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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail
Message-ID: <support/stuttering_1082200966@rtfm.mit.edu>
Supersedes: <support/stuttering_1079601013@rtfm.mit.edu>
Expires: 31 May 2004 11:22:46 GMT
X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/05
From: Thomas David Kehoe <kehoe@casafuturatech.com>
Organization: none
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.support.stuttering,alt.answers,news.answers
Subject: Stuttering FAQ v.3.22
Followup-To: alt.support.stuttering
Summary: This document provides general information about stuttering,
and points to resources available for stutterers.
Keywords: stuttering
Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU
Date: 17 Apr 2004 11:28:20 GMT
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Archive-name: support/stuttering
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 2002/5/5
Version: 3.22
URL: http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/faq.html
Stuttering Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)
The author of the Stuttering FAQ, Thomas David Kehoe, is author of the book
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html Stuttering: Science,
Therapy & Practice (ISBN 0-9657181-0-7), which provides more information on
all topics in this FAQ.
The latest version of the Stuttering FAQ is available at
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/faq.html
This document is posted monthly on alt.support.stuttering, alt.answers,
news.answers.
A German translation of this FAQ is available at:
http://www.hsp.de/bvss/faq_g.html
Stuttering FAQ (c) 2002 Thomas David Kehoe kehoe@casafuturatech.com
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without written permission of the copyright owner, except where permitted by
law.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STUTTERING SCIENCE
Does stuttering have a physical or psychological cause?
What percentage of adults stutter? How common is stuttering in children?
Do more men than women stutter?
Is there a genetic basis for stuttering? Does stuttering run in families?
Do stutterers have neurological abnormalities? What have brain scan studies
found?
Do stutterers' beliefs and attitudes affect their speech? Should stutterers
change how they think about themselves?
How does stress affect stuttering? Does distraction work?
Why can stutterers talk fluently in some situations? What are these
situations?
Are there other disorders similar to stuttering?
CHILDHOOD STUTTERING
"My child is having trouble talking. Is he stuttering, or is it just normal
childhood disfluencies?"
Should parents take a child to a speech pathologist right away, or wait and
see if the child outgrows stuttering?
Where can parents find a qualified speech pathologist?
What kind of stuttering therapy is done with pre-schoolers? Can parents get
involved?
What's the most effective treatment for school-age stuttering?
"My teenager has had stuttering therapy since kindergarten. He's fluent in
the speech pathologist's office, but stutters elsewhere. He's not making
progress and wants to discontinue therapy. He's withdrawing from his peers.
What can we do?"
ADULT STUTTERING
What are the traditional therapies for adult stuttering?
How effective are traditional stuttering therapies?
Are there drugs for stuttering?
Are there computers or other electronic devices to help stutterers?
Are there new stuttering therapies?
Do insurance companies or other third-parties pay for stuttering therapy?
RESOURCES FOR STUTTERING
Are there any celebrities who stutter? How did they overcome stuttering?
How does stuttering affect employment? Should stutterers talk about their
speech in job interviews?
What should listeners do when talking with a stutterer?
Are there support groups for stutterers?
Where can I find a stuttering penpal?
Are there websites about stuttering?
Are there chat rooms or e-mail discussion groups about stuttering?
Are there books and magazines about stuttering?
STUTTERING SCIENCE
------------------------------
Subject: Does stuttering have a physical or psychological cause?
There's nothing wrong with stutterers' tongues or vocal folds or breathing.
Stutterers are not more nervous, do not have worse self-esteem, and are not
"schizo," as some movies have portrayed stutterers.
Stuttering is a developmental disorder. Some experts believe that
stuttering develops from the normal mistakes all children make when learning
to talk ("normal disfluencies"). While most children can pick themselves up
after a stumble, some children get into a vicious cycle of trying harder to
talk, tensing their speech-production muscles too much, and getting more
stuck.
Other experts have found that severe stuttering can develop almost overnight
in young children. They believe that stuttering may not develop gradually
from normal disfluencies. Genes have been found associated with stuttering,
so these experts believe that a genetic defect causes something in the
child's brain to trigger stuttering.
Although the origin of stuttering is not clear, everyone agrees that
childhood stuttering can develop into a severe physical and psychological
disability. Adults who stutter can have physical symptoms, including:
- Breathing abnormalities during stuttering, especially upper chest tension.
- Laryngeal blocks, which cut off airflow during stuttering.
- Articulation problems, including tension in the lips, jaw and tongue, and
prolonged or repeated sounds.
- Secondary or "escape" behaviors, such as head jerks, eye blinking, or
facial grimaces.
- Neurological abnormalities visible via brain scans.
Adult stuttering psychological symptoms can include:
- Avoidance of feared sounds, words, and speaking situations. For example,
the stutterer may avoid making telephone calls.
- Substitution of another word.
- "Anti-expectancy" speech behaviors to prevent stuttering such as speaking
in a monotone, or affecting an accent.
Some stutterers are so good at avoidance that their co-workers and even
their spouse or family doesn't know that the individual stutters. Even
though their speech sounds fine, these "covert" stutterers can be crippled
by severe psychological fear and anxiety.
For more information see the following chapters in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Definition of Stuttering
Symptoms of Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: How common is stuttering in children? What percentage of adults
stutter? Do more men than women stutter?
Between 5% and 15% of children stutter at some point in childhood. As
children get older, the prevalence drops to about 1% in junior high school
and high school, and to about 0.1% for adults.
Of two- and three-year-olds, equal numbers of boys and girls stutter. The
sex ratio becomes 3:1 by the first grade and 5:1 by the fifth grade, the
same ratio as adults. 80% of adult stutterers are men.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Incidence and Prevalence of Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Is there a genetic basis for stuttering? Does stuttering run in
families?
The three genes that control levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine have
been found to correlate with stuttering. These genes also correlate with
Tourette's Syndrome, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and
obsessive-compulsive disorder. These disorders appear to be caused by
abnormally high levels of dopamine, in different parts of the brain.
Research has not been done to determine whether all stutterers have these
genes, or whether only some stutterers have these genes.
If you stutter, you are about three times more likely to have a close
relative who stutters. Stuttering runs in some families. However, studies
of the families of stutterers have failed to find simple Mendelian types of
inheritance, such as sex-linked, autosomal dominant, or recessive.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Genetics of Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Do stutterers have neurological abnormalities? What have brain
scan studies found?
Brain scan studies have found no differences in stutterer's brains when they
are not talking, and when they are talking fluently. But during stuttering,
changes are seen in stutterers' brain activity. Left-brain areas (where
speech and language are produced) that should be active during speech become
inactive, while right-brain areas that should be inactive during speech
become active.
Brain scans have found abnormally low activity during stuttering in the
central auditory processing area, and in the area that integrates auditory
and somatic (body) sensation. Stuttering seems to be related to an
inability to integrate what the stutterer hears with the muscle movements he
feels.
Stuttering appears to be caused by excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter
dopamine in the left caudate nucleus. This is the area that translates
speech into muscle movements.
We have no conscious awareness of central auditory processing and the left
caudate nucleus. This explains why stuttering therapies that rely on
consciously controlling your speech (and speech therapists that tell you to
"try harder") are at best only temporarily effective. New stuttering
therapies use drugs and computers to alter the brain areas that can't be
consciously controlled.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Science/neurology.html
Neurology of Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Do stutterers' beliefs and attitudes affect their speech? Should
stutterers change how they think about themselves?
A series of studies found that stutterers can predict with 98% accuracy the
words they will stutter on in a written passage. Stutterers can accurately
anticipate their stuttering.
However, placebo studies found that stutterers' speech is not changed when
they are given a pill and told that the pill will improve their speech. The
belief that you will or will not stutter has no effect on your speech.
Some stutterers say that they stopped stuttering, temporarily or even
permanently, when they adopted a new attitude about their speech. However,
no study has ever proven these anecdotal reports.
Stutterers should improve their awareness of their stuttering, be open about
their stuttering, and try to talk more instead of avoiding speaking
situations. These are all a part of overcoming stuttering. But few
stutterers will experience improved speech solely from this -- they should
also work on their physical speech production skills.
For more information see the following chapters in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Belief -- Anticipation, Distraction, Stress, and Placebos
Psychological Self-Therapy
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: How does stress affect stuttering? Does distraction work?
Some types of stress increase stuttering. Some types of stress decrease
stuttering. Other types of stress have no effect on stuttering.
Physiological stress, such as elevated heart rate, has no effect on
stuttering. No study has found that sleep deprivation, the flu, etc.,
increases stuttering.
Emotional stress often reduces stuttering. Many stutterers report being "so
scared" that they "couldn't stutter." There is a neurochemical explanation,
based on the interaction of adrenaline and dopamine.
Time pressure, cognitive stress (e.g., trying to talk to someone who is
watching television), and speech-related fear and anxiety (such as fear of
public speaking) increase stuttering.
Several studies have found that distractions do not reduce stuttering.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Belief -- Anticipation, Distraction, Stress, and Placebos
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Why can stutterers talk fluently in some situations? What are
these situations?
Stuttering usually occurs on the initial sound or syllable of a word, in the
first word of a sentence, on accented syllables, and on "content" words.
"Content" words carry the meaning of a sentence, which is why when listeners
guess what a stutterer is trying to say, they often guess wrong.
Stuttering increases when saying one's name, speaking on the telephone,
speaking to an authority figure, or speaking to an audience.
Stuttering decreases when saying a phrase repeatedly, speaking in chorus
with another person, when speaking alone or to animals, when singing, using
a lower pitch, using a different accent, using electronic anti-stuttering
devices, and when crawling on all fours!
Some stutterers can read fluently, while others can't. Some stutterers are
fluent when they try to stutter, others stutter more.
Stutterers report having "good days" and "bad days", possibly due to
changing dopamine levels in their brains due to diet and other factors.
Some of these effects are psychologically-conditioned, such as speaking to
authority figures. Other effects are physiological, such as lowering vocal
pitch, or speaking in chorus with another person.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Conditions That Increase or Decrease Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there other disorders similar to stuttering?
CLUTTERING
Cluttering is defined as "...a disturbance of fluency involving an
abnormally rapid rate and erratic rhythm of speech that impedes
intelligibility. Faulty phrasing patterns are usually present so that there
are bursts of speech consisting of groups of words that are not related to
the grammatical structure of the sentence. The affected person is usually
unaware of any communication impairment."
Cluttering usually includes effortless repetitions, usually single
syllables, short words, and phrases (stutterers only repeat initial sounds).
Cluttering may also be characterized by poor concentration and short
attention span; perceptual weakness; and poorly organized thinking, or
speaking before clarifying thoughts.
Clutterer: "I want to go to the st...uh...place where you buy...market
st-st-store and I don't have muh-muh ti-ti-time money."
Stutterer: "I want to go to the sssssssssstore and I don't have muh-muh-
muh-muh-money."
NEUROGENIC STUTTERING
Strokes and head injuries can cause stuttering-like symptoms in adults.
Neurogenic stuttering has repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.
Neurogenic stutterers lack the facial grimaces, eye blinking, and fears and
anxieties of developmental stuttering.
PSYCHOGENIC STUTTERING
Adult psychogenic stuttering begins suddenly after an event causing extreme
psychological stress. It's characterized by repetition of initial or
stressed syllables, lack of conditions inducing fluency, an indifferent
attitude toward the disorder, and maintenance of normal eye contact.
Psychogenic stuttering is rare.
SPASTIC DYSPHONIA
Spastic dysphonia is a repeated blockage of the larynx only. The onset is
in middle age, and the disorder affects an equal number of men and women.
TOURETTE'S SYNDROME
Tourette's is like stuttering with your hands and feet. Touretters
compulsively touch objects, and some have verbal symptoms such as barking or
saying obscenities. Like stuttering, these behaviors are situational, but
trying to not do the behaviors makes the behavior stronger.
SOCIAL PHOBIA
People with social phobia experience anxiety and panic when going to
parties, meeting strangers, or even in minor social situations such as
talking to a store clerk.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Other Fluency Disorders
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
CHILDHOOD STUTTERING
------------------------------
Subject: "My child is having trouble talking. Is he stuttering, or is it
normal childhood disfluencies? "
Danger signs include struggling to get words out, with an increase in vocal
pitch, blocked airflow, or tongue protrusion. The child may show
frustration at being unable to talk, and secondary behaviors such as eye
blinking, nodding, or facial grimacing. Fear of talking or avoiding certain
words or sounds is a danger sign.
Other danger signs include multiple repetitions, or part word repetitions.
For example, "That my-my ball" is a normal disfluency. But
"The-the-the-that's my ball," is stuttering. Note the part-word repetition,
the multiple repetitions, and the substitution of the "schwa" or neutral
vowel in "the", instead of using the vowel in "that."
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Childhood Stuttering Diagnosis and Treatment (2-6 years old)
Or order "Stuttering and Your Child: A Videotape for Parents" from the
<href="http://www.stuttersfa.org">Stuttering Foundation of America</a>.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Should parents take a child to a speech pathologist right away, or
wait and see if the child outgrows stuttering?
If a child has stuttering symptoms, he or she should see a speech
pathologist right away. Many parents report that their pre-school children
outgrew stuttering without therapy, but some researchers now believe that
these children had normal childhood disfluencies, not stuttering. They
suspect that few, if any, children outgrow stuttering without therapy.
After the age of 4, the likelihood of outgrowing stuttering drops
significantly. Children's stuttering becomes worse the longer they wait
before treatment. Early intervention can head off a lifelong disability.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Childhood Stuttering Diagnosis and Treatment (2-6 years old)
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Where can parents find a qualified speech pathologist?
Start by calling your school district. Federal law requires that school
speech pathologists treat children beginning at 3 years old. Treatment by
your school district should be free. However, most speech pathologists are
not trained to treat stuttering. Ask how much training and experience the
speech pathologist has.
Other possibilities include finding a university that has a speech clinic,
or looking in the Yellow Pages under Speech-Language Pathologists, or
contacting the Stuttering Foundation of America at (800) 992-9392 or
http://www.stuttersfa.org/.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Childhood Stuttering Diagnosis and Treatment (2-6 years old)
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: How is childhood stuttering treated?
There are two types of stuttering therapy for pre-school children: changing
the parents' behavior, or changing the child's speech.
Indirect therapy changes the parents' behavior. Parents may be instructed
not to talk too fast or use advanced vocabulary; be a good listener, such as
not interrupting your child, or putting down what you're doing when the
child wants to talk; reducing stress on the child, such as sticking to a
predictable daily routine; and/or refrain from criticizing the child's
speech, or correcting, helping, or reacting negatively to the child's
speech.
But research shows that changing parents' behavior has little effect on
children's stuttering. It can't hurt, but don't rely on this exclusively.
Instead, speech pathologists increasingly advocate direct therapy.
Direct therapy begins by teaching the child to speak fluently. These skills
include "easy speech" (also called "turtle talk") and stretching vowels.
Therapy progresses from sounds to words and sentences, from a slow speaking
rate to a normal speaking rate, and from the low-stress speech clinic to
real-life conversations. If a child exhibits negative feelings or
frustration in response to stuttering, the speech pathologist directly
addresses these problems. For example, the speech pathologist may model the
child's struggle behavior, and then discuss with the child whether the
struggle behavior makes it easier or harder to talk.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Childhood Stuttering Diagnosis and Treatment (2-6 years old)
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: What's the most effective treatment for school-age stuttering?
A recent study divided 98 children, 9 to 14 years old, into four groups:
1) The first group was treated by speech pathologists in a speech clinic.
2) In the second group, the parents were trained to administer the
stuttering therapy to their children, but the children did not see a speech
pathologist.
3) In the third group, the children used speech biofeedback computers
designed for treating stuttering. They were not treated by speech
pathologists, and their parents weren't involved.
4) The control group received no therapy.
All children were fluent at the end of their therapy. One year after the
therapy programs ended:
1) 48% of the children treated by speech pathologists were fluent.
2) 63% of the children treated by their parents were fluent.
3) 71% of the children treated by computers were fluent.
4) The control group's speech didn't improve.
Too often children who stutter see their school's speech pathologist once or
twice a week, with no therapy outside the speech room, and no training for
the parents. Even worse is group therapy where a stuttering child is
treated with children who have articulation disorders (more common than
stuttering) or are mentally-retarded (the stuttering child gets a message
that he too is mentally-retarded).
Too many school speech pathologists have caseloads of 40 children or more,
with little time for each child and even less time for in-service training.
Parents should ask their child's speech pathologist for therapy that can be
done at home each day. Parents can also discuss with the speech pathologist
whether a stuttering therapy computer would help.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
School-Age Stuttering Therapies (7-12 Years Old)
Fluency Services In The Schools
Or order the video "The School-Age Child Who Stutters" from the
<href="http://www.stuttersfa.org">Stuttering Foundation of America</a>.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: "My teenager has had stuttering therapy since kindergarten. He's
fluent in the speech pathologist's office, but stutters elsewhere. He's not
making progress and wants to discontinue therapy. He's withdrawing from his
peers. What can we do?"
Teenagers are adults, in terms of stuttering. Instead of relying on your
school's speech pathologist, the teenager may be better off going to a
university or other speech clinic. He could leave home for a stuttering
therapy summer camp.
The teenager may want to join a teen stuttering support group, including the
ones on the Internet.
The teenage years can be the worst for a stutterer, affecting the
development of social skills such as dating. But teenagers are also able to
develop focus, drive, and passion that adults may never again experience.
Parents should help their stuttering teenager to find a fluency-enhancing
activity that he or she feels passionate about. Examples include singing,
acting, debating, or a foreign language.
Teenagers should also be encouraged to do school projects about stuttering.
These can include science experiments, interviewing a successful adult who
stutters, or writing a history paper about stuttering therapies.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Teenage Stuttering Therapies
Or order the video "Do You Stutter: Straight Talk for Teens" from the
<href="http://www.stuttersfa.org">Stuttering Foundation of America</a>.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
ADULT STUTTERING
------------------------------
Subject: What are the traditional therapies for adult stuttering?
There are two traditional therapies for adult stutterers.
The first is "stuttering modification therapy." This focuses on reducing
fears and anxieties about talking. The stutterer also learns to stop,
relax, and move forward with his speech. He still stutters, but it's "easy
stuttering," and becomes less important in his life. This can be done with
a self-therapy book or with a speech pathologist.
The other therapy is called "fluency shaping." This trains fluent speech
motor skills, in other words, the physical skills of fluent speech. It
usually begins with extremely slow fluent speech, and then gradually
increases the speaking rate until the speech sounds normal. This is usually
done is a speech clinic, and often uses speech computers.
For more information see the following chapters in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Therapy/modification.html
Stuttering Modification Therapy
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Therapy/shaping.html
Fluency Shaping Therapy
Fluency Shaping Techniques
Stuttering Therapy Programs
Or order the video "If You Stutter: Advice for Adults" from the
<href="http://www.stuttersfa.org">Stuttering Foundation of America</a>.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: How effective are traditional stuttering therapies?
The best traditional stuttering therapy programs are 70-75% effective. In
other words, 25-30% of stutterers are not helped. The usual pattern is to
go to the therapy program for a few weeks, learn to talk fluently in the
speech clinic, and then go home and find it difficult to maintain this
fluency in your everyday environment. Many stutterers experience relapse a
few months after finishing a therapy program.
For more information see the following chapters in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Problems With Fluency Shaping Therapy
Effectiveness of Stuttering Therapies
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there drugs for stuttering?
Neurological research indicates that stuttering may be caused by excessive
levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain's speech control areas.
A variety of drugs reduce dopamine levels. Studies of several drugs found
stuttering reduced on average 25-60%.
The drug most-often prescribed for stuttering is FDA-approved only for
short-term (6-8 week) treatment of schizophrenia. The drug has a wide
variety of side effects (some severe or fatal). It may be beneficial to use
the drug during the first few weeks of a stuttering therapy program, and
reduce and eliminate the dosages as the stutterer progresses in therapy.
The effects of long-term use are unknown.
Most anti-depressants increase stuttering. Stutterers considering
medication for depression should read about these drugs carefully before
taking them. Ritalin can increase stuttering in children.
Specific drugs are not mentioned in this FAQ because the decision to use
medication should be considered more carefully this brief FAQ allows.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Drug Treatments for Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there computers or other electronic devices to help stutterers?
DISCLAIMER: The author of the Stuttering FAQ is owner of Casa Futura
Technologies http://www.casafuturatech.com/,
which manufactures electronic stuttering therapy devices.
The most popular electronic anti-stuttering devices provide delayed auditory
feedback (DAF) or frequency-shifting auditory feedback (FAF). The stutterer
hears his voice in headphones delayed slightly or shifted in pitch. DAF and
FAF reduce stuttering on average 75-85% without training, mental effort, or
slow or abnormal-sounding speech.
DAF can be adjusted to make the stutterer to talk slower. This can almost
100% eliminate stuttering, but requires training and can produce
abnormal-sounding speech.
Brain scan research has found that these DAF and FAF correct the abnormal
cerebal activity associated with stuttering. A variety of these devices are
available, including miniature wearable devices and anti-stuttering
telephones.
Several computer systems are available for stuttering therapy. These train
improved breathing, vocal fold control, and other aspects of fluent speech
production. Some of these devices are for use only in speech clinics, but
others can be used by stutterers for home practice.
For more information see the following chapters in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Therapy/devices.html
Computers and Electronic Devices for Stuttering
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there new stuttering therapies?
The author of this FAQ has developed a new stuttering therapy, using motor
learning and cross-lateral exercises. The therapy manual can be downloaded
free from http://www.casafuturatech.com/therapymanual.html.
------------------------------
Subject: Do insurance companies or other third-parties pay for stuttering
therapy?
There are many third-party payers for stuttering therapy and devices, but
health insurance carriers are usually not among them. Most health insurance
plans exclude developmental stuttering.
The best third-party payer is usually state vocational rehabilitation
programs, if you are looking for a job. They will pay for whatever you need
to get a job -- stuttering therapy, an anti-stuttering device, job training,
etc. Look in your telephone book's blue pages under state department of
labor.
Most employers will help pay for stuttering therapy or an electronic
anti-stuttering device, if you then can handle increased job
responsibilities (e.g., talking to customers).
There are a variety of other third-party payment programs.
For more information see the following webpage
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Catalog/3rd-party.html
3rd-Party Payment
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
RESOURCES FOR STUTTERING
------------------------------
Subject: Are there any celebrities who stutter? How did they overcome
stuttering?
There are dozens of famous people who stutter. In almost every case, the
way the person overcame stuttering became the basis of his or her success
later in life. Each would probably look back and see stuttering as a gift,
not as a disability. For example:
Carly Simon grew up in an emotionally-charged family, and developed severe
stuttering and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. She was unable to express
her emotions through speech, but she was able to sing fluently, so she
developed her singing and songwriting. Her songs connect with listeners on
an emotional level that few singer/songwriters have achieved.
James Earl Jones stuttered so severely that he was "virtually mute" until
high school. He then discovered that he could read Shakespeare aloud alone
in the fields of his family farm. He developed his acting skills along with
his fluency. Jones is now the most in-demand voice in Hollywood.
Winston Churchill was the greatest orator in the British Parliament, but
only if he prepared and practiced his remarks in advance. He studied issues
weeks in advance, preparing responses to every possible objection. This
extra effort made Churchill more knowledgeable than other leaders.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Practice/famous.html
Famous People Who Stutter
Or order a poster of 13 famous stutterers from the
<href="http://www.stuttersfa.org">Stuttering Foundation of America</a>.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: How does stuttering affect employment? Should stutterers talk
about their speech in job interviews?
One study surveyed employers, and found that they would hire a deaf person
or a person with cerebral palsy before they hired a stutterer. They
discriminated against stutterers because they thought that stuttering was
strange and they didn't understand it.
Another study found that stutterers on average earn $7200 a year less than
matched non-stutterers. But this study found that the stutterers had
refused promotions, because they were afraid of making presentations or
talking to customers.
Stutterers should talk about their speech with their employers and in job
interviews. This will make the interviewer feel more at ease. The
stutterer should explain what he is doing to improve his speaking skills,
such as therapy practice. He should give examples of having excellent
communication skills, such as participation in Toastmasters.
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against
stutterers, as well as other individuals with disabilities.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Practice/ada.html
Stuttering and Employment
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: What should listeners do when they talk to a stutterer?
Don't finish their sentences. Don't tell them to "take a deep breath" or
"think before you speak." Don't interrupt. Let the stutterer finish what
he is saying. Interrupting or finishing his sentence will make his
stuttering worse on the next sentence. Don't walk away or do something
else. Keep your speech slow and relaxed, maintain eye contact. After he
finishes talking, repeat back what he said so that he knows you understood
him.
For more information see the following chapter in
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/book_toc.html
Stuttering: Science, Therapy & Practice:
Suggestions For Listeners
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there support groups for stutterers?
Support groups are good for sharing experiences with other stutterers.
See
http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Communication_Disorders/Langu
age_and_Speech/Stuttering/ for links to 24 organizations for stutterers, in
9 countries.
The National Stuttering Association has support groups in about 75 American
cities. They can be reached at (800) 364-1677 or
http://www.nsastutter.org/.
FRIENDS is a national organization created to provide a network of love and
support for children and teenagers who stutter. They can be reached at
(866) 866-8335 or http://www.friendswhostutter.org/.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Where can I find a stuttering penpal?
http://www.FriendshipCenter.com is a free penpals database for individuals
with disabilities. There are penpal requests from nearly 200 stutterers,
from a variety of ages, occupations, and countries.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there websites about stuttering?
For links to the 68 best stuttering websites, please visit the Open
Directory Project
http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Communication_Disorders/Langu
age_and_Speech/Stuttering/.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there e-mail discussion groups about stuttering?
There are at least 10 e-mail stuttering support groups. Find them at
http://www.casafuturatech.com/Book/Practice/internet.html
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: Are there books and magazines about stuttering?
Each of the stuttering support organizations has a newsletter. There are
also journals about speech pathology research. The Journal of Fluency
Disorders focuses exclusively on stuttering research ($60/year,
205/348-7131; Box 870242, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0242).
There are dozens of textbooks about stuttering written for speech pathology
students. There are only a few books written for stutterers. Two good
books are:
<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0465081274/stutterinscienceA/">
Stuttering: A Life Bound Up In Words</a>, by Marty Jezer ($23, New York:
BasicBooks, 1997). This book is Jezer's autobiography, and stuttering
affected everything in his life. You learn much about stuttering and
especially stuttering therapies, because Jezer has gone through just about
every therapy program (and still stutters).
<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1568361211/stutterinscienceA/">
Knotted Tongues</a>, by Benson Bobrick ($22, Simon & Schuster, 1995). The
book has a thirty-page overview of stuttering science, and a twenty-page
overview of stuttering therapies. Bobrick is a historian, and the bulk of
the book (110 pages) is about historical and literary persons who stuttered.
The Stuttering Foundation of America (P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN
38111-0749, 800/992-9392) publishes books about stuttering. They are all
easy to read and inexpensive. They have several books for adult stutterers,
several books and videos for parents of children who stutter, and a variety
of books for speech pathologists.
The Stuttering FAQ is part of the Stuttering Science & Therapy Website
(http://www.casafuturatech.com/).
------------------------------
Subject: The Last Word
"Stuttering is frustrating and can feel demeaning, but if understood, and
confronted, it need not change the quality of one's life. I would even say,
that it can enhance one's life experience. You know the expression, 'What
doesn't kill us makes us stronger'? Stuttering is a chronic problem, but it
is also a chronic challenge which calls on us to be more than we might
normally be." -- John Ahlbach, former Executive Director of the National
Stuttering Project
Stuttering FAQ (c) 2000 Thomas David Kehoe kehoe@casafuturatech.com
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This document is provided as is without any express or implied warranties.
While every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information
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