Treatment of Stuttering

Most often, stuttering is a developmental problem that resolves itself as the child matures. It’s important to remember that a child’s perception of a problem is often seen through his or her parents’ eyes. For this reason, unless the child asks for pro-active help, subtle parental help is usually the best treatment for developmental stuttering.

Some treatment for stuttering is just good parenting.

Set aside some time to talk with your child when both of you are free from distractions.
Refrain from criticizing your child’s speech, mimicking your child, or punishing him or her for stuttering.
Don’t ask your child to display his problem to others.
Speak slowly to your child and encourage her or him to speak in the same relaxed manner. Listen attentively to what your child means… not to how the words sound.
Let your child choose his or her own words. Be patient. Don’t complete his thoughts or put words into her mouth.

Severe stuttering for either children or adults requires speech therapy. Depending on the severity of the problem, some schools offer speech therapy for children who have an on-going problem with stuttering. However, before enrolling your child in any speech therapy program, first have him or her examined by a speech pathologist and see if there is real need.

Speech therapy techniques

Timed syllabic speech: Words are broken into syllables and the stutterer is taught to speak slowly, stressing each syllable evenly. A metronome may be used for timed syllabic speech.
The shadow method: The stutterer repeats the words or sounds uttered by the therapist.
Fluency Initiating Gestures (FIGs): The stutterer is taught to use certain gestures along with speech that help prevent stuttering (e.g. slow, deep, loud, smooth).

Electronic tools used to treat stuttering.

Delayed auditory feedback: a recording device compels the stutterer to speak slower by distorting sound when the rate of speech is too rapid.
Edinburgh Masker: a device which is strapped across the larynx and then attached to a stethoscope-like object, keeping the stutterer from hearing his or her own words. This is used in the belief that some individuals who stutter speak more fluently when they can’t hear their own voice.
Computer assisted training: helps reduce the rate of speech and provides feedback and guidance for the stutterer.

Medications

Although several medications have been used in an attempt to control stuttering, the only one that has met with a measure of success is haloperidol (Haldol). However, the many side effects of this drug make it an unacceptable treatment for stuttering.

The Star Program

The Star Program divides treatment of stuttering into four separate phases: Structuring, Targeting, Adjustment, and Regulation.

Structuring: The patient identifies the factors that contribute to stuttering, examining feelings, attitudes and behaviors.
Targeting: In this stage of the program, patient and therapist work on eliminating body and facial distractions that occur because of stuttering.
Adjustment: The stutterer learns FIGs, and the therapist helps the stutterer to make changes in attitudes, behavior, and feelings that help him or her to become more fluent.
Regulation: Control is the key to overcoming stuttering. In this stage, the therapist helps the stutterer determine what will be an acceptable level of control outside of therapy.

Although there is no cure for stuttering, in cases where it doesn’t resolve itself, professional speech therapy can help the stutterer maintain control of his or her problem.