Fluency Therapies

Stuttering or stammering is a fluency disorder where there are repetitions, blocks or  prolongations during speech. In this article, we will go through how stuttering was perceived and treated during different eras and periods. 

Fluency disorder can be defined as “an interruption in the flow of speaking characterized by atypical rate, rhythm and disfluencies (eg. Repetitions of sounds, syllables, words and phrases; sound prolongations and blocks), which may also be accompanied by excessive tension, speaking avoidance, struggle behaviours and secondary mannerisms” (ASHA, 1993).

Stuttering, a communication disorder characterized by disruptions in the normal flow of speech, affects millions of individuals worldwide. While there is no shortage of speech therapy options aiming to address and alleviate stuttering, a growing body of research emphasizes the importance of acceptance in the therapeutic process.

It has been observed that most people with stuttering seem to be anxious about their speech. They generally try to avoid speaking or speaking situations as such. This anxiety is mostly due to the fear of stuttering in front of someone and the fear of being judged by that person. The more the listener is a stranger the more the speaker gets anxious.

One of the most damaging things a child with a speech impediment can hear at an early age is that they need to “fix” their speech. Many children who stutter internalize this message and believe they are “broken” in some fundamental way.

Some people who stutter are so good at masking their struggle with fluid speech that you would never know they stuttered.

The real problem with stuttering is actually non-stutterers. Let’s put the blame where it’s due.

As most of us know by now or at least have heard something about it, USA President Joe Biden stutters. He has struggled with stuttering his whole life.

Stuttering, refers to speech characterized by an abnormally high frequency of stoppages. Such stoppages in the flow of speech — or disfluencies—may come in the form of involuntary repetitions of sounds, syllables (beats), words, sound elongations, blocks or pauses. How is it caused? Why does it happen?

Avoidance and struggle are both typical experiences for people who stutter. Leaning in and embracing stuttering can often have surprising and far-reaching effects on their lives.