"I've Tried Speech Therapy as a Kid." Does Speech Therapy for Stuttering Work for Teens and Adults?
You've been to speech therapy in the past and it wasn't a positive experience. At Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy in Cherry Hill we focus our treatment on counseling- a key part of treatment for stuttering.
What is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a fluency disorder characterized by natural disruptions in the flow of speech. Stuttering affects ~1% of the population. There are three main types of disfluencies, or stuttering episodes, that occur including repetitions, prolongations, and blocks. Additionally, individuals may exhibit secondary behaviors which are actions that can occur during moments of stuttering aside from verbal disfluencies. These can include physical tension in the face/neck/body, facial grimacing, eye blinking, or fist clenching. People who stutter may also experience negative emotions and feelings toward their speech, leading to reduced quality of life, reduced participation in social situations, or reduced confidence in their communicative ability. Speech language pathologists are professionals who specialize in evaluating and treating fluency disorders.
What is the Role of Speech Therapy in Stuttering?
Speech therapy for stuttering can focus on a range of tools, depending on the individual and their goals. Fluency enhancing, or stuttering modification strategies can be trained for the individual to use during moments of stuttering. Fluency enhancing techniques focus on achieving “fluent speech” through tools such as easy onset, light articulatory contacts, relaxed breathing, and slowed rate. Stuttering modification strategies focus on speaking with reduced tension through tools such as pull-outs, cancellations, preparatory sets, and voluntary stuttering.
Another focus of treatment is addressing the attitudes/emotions that can come along with stuttering through tools like self-advocacy, education about stuttering, role play activities, and self-disclosure.
At Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy, the focus is not on achieving ‘fluency’, but rather a total communication approach focused on acceptance, confidence, and participation in communication.
The clinicians at Insight prioritize person centered care, and believe treatment is most beneficial when functional and meaningful activities are targeted. Fluency enhancing, and stuttering modification techniques are trained to keep in one’s toolbox as needed. We believe a person who stutters is not defined by their stutter. Whether an individual is beginning college and experiencing concerns with making friends or beginning a new job requiring them to talk on the phone, the goal of treatment is to highlight those personal needs to improve confidence in overall communication.
Common Challenges or Misconceptions
There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding stuttering. These misconceptions can cause negative stigma or bias surrounding people who stutter. To challenge these myths, education on stuttering and resources regarding self-disclosure and self-advocacy are provided by a speech language pathologist. Some common misconceptions about stuttering include:
Stuttering affects intelligence: False; Stuttering is not linked to intelligence. Individuals who stutter are just as successful in their careers and studies as those who do not stutter.
Telling someone to “slow down” or “take your time” is helpful: False; Stuttering is not caused by a fast rate of speech. People who stutter may need extra time to get their thoughts out, but nevertheless, they will say their message. In reality, repeatedly telling someone to slow down or think about what they want to say can be detrimental. Those messages can put increased pressure or stress on individuals who stutter to get their thoughts out.
Stuttering is caused by stress: False; Researchers believe there are a few confounding causes for stuttering including a genetic, neurological, and environmental component. Stuttering can ebb and flow daily, and extraneous factors like stress, anxiety, or excitement may contribute to disfluencies, however, they are not the direct cause.
Stuttering will be cured by speech therapy: False; There is no “cure” for stuttering. Stuttering usually begins in childhood around 2-5 years old, and many will outgrow it by late childhood. Speech therapy can assist with provision of strategies to improve fluency, improve confidence, address negative emotions, and improve overall communication across various functional situations. The overall focus is on building acceptance, advocacy, and confidence as a communicator. Counseling is important in the treatment of stuttering.
Stuttering is “your fault”: False; Stuttering is not caused by an event or action from an individual. Stuttering is involuntary, and is not something that can be controlled. Education and advocacy are important aspects of treatment to challenge any negative feelings that may be present including “blame” or “guilt”.
Stuttering should not be talked about: False; It is beneficial to talk about stuttering openly. Stuttering is simply a variation in the way someone communicates. Avoiding talking about stuttering could lead individuals to believe it is something they should be ashamed or embarrassed of when that is not the case. Additionally, talking about stuttering can be a useful way to educate others and promote change on common misconceptions.
Conclusion
Stuttering is a disorder that affects all ages, children and adults, and can vary in severity. Despite age or severity level, speech therapy can help with education and practice of fluency strategies, overcoming negative emotions, practicing functional communication scenarios in a safe space, and increasing confidence and participation as a communicator. Whether you have tried speech therapy before or this is your first time hearing of it, treatment will be individualized to your goals and needs through collaboration with your clinician. If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about stuttering evaluations or treatment options, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!
Let's get you back to communicating confidently!
We offer fluency evaluations for teens and adults. During your assessment, your clinician will assess the functional impacts on your daily life and create a customized therapy plan.
Call us at (856) 200-8392 or request an appointment to get started today!
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About The Author
Kelli Humphrey is a speech therapist licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Kelli received her master’s degree from University of Delaware and is experienced across multiple settings including acute care, outpatient, and schools. She is experienced in the evaluation and treatment of fluency disorders.
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