Communication Disorders: Communication Disorders: STUTTERINGSTUTTERING

Rebecca ForbesRebecca Forbes

TLSE 457TLSE 457

Summer 2004Summer 2004

What is stuttering?What is stuttering?

Speech impairment characterized by • abnormal hesitations

• repetitions, blocks, and/or prolongations of sounds, words, or syllables

• avoidance or substitution of words– example: “closet” stutterers

Specific CharacteristicsSpecific Characteristics

Repetitions Repetitions

BlocksBlocks

ProlongationsProlongations

TremorsTremors

Pitch & loudness risePitch & loudness rise

Avoidance of talkingAvoidance of talking

Fear & EmbarrassmentFear & Embarrassment

Irregular breathingIrregular breathing

Related behaviorsRelated behaviors• foot tapping, eye blinks, foot tapping, eye blinks,

head turnshead turns

What causes stuttering?What causes stuttering?

No known cause, only controversyNo known cause, only controversy

TheoriesTheories• Genetic dispositionGenetic disposition• Biological explanationBiological explanation• Family FactorsFamily Factors• Psychological factors Psychological factors

– ex: conditioning ex: conditioning

Prevalence/Incidence Prevalence/Incidence RatesRates

Most frequent type of fluency disorderMost frequent type of fluency disorder About 1% of the population stuttersAbout 1% of the population stutters

(2-3 million people)(2-3 million people) More boys than girls stutter (4:1 ratio)More boys than girls stutter (4:1 ratio) Average person: 7-10% of speech is Average person: 7-10% of speech is

disfluent disfluent >10% disfluency leads to stuttering>10% disfluency leads to stuttering 50-70% of people who stutter have at 50-70% of people who stutter have at

least one relative who also stuttersleast one relative who also stutters

Assessment/DiagnosesAssessment/Diagnoses

Speech and language pathologists • read out loud

• pronounce specific words

• talk (time wpm)

• hearing tests Tests determine whether or not a

person needs speech therapy

ex: NIU Speech Clinic

What can teachers do?What can teachers do? Instructional Ideas Instructional Ideas

talking slowly & clearly answer ?’s after a pause stay calm, don’t be bothered (patience!) give reassurance & encourage talking

about his or her stuttering create a plan for class participation allow increased response time

VIDEO CLIP

Technology and StutteringTechnology and Stuttering

Feedback machine monitors speechFeedback machine monitors speech

(Delayed Auditory Feedback)(Delayed Auditory Feedback) Classroom PowerPoint PresentationsClassroom PowerPoint Presentations

• educates peers while decreasing educates peers while decreasing teasingteasing

• helps overcome the fear of speakinghelps overcome the fear of speaking

Interesting Facts about Interesting Facts about StutteringStuttering

Stuttering occurs most often in left-handersStuttering occurs most often in left-handers No stuttering when singing, speaking in No stuttering when singing, speaking in

unison, or whisperingunison, or whispering Famous people that stutterFamous people that stutter

• George BurnsGeorge Burns Thomas EdisonThomas Edison• Charles DarwinCharles DarwinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein• George WashingtonGeorge Washington• Bruce WillisBruce Willis• Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe

References for StutteringReferences for Stuttering Resources used in this presentationResources used in this presentation

• http://www.stuttering.net/stuttering-facts.htmlhttp://www.stuttering.net/stuttering-facts.html• http://www.http://www.wiuwiu..eduedu/users//users/mfrwqmfrwq//whatisstutwhatisstut.html.html• http://http://ashaasha.org/speech/disabilities/stuttering..org/speech/disabilities/stuttering.cfmcfm

• Resources for school personnelResources for school personnel• http://http://nsastutter.org/content/index.php?catid=8nsastutter.org/content/index.php?catid=8

• Video => Stuttering: Straight Talk for TeachersVideo => Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers• The Stuttering Foundation, 2002The Stuttering Foundation, 2002

• Book => Stuttering and Your Child: ?’s and answersBook => Stuttering and Your Child: ?’s and answers• Book => Understanding Stuttering by: Nathan LavidBook => Understanding Stuttering by: Nathan Lavid• Book => Tangled Tongue: Living with a Stutter Book => Tangled Tongue: Living with a Stutter

by: Jock A. Carlisleby: Jock A. Carlisle