A health condition in which the muscles used for speaking twitch or move uncontrollably while you talk is called stuttering. It disrupts the flow of the speech and causes pauses or unintended sounds and word-stuttering. In most cases, stuttering occurs in children, but it may also occur at any age. However, this is a treatable condition, and most people ultimately recover.
Subtypes of Stuttering
- Developmental stuttering (child-onset fluency disorder) – It is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which the brain develops differently than expected. This subtype of stuttering often occurs during childhood.
- Persistent stuttering – This is also a developmental stuttering that continues into adulthood.
- Acquired stuttering – In such cases, this disorder occurs due to an illness or injury that negatively affects the brain.
In general, stuttering is a type of fluency disorder that falls into the overall category of speech impediments.
This condition affects about 1% to 2.4% of children. However, persistent stuttering affects about 0.3% to 1% of adults.
Symptoms
Generally, talking takes coordination between muscles in the face, mouth, throat, chest, and belly (abdomen). Thus, stuttering affects these muscles and may cause uncontrollable movements or spasms in the muscles used for speaking. Check below the official criteria for stuttering:
- Repeated sounds or syllables – It usually occurs on the first syllable of a word. These sounds and syllables are repeated until you can say the whole word and then resume speaking.
- Holding and drawing out certain syllables or sounds – This occurs when you get stuck on a sound or syllable. Sometimes, you can draw out the sound longer than intended.
- Mid-work pauses – They occur when you pause for a noticeably long time at a point where it is not necessary.
- Blocking – Some people with stuttering can make frequent pauses while speaking.
- Word switching – It happens when a person stutters on a word or phrase and switches to a different word or phrase to get around it.
- Overstressing – It means you put too much stress or tension on a part or all of a word.
- Frequently using single-syllable words – In such cases, the person is repeating a word that consists of a single sound (such as I or the).
Additional Symptoms
However, people with stuttering may also experience the following symptoms. Check below for other characteristics of this disorder:
- Spasm overflow – The muscle movements that cause stuttering may also cause “overflow”, which leads to spasms in parts of the face, neck, shoulders, and arms.
- Certain gestures and actions that worsen when you stutter – Usually, people who stutter commonly develop movement habits that appear when they stutter. For example, blinking, looking away, grimacing their face, and clenching their fists.
- Feeling of symptoms – Commonly, the symptoms of stuttering worsen when you are tired, excited, anxious, or stressed, but can improve when you are rested or relaxed.
- Vocal activities – In most cases, stuttering does not happen during some activities. For example, talking to objects or pets, reading aloud, and singing.
- Mental health problems – This condition can cause feelings of frustration, embarrassment, or shame. Therefore, it may lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders.
If you suspect you have any of the previous symptoms, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.
Causes
Healthcare providers do not fully understand why stuttering happens. However, they think the following factors contribute to it. These include:
- Family history – The risk of developing stuttering significantly increases if you have a parent or sibling with this condition.
- Genetics – There are some DNA changes (mutations) that may also contribute to stuttering. These changes also influence whether the condition improves or goes away.
- Brain structure differences – People with stuttering usually have some differences in the areas of the brain that control speaking or coordination muscles.
Risk Factors
While stuttering can affect anyone, males are more prone to developing it. Usually, age affects the type of stuttering you develop. For example:
- Developmental stuttering – This condition always occurs during childhood and starts as early as age 2 or as late as age 7. About 95% of children get it around 3 years old.
- Persistent stuttering – This condition affects adults, but it begins during childhood.
- Acquired stuttering – This subtype of stuttering may affect people of any age. However, it is more likely to occur due to injuries or disorders that cause damage to specific areas of the brain.
How to Prevent Stuttering?
The only subtype of stuttering that can be prevented is acquired stuttering. One of the best ways to prevent it is to reduce the risk of some health conditions, such as stroke, TBI, and others that cause damage to the brain.
Diagnosis
First, doctors perform a physical examination to check for irregularities linked to the disease. They may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history. In most cases, there are no tests needed to diagnose developmental or persistent stuttering.
Acquired Stuttering Diagnosis
This subtype of stuttering is often caused by an underlying condition. These include aphasia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), strokes, and brain tumors (including cancer). Check below some tests used to diagnose the underlying condition:
- CT (computerized tomography) scans
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
- PET (positron emission tomography) scans
Treatment
One of the primary treatments for people with stuttering is speech therapy. It helps ease the symptoms. The techniques and activities of speech therapy depend on the subtype of stuttering and its severity.
Doctors may also prescribe some medicines to treat mental health problems that may occur in people with stuttering. They often recommend antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and others.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I go to the ER?
Immediately call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER) if you experience stroke symptoms. Generally, the only subtype of stuttering that requires emergency medical care is acquired stuttering.
Is stuttering a form of anxiety?
No, this condition is totally different from anxiety. However, stuttering can make anxiety develop or get worse. For more details, discuss it with your physician.
How long does stuttering last?
Approximately 90% of children with developmental stuttering will recover on their own after 18 years old. It is important to know that stuttering does not return unless it is acquired stuttering. However, if you develop a persistent stutter, it is usually lifelong. Acquired stuttering can be temporary or permanent. It depends on what exactly causes it. For instance, if you develop a condition that causes permanent damage to the brain, you can develop permanent acquired stuttering. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any other questions.
