Stuttering is a complex speech disorder that is usually common among children. This condition is not common among adults, and research reveals that around 1 percent of grown-ups experience this issue. Many implications come with stuttering, and people who have this issue may tend to keep-off from speaking in public. Additionally, this condition may demean some people’s performance in school or workplaces. It is also true that stuttering and anxiety link together, and as such, most people with a stammering problem often become socially anxious.
However, many mistake anxiety as the root cause of stuttering, which is not the case. Scientists have proven this and added that this condition is not related to mental health. Though the truth is anxiety can tremendously worsen stuttering, and in several cases, this has disrupted people’s communication and relationships. Many stuttering children find it difficult to make flawless statements at the beginning of their speech, but improves with time since they become relaxed.
About Stuttering
First, what is stuttering? This is the repetition of some words, sounds, or syllables during a speech. It is a concern that many may have this condition and fail to notice until it becomes severe. Stuttering may reach a point where one finds it almost impossible to communicate; however, it is not common and lies amongst a fraction of people with this issue. Most of the stutters may feel anxious speaking to people, while others may realize that they do not make a typical speech but can communicate, and others can understand them.
Types of Stuttering
Initially, researchers thought that mental conditions such as fear and trauma caused stuttering, not the case. Though this could be possible, it was so rare. Two different types of stuttering include:
Developmental Stuttering
This is the most predominant type of stuttering that is usually common among children learning to speak; that is between 2-6 years old. Often, a majority of those who have this type of stuttering outgrow it. However, there is a possibility that 25% of the children who stutter have it through to their adult life. This type of stuttering worsens typically when the child gets anxious, and the first few statements they make may be halting. As the child continues speaking, he/she becomes relaxed and may experience less stuttering. Again this shows the relationship between stuttering and anxiety.
It is good to know that this type of stuttering also runs in the family’s genetics, and one might have acquired it through birth. The primary triggers of developmental stuttering are, however, not known.
Neurogenic Stuttering
This stuttering type is not common and is caused by different issues relating to brain injury, some illnesses, and development problems. For instance, some become stutters when they develop a traumatic brain injury or by a stroke. In this type of stuttering, anxiety on a few occasions will worsen the situation. People who experience this kind of stuttering may find relief by doing relaxation exercises, practicing social skills, joining support groups, and getting enlightened about stuttering, among many other activities.
