Stuttering is a speech disorder that causes the speaker to repeat the sounds of a word or syllables compulsively. They know what they want to say, but they have a problem speaking out the words clearly. It is common among young children, typically between 2 and 6 years old. The condition gets better for most children, and they outgrow developmental stuttering. However, for some others, stuttering can persist into adulthood but can improve with anti-stuttering devices or electronic speech devices.
Brain Activity in People Who Stutter
When you compare the brain scans of people who stutter with people who don’t, nothing may seem out of the ordinary at first glance. But, on closer inspection, experts say the brain’s in-depth activity and structure show subtle differences between the two groups. Brain imaging studies indicate that for people who stutter, there is more right hemisphere activity. Whereas the left hemisphere, which is responsible for speech production, shows less activity for people who stutter.
The findings also observe structural differences in the nerve fibers that link both the hemispheres of the brain. They indicate a person stutters due to slight communication delays between parts of the brain.
All in The Genetics
Stuttering tends to run in families. It can be the result of inherited abnormalities. Family histories of stuttering show that it is influenced by genetic factors. For instance, kids who struggle with stuttering often have someone in the family who stutters. Or, identical twins who share the same genetic makeup also tend to have similar stuttering patterns to fraternal twins. Some studies suggest that males are more affected by stuttering compared to females. Also, females are less likely to continue to stutter during their adulthood. Despite the evidence, there is still a long way for scientists to fully understand the genetic contributions to stuttering. In the meantime, anti-stuttering devices from SpeechEasy can help!
Anti-Stuttering Devices
Over the years, science has been progressing at breakneck speeds. Today, we have anti-stuttering devices to improve the speech fluency of those who suffer from stuttering. Also known as electronic speech devices, these devices create an echo by altering or delaying the sound of your voice, both of which help to reduce stuttering.
