Stuttering Is A Speech Disorder

Stuttering is a speech disorder that involves significant problems with the normal fluency of speech. Fluency is a component of speech production that “refers to the smoothness, rate, and effort of speech” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, p. 1). Stuttering is an interruption in the flow of speaking in which “sounds, syllables, or words are repeated or prolonged, disrupting the rate and rhythm of speech” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 1). These speech disfluencies may be accompanied by physical tension (rapid eye blinks or tremors of the lips), negative reactions, secondary behaviors, and avoidance of sounds, words, or speaking situations. Stuttering can make it difficult to communicate …show more content…
1). Speech production disorders are relatively common. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (2014), roughly three million Americans stutter (p. 1). Stuttering affects individuals of all ages. However, it occurs “most often in children between the ages of two through five as they are developing their language skills” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 1). Approximately “five percent of all children will stutter for some period in their life, lasting from a few weeks to several years” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 1). It is more common for boys to stutter than girls. However, as they get older, “the number of boys who continue to stutter is three to four times larger than the number of girls” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 1). Although the exact causes of stuttering are unknown, a combination of factors may be involved. Some evidence indicates that “abnormalities in speech motor control, such as timing, sensory and motor coordination intensify stuttering” (Pruthi, 2014, p. 1). In addition, stuttering tends to run in families. It appears that “stuttering can result from inherited (genetic) abnormalities in the …show more content…
How parents react to their child’s speech disfluencies can be extremely significant for their relationship. Parents may become frustrated when they are talking with their child who has a fluency disorder, and they may use negative reinforcement. However, it is important that parents remain positive and do not instill negative reinforcement. Instead, parents may constructively change the way they communicate with their child who stutters. Parents can provide a relaxing home environment that allows various opportunities for the child to communicate. This includes setting aside time to talk to one another. Also, parents should react to the stuttering as they would any other difficulty the child may experience throughout his or her life. This may involve “gentle corrections of the child’s stuttering and praise for the child’s fluent speech” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 2). Lastly, parents should speak in a more relaxed and slowed manner. This can “help reduce time pressures the child may be experiencing” (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2014, p. 2). In many cases, children who stutter are more comfortable in their own home if their parents enforce encouraging and positive comments. If an individual with a fluency disorder is comfortable in their own home, it may help them to become more comfortable in other