October 22nd is National Stuttering Awareness Day. LLA Therapy fluency specialist, Carrie Ravine M.A., CCC-SLP, points out the facts and myths surrounding stuttering.
FACTS
- Is a complex disorder
- Appears in all cultures
- Usually begins in early childhood at a time of rapid language development between ages 2-4-5.
- About 25% of all pre-school children stutter. Probably 5 % of these are true stutterers
- Preschool stuttering has a spontaneous recovery rate of 60-80 % without intervention.
- Is a genetic disorder in about 50% of PWS. Specific chromosomes and genes have been identified using DNA studies.
- Neurological difference: brain structure, brain function, brain chemistry.
- Risk Factors: Family History of Stuttering; Co-existing speech and language problems; Temperament Sensitivity.
- Boys and girls begin to stutter at the same rate. More girls pass through stuttering. Final ration: 4-5: 1 (males vs. females)
- 1% of the world’s population stutters.
- It is nobody’s fault that a person stutters. It just happens. Very important message. Prevent Shame and Avoidance.
- Different therapies work for different stutterers. Often it is the clinician interaction that makes the difference.
- Knowledge of stuttering comes from the person who stutters. SLPs need to listen.
MYTHS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF STUTTERING
- Too much tickling
- Not enough vitamins
- Tongue is too long and/or too short
- Speaking too rapidly
- Being interrupted by family members
- Too emotional
- Allowing an infant to look in the mirror
- Cutting the child’s hair before he/she says his/her first words
- The mother seeing a snake during pregnancy
- A boy being scared by a mouse
- A boy being bitten by a dog
- The mother dropping a baby
- The mother leaving a baby in the rain
- Sleeping face down in a pillow
- Cat allergies
- The child being locked in a closet
- The work of the devil
- The person needs more faith in God
- The child caught stuttering from the neighbor kid
- The child caught stuttering from the school janitor
- As an adult, a guy stutters to attract women
MYTHS ABOUT THE CURES OF STUTTERING
- Stop and think before you talk.
- The power of suggestion---you can do it.
- Child should not move his/her feet when talking.
- Child should be hit in the mouth with a dish towel.
- Child should have his/her tongue shortened.
- Child should hold nutmeg under his/her tongue.
- Apply ointment on the throat.
- Child must eat fruit pecked by a bird.
- Drinking out of a silver cup that has a silver spoon
- A child should let water run over his lips from a stream.
- An adult should eat a head of lettuce and drink 6 glasses of water each day.
Sources: Published Materials, www.stutteringhomepage.com , People Who Stutter
Compiled by: Judith Eckardt, NSA Tucson Facilitator, 10/18/2014
Labels: Fluency, Parents, Stuttering
