Stammering (also referred to as dysfluency or stuttering)

People who stammer experience disruption to the flow of their speech with repetition of sounds or parts of words, prolonging or stretching of some sounds, struggling or blocking (getting completely stuck on a sound). Some may also use substitutions for difficult words, avoid certain situations, and show some body or facial tension. Youngsters may experience teasing and poor self-esteem coupled with low confidence.

Recognised characteristics of stammering:

• Repetition of the initial sounds in words, or of parts of words, e.g. 'c,c,c,c, cat' or 'wa, wa, wa, wa, water'.
• Prolongation - stretching sounds in words e.g. 'buuuuuuut'.
• Blocking or struggling to say a word at all e.g. '.........but'.
• Facial or body tension e.g. eye blinking or foot stamping.
• Avoidance of certain speaking situations.

Advice from a speech and language therapist can be sought as soon as dysfluency is noticed by parents. Some nursery age children go through a developmental period when minor dysfluency occurs. A therapist who works with stuttering will be able to give advice on whether there is any need for concern. Advice should be sought about stammering behaviour which continues, or starts, after this early age.

The following may form part of therapy input for people who stutter:

• Assessment of the child's stammer and their understanding and use of spoken language through case history taking, observation, and formal assessment where appropriate.
• General advice to parents on providing the best home approach.
• Guidance on a particular technique, such as:
  • Parent-Child Interaction Approach - an indirect approach targeting stuttering through the parents' interaction with their child.
  • Lidcombe Programme - a direct approach which enables the stammerer to practise stutter-free speech called 'smooth talking' and sometimes fix 'bumps' or stammers.
• Total Communication which focuses on discussion and practice of all the features of 'good talking' e.g. facial expression, eye contact, speech rate.
• Direct speech work to control the way speech sounds are produced.
• Relaxation techniques.
• With older people the assessment is still important. Therapy may help clients to: change their perceptions (e.g. of themselves, their stammer, certain situations); encourage openness about stuttering; reduce avoidance; reduce struggle behaviour (using breathing and relaxation techniques); deal with teasing and bullying; increase social and communication skills; and problem-solve.

Some points you may wish to discuss with any therapist you contact:

• The therapist's specialist credentials in the area of stuttering. (There are different training courses which provide approaches to the problems e.g. Parent-Child Interaction Approach; the Lidcombe Programme).
• If you are already involved in a special programme, you may wish to talk to the therapist about that.
• How much experience the therapist has with stammering.
• Where the therapist sees people for assessment/therapy.
• How much the therapist charges for assessment and/or regular therapy.

Click here to search for Speech Therapists in your area with Stammering / Stuttering as a specialty.