Stuttering

What exactly is it?

It is said that a person stammers when the words he wants to pronounce stop and suddenly come out and the syllables are repeated. Different types of stuttering disorders need to be distinguished:

- intermittent stuttering which, for example, disappears when you sing, you recite something by heart

- classic stuttering (jerky repetition of one syllable)

- tonic stuttering (inability to pronounce certain words for a certain period of time).

Disorders of communication and behavior

In addition to the difficulty in expressing themselves, stutterers often feel uncomfortable in society. This malaise manifests itself with the tendency to:

- avoid contact with the interlocutor, certainly to avoid the embarrassment caused by stuttering

- use "lifebuoy" expressions such as that is, let's say, so, which serve as stepping stones before uttering more problematic words

- stutter more under stress

- avoid speaking because of expression problems.

Who does it hit?

Stuttering generally begins in childhood, between the ages of 3 and 7. In 40-80% of cases, it disappears spontaneously during adolescence. In adulthood, in general, it is the consequence of an accident or psychological trauma. Having a stuttering parent triples the risk of stuttering.

The factors of the onset of stuttering

If stuttering occurs physiologically with tension in the vocal cords that could be of neuromuscular origin, the causes are mainly psychological.

So often, in a child's life, stuttering appears following a traumatizing event such as a move, the arrival of a little brother or sister, tensions in the family. In general, too high educational requirements and a stressful climate can cause stuttering in children.

In adults, stuttering sometimes appears as a result of trauma, bereavement, or an event that induces profound changes.

The treatment

Children between the ages of 3 and 7 stutter frequently when they learn to speak and spontaneously stop later. However, if stuttering tends to settle down and is accompanied by a delay in language learning and a tendency to withdraw into itself, it is preferable that the child is immediately followed by an orthophonist.

Sometimes a simple relaxation of educational needs and a more peaceful and respectful family atmosphere of the child's rhythms can make stuttering disappear. Parents' way of speaking is also important: speaking slowly can reassure the child in his learning, as well as reacting calmly to stuttering so that the child does not weigh his problem.

The orthophonist will insist on breathing, on language control ... with exercises to do at home. The role of the family, therefore, is essential to ensure compliance with the prescriptions without stress. In adults, it will also be possible to resort to certain types of psychotherapy.