Stuttering Hub

3 Differences Between Developmental Stuttering and Stuttering In Stroke Sufferers

Suffering from a stroke can cause stuttering.

But how does this differ to developmental stuttering, which normally occurs in children?

I wanted to find out about some of the distinguishing features, so I decided to do a little research on the material out there... An interesting article on the Stuttering Foundation of America website: informs us that:

• People who have suffered from a stroke (known as neurogenic acquired stuttering), are usually fluent before. Unlike Developmental Stuttering, here, it is a result of the triggering of the stroke.
• A person who stutters following a stroke can stammer on various parts of words and syllables. Whereas, Developmental stuttering is usually characterised with stuttering on initial sounds or syllables.
• A person with neurogenic stuttering after a stroke can also stutter when singing.

Speech therapy for stroke sufferers can include: slowing down speech rate, and working on maintaining a relaxed posture. Other information about neurogenic stuttering can be found on the website if you want to find out more.

Different Types of Stammering

Have you ever considered the different stages in an individual's life when stammering can occur? Developmental Stammering (DS) usually occurs in children aged between two and five. This type of stammering is common in young children who experience dysfluency due to reasons such as, their neurological system not being able to handle the rate at which they are learning and speaking language. Most children overcome DS; some with therapy, and others without any treatment. In contrast to DS, there is Persistent Developmental Stammering (PSD). PSD is DS that has not stopped either on its own accord or through treatment. Stammering can also occur after a person has had a serious injury such as a stroke or a trauma to the head. This is known as Acquired Stammering (AS). The article at the following link discusses PS and AS in particular, from a scientific perspective. Although technical, it is a useful read.

http://www.gagueira.org.br/what_causes_stuttering.pdf

How is Speech Produced?

Have you ever considered how speech is produced? And how smooth speech differs from speech that is dysfluent?

I’m reading the book, Stammering: Advice for all Ages, and its authors, Renée Byrne and Louise Wright discuss how different speech sounds are produced.

Sounds occur when exhaled air from the lungs pass through the vocal cords. They are modified in the process, as they move through certain parts of our speech organs. These parts include the lips, tongue, teeth, jaw and palate.

The book mentions that words are made up of both consonants and vowels, and so vibration is required for certain letters, and none for others. Interestingly, some consonants are produced through what is known as vocal cord vibration, while others involve no vibration.

All vowels on the other hand, require vocal cord vibration.

And it’s the speech organs which need to interact very quickly in order to produce spoken words fluently. If tension creeps into the vocal cords, quick and accurate muscular movements for smooth flowing speech are stopped, and a block can occur.

So obviously, if there is no tension in the vocal system then there would be no blocking.

So how does one reduce this tension?

Is there a Stuttering Gene?

Some people say that stuttering is genetic. Is this a desperate attempt at explaining what has remained a largely unresolved mystery?

Or is there some truth in this theory?

I have talked to a number of people in the stammering community. Some friends have family members who stammer. Others don’t. According to Dr Dennis Drayna, a leading researcher in the genetics of stuttering, if a person has someone in their family who stutters, then there is an increased likelihood that the person will stutter also. However, stuttering is probably caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors (http://www.stammering.org/drayna.html).

My dad stuttered as a child. He still does block at times, but does not have any emotional issues associated with it, nor is he much bothered by it. Very interesting...

Stuttering and medication

One thing I have always been intrigued by is the idea of using medication to treat stuttering. I’ve always wondered if medications:

·         Reduce stuttering.

·         Lessen symptoms associated with stuttering such as anxiety and depression.

I have to admit that till now, medical treatment for stuttering is something that has not appealed to me because I imagine the drugs to be quite powerful. That said, there is the theory that people who stutter have excessive levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brains. Research has shown that dopamine blockers have reduced stuttering, but that side effects can be extreme (http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=163).