Stuttering is a common phenomenon

Stuttering is a widespread phenomenon: even celebrities are affected.
Today is „World Day of stuttering“. Since 1998, October 22 is used annually to inform about language disorders, to reduce prejudices and to make those affected aware of existing treatment options.

800,000 Germans affected
Stuttering is a relatively common phenomenon that affects over 800,000 people in Germany. Also numerous celebrities suffered from a corresponding language disorder. Bruce Willis, Hamit Altintop, or Rowan Atkinson, aka Mr. Bean, are just some of the names on the seemingly endless list of prominent stutterers. The causes of the language disorders do not prevail in the professional world until today. Many experts believe that dysfunction in left-brain and right-brain cooperation, which is thought to be genetic, causes stuttering.

Others, however, believe that stuttering is a consequence of organic disorders or cognitive disorders. In addition, stuttering can also occur as a result of mental and social problems.

Stuttering therapy can help
While in the search for the causes so far no breakthrough successes have been achieved, according to the Federal Association stutterer self-help, however, recorded in the field of therapy, some successes. So can „a serious stuttering therapy (...) in children and adults to achieve sustainable success, "said Dr. Matthias Kremer, Chairman of the Federal Association Stuttering Self-help eV (BVSS) Many stutterers, however, are afraid of incorrect speech and reaction before fellow human beings, what the severity but worsen the disease. „In order to protect himself from oblique eyes, someone at the bakery prefers four instead of the two required bread rolls because he can better pronounce 'four', "Dr. Kremer explained the frequent behavior of those affected, while others avoid speaking in public so well inevitably goes further and further into social offside, added the expert.Therefore, this year's World Day is also under the motto "stuttering talks! You move a lot! "

Uncertainty among the listeners
But not only among those affected but also on the part of the audience there is often uncertainty in dealing with the disease. Thus, listeners are often irritated by the convulsive repetition of phrases, words or parts of words or the rapid repetition of sounds. In this case apply „in conversation with a stuttering (...) the same rules, as for any good conversation, "said Dr. Kremer.As the three most important points the expert states:" Keep uninhibited eye contact, give time to pronounce and finish each of his sentences themselves let bring. Even who stutters knows exactly what he wants to say - he just can not pronounce it fluently. "The often well intentioned by the listener completing words and sentences is counterproductive and act on the stutterer like a tutelage, Dr. Kremer stressed the sufferers feel they are not being respected, which may even aggravate the stuttering symptoms, and the listener should refrain from suggesting that the stutterers are faking shyness, a mental disorder, or a lack of intelligence.

Children and adolescents often affected
Stuttering occurs in all cultures and social classes, with young people being affected far more frequently than adults. While one to four percent of adults suffer from speech disorders, four to five percent are in children and adolescents. Boys are affected about four times more often than girls. Since the existing therapies in children are particularly promising, they should urgently visit a speech therapist. About 80 percent of the stuttering children with professional help the speech disorder up to the age of ten again from. (fp, 22.10.2010)