What is stuttering?
It can be defined as the interruption of the natural flow of speech or involuntary disruptions in the fluency of speech. It is a fluency disorder observed in the form of prolonging sounds while speaking, having difficulty in producing some sounds, repeating a sound or syllable.
When does stuttering occur?
Stuttering occurs in the early years of speech and language development, predominantly between the ages of 2-5. Early stuttering symptoms are observed in five out of every 100 children. 68-80% of children who show these symptoms can overcome this problem on their own. In the rest, the problem may persist until later ages and may turn into a speech disorder called persistent stuttering. However, the most important problem here is that it is not known which children will recover spontaneously. In addition, although there is evidence that stuttering behaviors may improve spontaneously within 12-24 months from the onset of stuttering, if it persists after the first six months, the possibility of recovery without support is very low.
What are the causes of stuttering?
Although the causes of stuttering are not yet clearly understood, different researchers put forward different opinions on this subject. Again, although the causes cannot be fully explained, it is thought that the individual has difficulty in coordinating the muscles that should be used during speech due to some factors. There are findings that this coordination problem may have genetic and neurological origins.
Is the cause of stuttering psychological?
It was believed to be so for a while. Today, it is thought that the problem is not of psychological origin, but that it is natural for stuttering to affect the psychology of the person as he/she gradually develops different attitudes towards speech.
What is the prevalence rate of stuttering?
Research shows that the incidence rate of stuttering at some point in life (incidence) is 5% and the prevalence rate in the general population (prevalence) is 1%. In this case, it is possible to say that one percent of our children and young people of educational age are affected by this problem.
Will stuttering go away?
It is not possible to easily say "YES" or "NO" to this question. However, stuttering can be taken under control with one's own will, effort and the help of a Speech and Language Therapist. Although it is possible for early stuttering to go away spontaneously, it should not be forgotten that the risk of this condition turning into chronic (stubborn) stuttering is also quite high.
In addition to the therapist guiding the individual in the management of stuttering cases observed in all age groups, the support of the individual's family-school-social environment is also necessary and important.
What is stuttering therapy?
The management of stuttering is a very complex process and varies according to age groups. It is necessary to determine a specific therapy plan for each stuttering individual. There are great differences between the path and methods used in preschool children and the path and methods to be followed in later ages. Therefore, each age group should be evaluated according to its own characteristics and the problem should be managed accordingly.
When should therapy begin?
The answer to this question may vary depending on the situation. A speech therapist who is knowledgeable and experienced in stuttering will recommend appropriate options after evaluating the problem in detail. In the case of early stuttering, it would be more beneficial to consult and act accordingly with a speech-language pathologist who is sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced in this field in order to prevent it from turning into chronic (stubborn) stuttering.
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