Approximately 2.5% of children under the age of five have a speech stuttering problem at some point. While the propensity to have speech problems seems to run down family lines, scientists have yet to identify the gene associated with the disorder. It’s also been discovered that boys are much more likely to stutter than girls, for reasons unbeknownst to researchers. Evidence of stuttering is marked by difficulty in starting a sentence and the repetition of certain syllables or words. These speech malfunctions are often accompanied by rapid eye blinking, jaw or lip tremors and muscular tension in the face.
Scientists aren’t sure what exactly causes stuttering, but researchers hypothesize that there are a number of regions in the brain that play a part in stammering stuttering; namely the cortex, the cerebrum and the cortical pathways. In the past, doctors thought that blocking a chemical called “dopamine” in the brain would reduce the incidence of stuttering, but now they’re finding that increasing the level of GABA chemical can work in much the same way. Speech problems tend to run in the family, indicating that there is an unknown genetic factor at work. With developmental stuttering, children may find it difficult to synch their thoughts with their language abilities, and in adult cases of strokes or brain injuries, neurogenic stuttering occurs because there are lesions or structural abnormalities in the motor-speech region of the brain.
The danger of leaving speech stuttering problems unattended is that the stigma of being “a stutterer” stays with a person. Young kids especially have trouble making friends, developing normal self-esteem and speaking in public. To help people overcome emotional baggage caused by stammering stuttering, the National Stuttering Association has created over 100 stuttering programs nationwide. “I started stuttering when I was 8 years old,” said Sarah Bell, founder of the Longview Support Group. “I didn’t know anybody else like me that stuttered and felt really alone.” She said that participants can improve their communication skills and self-confidence through activities and games, which is a type of therapy in itself.
Researchers are still looking for a cure for speech stuttering, although many medication trials are currently underway, including a promising one called pagaclone. Most children will simply outgrow their problem without drugs or speech therapy. It’s important for parents to be patient with their kids and not cut them off when speaking, and to praise them when they speak fluently. Speaking slowly and deliberately will help kids find a natural rate of speech over time, which is a lot of what a speech therapist works on. A few types of electronic devices are also available to help people who stutter, including a device which encourages kids to speak slower or else their voices will sound distorted through the machine. There is also a device that mimics the child’s speech to sound like he or she is speaking along with someone else. It’s best to speak with your child’s doctor to find the best solution.
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