Stuttering people are not stupid

Speech therapies can help control stuttering

22/10/2012

According to estimates of the Federal Association "Stutterer self-help" more than 800,000 people in Germany are affected by stuttering. In many cases, those affected are labeled by their environment as "stupid" and therefore often not taken for full. Promising therapeutic approaches can help people to reduce stuttering. The deliberate stuttering or stretching of the syllables are some treatment methods that can help those affected.

Stuttering accompanied by up and down
Anyone who suffers from stuttering is affected by a disruption of the fluency. When speaking, it often comes to interruptions of the process, which is characterized by repetitions of syllables, sounds or words. The speech disorder is often situational, which means that symptom-intensive periods alternate with low-symptom. Thus, inner restlessness, nervousness or excitement can help to intensify stuttering.

Stutterers are exposed to unpleasant misjudgements of the environment. According to the experience of the self-help association, those affected are marginalized by many people and are considered prejudiced as "stupid" or "simply structured". "There is a stigmatization of stuttering as stupid," says Martin Sommer, neuroscientist and chairman of the Federal Association stutterer self-help.

This Monday is the "World Stuttering Day" initiated by self-help associations and initiatives. According to current estimates, nearly one million people (over 800,000) suffer from voice and speech disorders. However, numerous therapies can help to get rid of stuttering.

The diagnosis of "stuttering" is made in accordance with "ICD-10 [8]" if typical symptoms include "silent or audible blockages", fast repetitions of syllables and words, prolongations of sounds and / or "repeated intervening sounds longer than two seconds" , The disorder of speech must last for more than three months.

Few resist, says the neuroscientist at the Göttingen University Hospital. They would often make life difficult for themselves. "I think many stutterers discriminate themselves. Only a few actively go for it themselves. "Some people prefer to retreat to the motto:" The simplest way to stammer is simply to shut up ". Therefore, many choose the therapeutic route only when the speech disorder threatens the life perspective. If the exam time is up and job interviews could follow, therapists will soon receive a lot of attention. "We are watching the problem in every major city". Complete cure in adulthood is often not possible. However, the handling of the speech disorder can be learned. Sommer says, "suffering from stuttering is easy to alleviate".

Learning to control the stuttering
A treatment approach is that stutterers learn to control the speech disorder. During therapy, the patient is taught to stutter consciously rather than spontaneously. This creates a kind of control over stuttering. Some research indicates that the dropouts are produced in the left frontal lobe of the anterior brain.

Another form of treatment relies on rhythmic speech. Stuttering patients should learn to pronounce the words with a special rhythm. If the words are stretched, "normal speech" arises, explains the expert Sommer, who himself is stuttered and soothed his speech disorder with this therapeutic approach.

Traumatic experiences already in school
In everyday life stutterers are confronted with traumatic experiences. While in kindergarten teasing is often not very pronounced, many consider the school very traumatic, "says Sommer. It is not uncommon for sufferers to have to hear that their personality is disturbed, or "they are simply conical types".

Typically, a speech disorder occurs in children between four and six years of age. This often does not mean that the stuttering remains. For most, "the disorder grows out again." Infants are affected by five percent.

Cause of stuttering still unclear
Science is still in the dark, how exactly the stuttering in the brain is triggered. Some research indicates that spontaneous disturbances occur in brain signal transduction. This is comparable to a motor that suddenly jerky. The medicine is still investigating the exact causes. However, scientists have already localized the genesis. The problem is produced in the lower frontal lobes. Others assume that stuttering is a consequence of organic disorders or cognitive disorders. Stuttering could also be a consequence of psychological or social problems.

Only serious therapies are effective
The internet is full of offers for relief or cure. However, the Federal Association of Stuttering Self-Help warns against the numerous "miracle healers who promise a quick cure". In principle, only long-term therapies can achieve effects that are usually also financed by the statutory health insurance funds.

In everyday situations, many stutterers know how to deal with their speech disorder. If stress or grief occur, many can no longer control their speech. A classic case is oral presentation or exam situations in the school or university. Then it can happen that the contact point in the brain collapse and expose signals or even come to a complete standstill. The result are word fragments and clear interruptions while speaking.

Do not look the other way or improve sentences
But how do friends, relatives or work colleagues deal with the stuttering of their counterparts? Should the sentence be ended for them, ignored or even interrupted? But that does not usually help those affected. Kristina Jung of the Kassel stuttering therapy says the best thing is to "let those who are talking" out. To give him the feeling that he listens to the end. "Stuttering people are usually very uncomfortable when their interlocutor looks away or improves the sentence on top of that, explains the expert.

In people who stutter, block the vocal cords. During therapy, patients learn to control the voice with a specific elocution technique, as explained by the therapeutic director of the institute in Bad Emstal Jung in northern Hesse. "Stuttering can not be cured, but you can learn to handle it".

Also computer software can help
Speech therapists have been treating speech disorders like stuttering for over 10 years. Computer programs are also used, with which the persons concerned can practice the speech techniques. For adults, an intensive home program is also offered by teletherapy. "Every two to three weeks, clients receive a therapy online at home," says Jung. This could also help people from Brazil or Kuwait. Therapy then takes place in English. After all, sufferers not only suffer from the problem in school, but also during adulthood. (Sb)