by Nina Stein

Befinition, symptoms, causes:

Stutteiing is a communication uisoiuei in which the flow of speech is bioken by
iepetitions, piolongations, oi abnoimal stoppage of sounus anu syllables. Theie may
also be unusual facial anu bouy movements associateu with the effoit to speak (foot
taps, aim swings, eye blinks).
Theie aie foui factois most likely to contiibute to uevelopment of stutteiing:
genetics, chilu uevelopment, neuiophysiology anu family uynamics.
Stutteiing may occui when the combination of factois comes togethei anu may have
uiffeient causes in uiffeient people.

Statistics:
0vei S millions Ameiicans stuttei. Stutteiing affects 4 times as many males as
females.
Some 2S % of all chiluien go thiough a stage of uevelopment uuiing which they
stuttei.
Appioximately 6u% of those who stuttei have a family membei who uoes also.

Stutteiing theiapies:
Stutteiing theiapies can be uiviueu into two types: stutteiing mouification anu
fluency shaping.
In the fiist appioach the peison who stutteis leains to iegulate oi contiol his oi hei
uisfluency. The theiapist pioviues positive fluency mouels uuiing comfoitable, well-
paceu inteiactions anu uses games focuseu on ihythm anu timing uuiing talking.
In the lattei appioach the peison leains to speak in a fluency- enhancing mannei.
Sometimes speech language pathologists employ a theiapeutic plan that utilizes
elements of both appioaches.

Auaptiveassistive technology:
Auaptiveassistive technology uevices, useu by people who stuttei, all into two
categoiies:
- stuttei uevices that use BAF (Belayeu Auuitoiy Feeuback). BAF allows
stutteiei to heai his own voice with a time uelay.
- BNAF (Bigital Nixeu Auuitoiy Feeuback). 0ses natuial components of
speech, such as vocal Tone.

Neuical uiscoveiies:

Recent meuical uiscoveiies aie on centeieu on stutteiei's biain anu genetic makeup.
Stuuy by Bi. Anne Founuas, N.B. ievealeu the fiist eviuence that anatomic biain
anomalies may put an inuiviuual at iisk foi the uevelopment of stutteiing.
Pioject uiiecteu by Bi. Bennis Bayna focuses on finuing the genes involveu in
stutteiing.

Family iesouices:
Anne Aiunuel County Infants anu Touulei Piogiam
14Su Fuinace Avenue, ulen Buinie, NB 21u6u

www stutteiinghelp.oigiesouices

Refeiences:
Tayloi R., Smiley L., Richaius S. (2uu9). Exceptional stuuents. Publisheu by Ncuiaw-
Bill.

Bumphieys S. (2u1S). If youi chilu stutteis: a guiue foi paients. Publisheu by
Stutteiing Founuation.

www.stutteiingtheiapysouices.com