What are Stammering and Stuttering, their Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment?

Stammering and Stuttering, also known as Childhood-onset fluency disorder are one of the most common speech disorders, that affects at least 1 % population of the World. According to World Health Organization, at least 70 million people in the world are stammerers. Even the most famous and popular personalities of the world are also stammerers like the president of America Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and famous Indian actor Hrithik Roshan. Stuttering is basically not your weakness but it is your strength because it motivated you to do something for yourself and others.

Stuttering is a Speech disorder in which an individual has a problem with the normal fluency of Speech. Dysfluency involves interruption in the normal flow of Speech. An Individual with stuttering may repeat certain words and syllables and have difficulty pronouncing certain words. They may also prolong some Words and have a block in between the speech. In most cases, people with social Anxiety Disorder may also have Stammering. People with Stammering Also feel so much Anxiety before Speaking.

Approximately 5 to 10% Children and 1% of Adult in the world is affected by this disease.

This disorder is most common in children between the age of 2 and 6 and it may go throughout life. But do not worry, There are many Effective Treatments for Stammering. You can overcome your Stammering by Developing Certain Skills and using some Techniques and the last thing is Practice to make man Perfect. There are many techniques that you can practice daily to overcome your Stammering Which We will discuss later.

Symptoms:

The people who Stutter may show Certain overt and Covert Symptoms. Overt symptoms may be obvious to Others While covert symptoms can not be seen by Others. Overt Symptoms Includes; Repetition and Prolongation of Words, Blockage of World in sentences. On the other hand; Covert symptoms include; Anxiety, Hesitation, and Overthinking. Some Other Symptoms of Stammering May Includes:

Repetition of syllables and Words
Prolongation of Words and Sounds
Blocking in between the Sentences.
Having Difficulty to Start a Sentence.
Anxiety and Hesitation Before Speaking
Blocks When Speaking
Fear that you will stutter
Omitting words
Substituting words
Circumlocution

Symptoms tend to become more pronounced in social settings or when

a person is under stress.

There are also a few other Symptoms of Stammering like when a person Stammer get Sweaty and their Heartbeat Increase and Take Breath frequently. When Stammered Try to communicate, they might display blink, rapid eye movement tremors, and facial expressions. When a person Stutter, they feel embarrassed, Low self Esteem, and are Anxiety. They may also feel bad about themselves and their Stuttering. When a person Stutter, they also Lose their Self Confidence.

Causes:

The exact cause of stammering is not Clear, but it may have genetic linked. It has been seen in many studies that the risk of stuttering is high in first-degree relatives. But individual's social, personal and Psychological, and Emotional factors also lead to stammering. Some of the main causes of stammering include;

Neurodevelopmental
Brain Injuries
Emotional Destresses
Social Anxiety
Bad Parenting and Childhood

People with Social Anxiety Disorder may Also Stutter when they are in an Intense Social situation. There is a very close relationship between Stammering and Social Anxiety Disorder. Stammerer also Feels anxiety in a social situation. But we will not diagnose them with Social Anxiety Disorder.

Diagnosis:

There is no test of Stammering. So speech Therapists and Other Mental health professionals who can evaluate Speech disorders investigate these Conditions through Behavior Observation. Psychologists Diagnosis this Disorder according to the Diagnostic Criteria of DSM-5. Stammering may also Occur due to Social Disorder and It may be an effect of medication Use. In order to diagnose Stammering Speech therapists and Psychology may Ask Certain questions;

An Individual's age.
How long have they been stammering?
When they first begin Stammering.
How Stammering affect an Individual, Personal, social, academic, and Occupational life.
When they stammer more.

When psychologists diagnose a person with Stuttering. Then they may recommend Treatment according to individual needs.

Types:

There are two primitive types of Stammering. These two types are Developmental and neurogenic. So let discuss types of Stammering.

Developmental Stammering:

This type of Stammering may start from Childhood and go throughout the lifespan. This is the most common type of Stammering.

Neurogenic Stammering:

This type of stammering may occur due to neurological conditions and Brain Injuries and due to stroke.

Psychogenic Stammering:

A person may also develop stammering if he passed from Intense emotional Trauma. But this type is very Rare.

Treatment:

There is no proper treatment for Stammering and also no medicine for this. You cannot stop Stammering completely but you can overcome it. Speech-language Pathologists, Psychologists, and Other related professionals can help them to overcome their Stammering. These professionals focus on helping the client by developing Effective communication in them. They also help the client to overcome their Anxiety and Hesitation. Some other treatments for stammering are;

Cognitive Behavior Therapy:

This is a form of therapy in which psychologists help a client to understand their negative thinking pattern and Behavior. Once the client understands their negative pattern of thinking and behavior. Then the next step is to reframe the negative thinking with positive ones. In this Therapy, Psychologists also helps clients to learn new behavior and habits that may be helpful in the treatment of Stuttering.

Electronic Devices:

There are also many wearable Electronic Devices that can help you to overcome Stammering. But we need a lot of research on it. Individuals use some of the devices to speak slowly and Clearly. Some may also use background music and help in the fluency of Speech. There are also many apps on the play store that can help you to overcome your stammering.

Speech Therapy:

Speech therapists help people to speak clearly and fluently. They also help them to feel less anxious about Speaking situations. Speech therapists Teach Different techniques that can be Very Helpful for Stammering. And They also develop new habits and behavior in their clients.

However, Some Medicine may also be effective for Stammering. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Overcome our Anxiety of Stammering. But Don't takes it Without Professional Prescription.

Coping:

If you and Your Children are Suffering from Stuttering. These Tips Can Help you to overcome your Stammering.

Accept your Stammering:

Do not hide your stammering from Others and accept your Stammering Because doing this can boost your confidence. you may likely speak clearly. So, accept yourself as you are.

Speak Slowly:

Sometimes you stammer because you speak so fastly. Speaking Slowly can help you to speak fluently and Clearly. Speak as much as you can and don't skip the words. enunciate each Word more Clearly.

Breathing Exercises:

Always take a deep Breath before and After Speaking Because this can overcome your Anxiety.

Participate in Social Meeting And Public Speaking:

Stuttering is not a Medical Disorder. It is Just your Fear. Public Speaking Can help you to overcome your fear of speaking in public.