Stuttering
Definition of Stuttering
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which sounds, syllables, or words are repeated or last longer than normal. These problems cause a break in the flow of speech. People with this disorder lack normal fluency and time patterning of speech that are appropriate for age. They know what they want to say, but they just have difficulty saying it. Usually it interferes with educational or occupational achievement and/or with social communication.
Symptoms of stuttering may include:
Feeling frustrated when trying to communicate
Pausing or hesitating when starting or during sentences, phrases, or words, often with the lips together
Putting in (interjecting) extra sounds or words
Repeating sounds, words, parts of words, or phrases
Tension in the voice
Very long sounds within words
Treatment of Stuttering
Other than speech therapy and parental involvement which are a key part to helping treat stuttering, psychotherapy can also help the person resolve underlying stress, anxiety or self-esteem problems related to stuttering. Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven effective in treating this disorder while it can help identify and change ways of thinking that might be related to and/or make stuttering worse.