How to Stop Stuttering

Stuttering is a speech problem marked by patterns of interruptions or interjections. Stuttering can develop in early childhood or later on in life and can be caused by a number of reasons. Some believe that stuttering is a result of a problem with brain function that affects speech patterns. Another theory states that some types of stuttering may develop as a result of emotional or psychological stress. Whatever the cause may be, stuttering needs to be treated, as it can affect a person’s social interactions as well as his confidence and self-esteem.

There have been different ways to stop stuttering down the ages. According to folklore, keeping pebbles in your mouth can help stop stuttering. Thankfully, this type of treatment is no longer prescribed to solve the problem of stuttering. Recently, doctors are trying out various drugs to address the problem of stuttering related to trauma or injury to the brain. In between these two schools of thought are several other ways to stop stuttering. When it comes to treating stuttering in children especially young children, a proper diagnosis is imperative. If the parents notice the warning signs of stuttering in their child, he should be evaluated by a speech pathologist at the earliest. The earlier the diagnosis and intervention, the better the chances of preventing the problem from escalating. Treatment for stuttering usually includes a process known as indirect intervention. In this method, family and friends of the child are encouraged to slow down their speech to allow the child to ‘catch up’ and take part in normal conversation. 

As children age they can be taught specific strategies on how to deal with stuttering. Problem words and sentences can be addressed at speech therapy sessions and various coping techniques can be learnt. Some of these methods include starting a word slowly and slowing down the overall rate of speech to help prevent interruptions and repetitions from occurring.

In addition to speech therapy, counseling may be needed to address problems such as bullying, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence. If the fear of stuttering persists, the problem often gets aggravated and a vicious cycle follows where stuttering causes fear that causes more stuttering. Therapy to treat stuttering in older children and adults usually involves Stuttering Modification techniques where the person learns to stutter more fluently. The ultimate aim of this sort of treatment is to teach the patient to stutter with control. Fluency shaping is another technique that approaches the problem on a larger scale. It teaches the patient to slow down his speech and manage all his words and sentences not just the problematic ones.

Besides these treatment methods, some popular tips on how to stop stuttering are:

• Let your mind relax as stress and anxiety only aggravates the condition. Deep breathing techniques and meditation may help in such cases.

• Imagine that you are talking to your closest friend. Often nervousness and talking to strangers can lead to stuttering. Imagining that you are surrounded with your best friends may help ease the situation and build up confidence.

• Talk softly as this helps loosen your muscles of your lips and tongue and prevents any struggles with speech.

• Visualize thoughts and words that cause problems. Visualization is regarded as an important tool in communication and is often used by therapists to deal with speech problems

Irrespective of the type of treatment, solving the problem of stuttering takes time and patience. The person has to learn to recognize potential problem areas and master various coping mechanisms to deal with the condition. In most cases, no one form of treatment will work. Rather, depending on the severity of the symptoms, the patient’s age and awareness levels and his specific needs, an individual treatment program should be designed and carried out for the best results.

References:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~cspiller/stutteringpage/therapy.htm