age, and who have never had a speech disorder prior. The definition is: an abnormality in the signaling between the brain and nerves of muscles which control speech. The individuals affected may not even realize they are stuttering, while others are aware and can become anxious. It is important to visit a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) to get the right diagnosis. Every treatment for neurogenic stuttering is different because many conditions can cause this type of stuttering. Therapy sessions with a SLP will work along with physicians to educate the patient on their speech as well as techniques similar to treating developmental stuttering.
Psychogenic Stuttering
Psychogenic stuttering is very rare, and it occurs in adults who have undergone an emotional trauma or can result from anxiety or depression. This type of stuttering usually comes on abruptly, so it is important to visit a physician to find the cause. The origin of the speech disorder must be determined by a SLP. It is possible for a person to be living with something such as depression, but not necessarily have a speech disorder because of that depression. The SLP will listen to the patient’s conversation and medical history to determine why the speech disorder is occurring. If it is classified as psychogenic stuttering, personalized treatment will be administered to target the rate of speech and the muscles which create speech.
How Can SpeechEasy Help?
All types of stuttering can become present from multiple reasons. Genetics and outside factors can all play a role in developing a stutter. Each kind of stuttering can be diagnosed by an SLP, and the right therapy can be administered to find a resolution. Speech therapy can not only help to resolve the speech disorder, but also improve the person’s self-esteem. Along with therapy, a anti-stuttering device from Speech Easy can help. To learn more about Speech Easy anti-stuttering devices, visit us online or call to schedule an appointment today.