Recently, I approached a good-looking student to have an introduction however he couldn’t muster words to respond. I first got it as his nervousness and repeated my question with utmost tenderness, but again he struggled to speak. After attempting again problem persisted, that time I realized it was a case of Stammering or Stuttering as we call it in medical terminology.
Stammering is a speech disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to speak fluently. It involves the repetition, prolongation, or blockage of sounds, syllables, or words. The term Stammering is mostly associated with involuntary spasmodic repetition but it also encompasses the abnormal hesitation or pausing before speech, referred to as obstructions and protractions of certain sounds, by Stammerers.
Stammering has a grave impact on a person’s psychological state; there can be fear of articulation in social situations, fear of being mocked in public, and of browbeating. To escape these harsh experiences, Stammerers mostly go for self-imposed isolation. Anxiety, stress, and other related problems engross them. Stammerers often see their future dark as they believe that they lack the necessary ability to tackle everyday matters necessitating communication. Some of them cannot even think of professions that involve conversations and interactions thus adding to their mental and emotional strain.
Most stammerers report a high emotional cost, including jobs or promotions not acquired as well as complaints of broken relationships, etc. Stammering children may be self-conscious about their stammering and choose not to participate in class. Studies suggest that some students leave school halfway because of this communication disorder albeit stammerers don’t lag behind non-stammerers in any way.
According to recent reports, it has been estimated there are 80 million stammerers in the world with 11–12 million in India which need not be condoned. People in the past have been ignoring this disorder but at present, they want treatment. Developed countries have long been working to stamp it out but have not been able to do so because, by its very nature, it is not a disease but a mental and behavioural disorder with almost unknown cause.
A Plethora of hypotheses and theories have been put forward which indicate that multiple factors contribute to stammering. There is strong evidence that it is genetic, children having first-degree relatives’ stammerers are three times more likely to develop stammering. Some findings show that genetic factors coupled with environmental factors together play a role in its development. Moreover, congenital factors which include physical trauma at or around birth may be one of the causes.
Some more reports are there that allude to structural and functional differences in the brain that contribute to stammering. However, the impact of stressful situations upon the psyche of the child and its manifestation in the form of stammering cannot be neglected. Without having any obvious cause it is difficult to treat the disorder, but experts have come up with different methods to control this disorder. The most preferred of which is fluency shaping therapy, also known as ‘Speak more Fluently” in which Stammerers are trained to reduce their speaking rate by stretching vowels and consonants and using other fluency techniques like continuous airflow and soft speech contact. Modification therapy focuses on modifying stammering so that it is easier and less effortful; all of these are monitored by professionally trained speech-language pathologists.
As far as medication is concerned, no drug has been approved for its treatment. However; physicians prescribe drugs like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants for both adults and children to treat it but because of serious side effects such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and hypertension, medication is not preferred.
The most effective approach to curbing this disorder is support and self-help. Movements and support groups established are gaining popularity in counselling and boosting the morale of Stammerers and have furnished positive results. Stuttering Foundation of America and the recently founded Indian Stuttering Association are pioneering organizations working in this direction and have a lot of success stories to say. These organizations are aimed to guide the Stammerers, provide them forum within which they can access resources, support them to face the challenges of stammering, and strengthen them to endure discomfort.
In Kashmir too, a centre namely the Composite Regional Centre has been established by the government where besides other services Stammerers are counselled but still a lot more work needs to be done to bring endeavours to fruition. However, it is unjustifiable to entirely rely upon these welfare centres, groups, and associations as the stammerer has to interact with society thus every individual can do his bid. Parents, friends, and teachers can play significant roles in helping stammerer to minimize stammering by being patient with stammering wards (especially children), friends, and students, not letting them feel ashamed, treating the stammerer and non-stammerer alike, and foremost by refraining from jeering a stammerer.
Furthermore, Stammerer has to help himself if he wants to decimate this obstacle on his way to success. It is he, who knows what problem he faces and how to overcome the same. He needs to develop control of his stammering so it no longer controls him.
The most important suggestion of experts in this regard is changing lifestyle such as a) Personal organization: — by structuring and organizing daily routines, cognitive abilities will be enhanced for more effective management of stammering. b) Outward appearance: developing a demeanour, a friendly smile, and even making some changes in appearance may help a person c) Interpersonal and social relationships: Stammerers should develop an active social life to maintain control of their stammering. They must take a public speaking class, forget their stammering, and face the people. d) Personal health care: good physical fitness and a healthy diet improve the quality of life. Stammerers have a more difficult time managing their stammering when they are not in good health .e) Alter the stammering pattern: study the stammering symptoms and learn techniques to manage the stammering. f) Take charge of your life: Stammerer needs to think about his/er problem without blaming others. S/he must plan to be a winner, not a loser.
Demosthenes, the Greek orator combated it by keeping pebbles in his mouth while speaking to gatherings. Stammerer King George VI, predominated world-class speakers of his time.
(Author is Educator, Blogger, Independent researcher, and co-author of book #55-Stories. He can be mailed at: [email protected])
