Stating that stuttering is considered as a symptom, not a disease, experts point out the importance of early intervention in stuttering.
Pointing out that competent therapists working in the field of stuttering guide the individual and the child's family, especially in the early period, experts emphasize that stuttering can be managed with proper communication.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot, Head of the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, made evaluations on stuttering.
Stuttering affects with its psychological dimension
Stating that stuttering is not a disease but a symptom, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot drew attention to the relationship between stuttering and psychological dimension and said the following:
"When we look at the literature, we see that stuttering is considered as a symptom, not a disease. Although families tend to explain the emergence of stuttering behaviors with a specific traumatic event such as fear, there is no research proving that stuttering occurs as a result of a psychological trauma. If this were the case, stuttering behavior should occur in most children who experience fear and similar psychological trauma. However, this is not to say that there is no relationship between stuttering and the psychological dimension. The persistence of stuttering into later life will adversely affect the psychology of the person affected. For example, situations such as a student who is uncomfortable with stuttering does not raise his/her finger in the classroom even though he/she knows it, and avoids interacting with people by speaking, show the direction of the relationship between stuttering and the psychological dimension more clearly."
Stuttering occurs mostly at the ages of 2-5
Stating that 98% of stuttering cases are seen before the age of 10 in DSM classification, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, "In general, stuttering occurs in the early period when development is the fastest, at the ages of 2-5. It is a very rare event to occur at later ages (adolescence-adulthood periods)."
Stuttering can occur at advanced ages
Stating that stuttering behaviors that occur in later ages can be handled in two groups, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, "Three possibilities can be mentioned in the first group. The first possibility is stuttering behaviors that occur in later periods, although their origin is in the early period. In some cases, there is also the possibility that stuttering behaviors that are observed in the early period, which are no longer noticed, and which are no longer noticed through therapy or spontaneously, may reappear at a later age. Another possibility is that people who have learned to "internalize" or suppress their stuttering behavior may not be able to hide it under stress.
Dysfunctions in the brain can cause
Konrot said, "In the second group, there are cases of acquired stuttering observed in cases such as head trauma, stroke, degeneration of the central nervous system, brain tumor, brain surgery, dysfunctions in the brain due to drug effects."
Early stuttering can go away spontaneously
Pointing out the importance of early intervention in stuttering, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, "Research shows that developmental (early) stuttering can disappear spontaneously within six months to two years from the time it starts. However, if no attempt is made to manage stuttering in the early period, stuttering is likely to turn into a stubborn form and continue in later ages. The earlier the stuttering is intervened, the quicker the results. However, it should be kept in mind that this can be possible with the suggestions and guidance of speech and language therapists who are knowledgeable in the field of stuttering and have clinical experience in this field. Stuttering cases that are not managed correctly are likely to turn into chronic stuttering."
Stuttering therapy is important
Noting that it may be possible to cope with stuttering with some precautions to be taken, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot pointed out the importance of stuttering therapy and said the following:
"Since stuttering is not a disease, I think it is not very correct to talk about treatment. In my opinion, competent therapists working in the field of stuttering guide the individual and the family of the child, especially when it comes to the early period, and show them how to cope with this problem in their daily lives, in their natural environment, and how to manage this problem. Stuttering therapy is a process of generating individual-specific solutions and suggestions for both the individual and the child's family and primary caregivers. Therefore, even if the problem is the same, the effects will be different for each child and each family, so the therapy process must be unique to the individual/family."
Stuttering is not impossible to manage
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, "Stuttering is not a fate." Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot said, "Depending on how and from what angle you approach the situation, it has the possibility of being managed if it is handled in a timely and appropriate manner. Management and solution often requires a difficult process, but it is not impossible."
