Stuttering in Children
Stuttering is a speech disorder that begins in childhood and involves frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech. Individuals with stuttering know what they want to say, but have difficulty saying it. For example, they may repeat, prolong or pause a word, syllable, consonant or vowel sound.
Stuttering is common among young children as a normal part of learning to speak. Young children may stutter when their speech and language skills are not developed enough to sustain what they want to say. In most children, this developmental stuttering is temporary and disappears completely over time.
Stuttering is a chronic condition that sometimes begins in children and continues into adulthood. This type of stuttering often has negative effects on a person’s self-esteem and interactions with other people. Children and adults with stuttering problems can benefit from speech therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or methods using electronic devices to gain speech fluency.
What is stuttering?
Stuttering; It is a speech disorder characterized by repetition of words, sounds or syllables, pauses in speech, or an unsteady speech rate. Occurring most often between the ages of 2 and 6, stuttering affects about 5 to 10% of all children. In more than 25% of children who stutter, the condition does not persist into adulthood. Usually, it disappears completely as the child’s development progresses. In cases that may be permanent, the continuation of the problem in adulthood can be prevented with early intervention.
What are the causes of stuttering?
There are many possible causes of bone marrow. Some of these factors can be listed as follows:
Having a family history of stuttering: An inherited abnormality in the part of the brain involved in language and speech can be passed on from parents to children.
It can be seen during normal development in childhood.
Brain injuries from stroke or trauma can cause neurogenic stuttering.
Severe emotional trauma can cause psychogenic stuttering.
When does stuttering occur?
Stuttering can occur in children or adults of any age. It is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years. Because these ages are the period when language skills show the most intense development. About 5 to 10% of all children experience stuttering at some point in their lives, lasting from a few weeks to a few years.
What are the symptoms of stuttering?
Signs and symptoms that may occur with stuttering may include:
Difficulty starting a word, phrase, or sentence
Lengthening a word or sounds within a word
Repeating a sound, syllable or word
Short silences or pauses within a word for some syllables or words
Difficulty moving on to the next word
Excessive straining of the face or upper body when saying certain words
speech anxiety
Limited ability to communicate effectively
Stuttering may be accompanied by speech difficulties and some abnormal facial expressions:
quick blink
Tremor of the lips or chin
facial tics
head movements
Stuttering may be worse when a person is excited, tired, stressed, or under pressure. Situations such as public speaking or making phone calls can be particularly difficult for these people. However, most people who stutter don’t have trouble talking to themselves, singing, or talking at the same time with someone else.
Types of stuttering What are they?
Three different types of stuttering have been described: developmental, neurogenic, and psychological.
Developmental stuttering: It is most common in boys younger than 5 years old. It occurs during the development of speech and language abilities. It usually resolves without the need for treatment. It is the most common type of stuttering. Most scientists and clinicians believe that developmental stuttering results from a complex interaction of many factors. Recent neuroimaging studies have shown consistent differences in children who stutter compared to their normal peers.
Neurogenic stuttering: It is a type of stuttering that develops due to signal abnormalities between the brain, nerves, or muscles. Neurogenic stuttering can occur after a stroke, head injury, or other type of brain injury. The brain has trouble coordinating the different brain regions involved in speech, which leads to problems producing clear, fluent speech.
Psychogenic stuttering: This type of stuttering is caused by problems in the part of the brain that governs thinking and reasoning. It was once believed that all stuttering is caused by emotional trauma and is psychogenic. However, today it is understood that psychogenic stuttering is rare.
How is stuttering diagnosed?
Stuttering is usually diagnosed by a speech language therapist or child psychiatrist, a healthcare professional trained to test and treat individuals with voice, speech, and language disorders. During the diagnosis;
When stuttering is first noticed,
Under what conditions did it occur?
An analysis of stuttering behaviors,
It considers various factors, such as data from the assessment of the child’s speech and language skills.
When evaluating a young child for stuttering, an attempt is made to determine whether the child will continue the stuttering behavior or whether it is likely to progress too far. When determining this, it considers factors such as a family history of stuttering, whether the child’s stuttering lasts for 6 months or more, and whether the child presents with other speech or language problems.
How is stuttering treated?
Not all children with stuttering need treatment because developmental stuttering usually goes away on its own over time. After a thorough evaluation by the child psychiatrist, a decision can be made on the best treatment approach. There are several different approaches used in treatment. A method that is beneficial for one person may not be effective for another due to individual differences and needs. Treatment may not completely eliminate stuttering, but it can teach the person skills that will help:
Increasing speaking fluency
Developing effective communication
Continuing to school or work without any problems
Easily participate in social activities