As a speech therapist, I sometimes have to deal with situations when a father or mother, with tear-stained eyes, talk about how yesterday everything was fine, but today the child began to stutter and they don’t know how to get rid of stuttering. Or an adult who has suffered from this speech disorder since childhood gets the job of his dreams. And on the way to the coveted position, there is a damned illness.
However, there is no need to panic. There are certain methods, by studying which you may find the answer to the question: How to get rid of stuttering? Although, with such a complex speech disorder, you should under no circumstances refuse the help of specialists.
What is stuttering
Medicine defines the problem as a speech disorder in which a person often repeats certain words or syllables, pronounces individual sounds in a drawn-out manner, without being able to pronounce them fully. Smoothness, rhythm, and tempo of pronunciation of phrases suffer. Doctors define the disorder by the term “logoneurosis.” According to statistics, it occurs in approximately 2-3% of people, that is, quite common.
Physiological reasons include spasms and convulsions of the muscles responsible for speaking. These disturbances negatively affect breathing, the strength and pitch of spoken sounds. The physiology of this process is similar to hiccups.
At what age does the problem appear?
Most often, a child encounters stuttering at the age of 3-4, when the speech apparatus and psyche are formed. However, logoneurosis can manifest itself at a later age - up to adolescence. The occurrence of a problem in adulthood is an extremely rare occurrence, as it is associated with the formation of the nervous system and speech function of the brain. And this period occurs at the age of 3-6 years. It is noteworthy that the disorder occurs much more often in boys, since the cerebral hemisphere responsible for speech develops more slowly in them.
Other techniques
Support and self-help groups are often used in therapy. Their formation is based on the statement: there is no cure for logophobia, it is a psychological barrier that must be overcome. It is easier for patients in a group to come to terms with their problem and live in harmony with it - thus their stress level decreases, they stutter less or stop doing it altogether.
Psychotherapy according to Myasishchev is used, changing the patient’s relationship system and correcting his behavior. This takes into account the patient’s personality and the totality of the causes of the unfavorable neurotic state.
In our time of technological progress, special computer programs, for example, BreathMake, are used to treat stuttering and correct speech. The bottom line is that a person who experiences anxiety in communicating with his own kind speaks more freely with artificial intelligence. A modified feedback works here, synchronizing the auditory and speech centers of the brain - Broca's and Wernicke's, respectively.
It happens like this. The patient speaks into a microphone connected to a PC. A computer program corrects the speech and sends the sound to the headphones. That is, the patient hears the correct smooth version, and this relieves tension and makes him more confident. In addition, this way you can train your speaking skill by adapting to the “voice” of the computer.
There are also programs that can simulate any life situation. The patient responds to this request using a microphone. His response is evaluated, and if the specified parameters are not met, the patient tries to say what is needed again and again until he manages to do it correctly.
Is it possible to conduct behavioral therapy to treat logoneurosis using the desensitization method? Experts tried, but it was not successful.
What can cause a child to stutter?
Organic causes
A number of reasons are associated with problems of early development and organic lesions of the nervous system:
- genetic predisposition;
- injuries during childbirth;
- intrauterine development disorders;
- infections that the mother suffered during pregnancy;
- diseases associated with metabolism in a pregnant mother;
- frequent ENT diseases of a child in the first 3 years of life.
In these cases, curing stuttering in a child is problematic. After all, it is caused by physiological abnormalities in the development of the nervous system. Children may have impaired reflexes, a tendency to seizures, and surges in intracranial pressure. Problems can be corrected with the help of medications that are selected by the doctor.
Acquired reasons
Basically, they are associated with stress and neuroses, due to which the child may begin to stutter. Most often this happens at 4-5 years of age, when the nervous system is most susceptible to external factors. Doctors include these:
- strong and frequent quarrels;
- life changes (for example, starting kindergarten);
- unfavorable atmosphere in the family;
- sharp fear;
- excessive intellectual stress;
- emotional turmoil;
- disordered life, child's daily routine.
Often, a child begins to stutter during the period of mastering his native language, when parents begin to intensively engage in its development. The brain does not have time to perceive the entire mass of information, especially if learning a foreign language is also added to the native language. Therefore, during any intellectual activities with your baby, it is important not to overload him. Particular attention should be paid to emotional children.
According to statistics, more than 80% of stuttering cases have acquired causes. Such children do not have any physiological abnormalities, and speech disorders can be corrected quite well.
Breathing exercises
When a teenager stutters, a spasm occurs in the muscles involved in articulation. The type of breathing is thoracic, which means superficial. Therefore, eliminating stuttering in adolescents begins with developing deep diaphragmatic breathing.
After classes, the diaphragm develops and the ligaments become more mobile so that the child begins to use breathing correctly in the process of speech formation, and maintain the pace of inhalation and exhalation. Hesitations associated with lack of air disappear, which means that fear goes away and the teenager becomes more relaxed.
There are many breathing exercises techniques, the most effective and popular is the method of A. N. Strelnikova. The technique is based on rhythmic breathing movements overcoming the resistance of the diaphragm.
The technique is as follows: the child takes a sharp breath, while making some movement, using the diaphragm muscles. After a series of breaths, he exhales calmly, then a new series of breaths. And so several repetitions.
As an example, here are a few exercises:
- “Palms” - the teenager stands or sits, arms along the body. During several successive sharp breaths, he should clench his fists rhythmically: and so on 8 times. Then exhale and a new series of breaths;
- “Pump” - legs apart, arms along the body. During inhalation, the child should bend forward, arms hanging down, back rounded. Exit - returns to the starting position;
- “Hug your shoulders” - arms in front of you and bent at the elbows, palms facing down, forearms on top of each other. When inhaling, you need to hug yourself by the shoulders, while your arms form a triangle.
How can you tell if your child has a speech disorder?
The easiest way to treat stuttering is when it is discovered at a very early stage, before the brain has yet “fixed” the speech defect, before it turns into a reflex and affects the child’s psyche. Therefore, when he turns 3-4 years old, we recommend paying attention to the following points:
- when pronouncing phrases, the child stops, breathes quickly, as if gathering strength;
- stammers, repeats the same syllables and words;
- pronounces additional sounds before the phrase (i, a, e);
- refuses to speak at all, becomes abruptly silent;
- becomes withdrawn.
Any of these symptoms is a reason to consult a doctor. The sooner you do this, the faster and without consequences the problem will be solved.
Logophobia and social phobia
When stuttering develops and worsens, an individual develops an irrational fear of waiting for it, pronouncing certain sounds, or certain situations. A person models a negative outcome before he even begins to speak. Such unreasonable fear - logophobia, in turn, itself stimulates stuttering. It turns out to be a vicious circle from which there seems to be no way out.
It is almost impossible to cope with logophobia, as with any of the numerous list of phobias, although an adult, unlike a child, is fully aware that there are no objective reasons for fear. The usual method used by a speech therapist will not help here - silence, which helps stop the speech motor stereotype. You need to contact a psychotherapist who will select a treatment method and suitable pharmacological drugs (if they are really necessary).
It happens that the patient denies the presence of such a phobia. Upon closer examination, it turns out that he is simply unaware of her presence, carefully avoiding certain situations where he needs to speak.
It should be borne in mind that it is simply impossible to get rid of stuttering without treating logophobia. Such fear perpetuates the defect, makes it stronger and more noticeable. If therapy is neglected, the individual will develop a complication in the form of social phobia - fear of social activity. People suffering from it are fixated on themselves, they worry about what others think about them, it seems to them that everyone is looking at them and discussing them in a negative way. As a result, they begin to limit their contacts, try to sit at home and not be in society.
A stuttering logo-social phobe thinks through situations that could hypothetically happen, where he will need to be socially active and talk with someone. His “baggage” contains a large amount of negative experience: he does not forget the bad things that happened to him. He consciously avoids such, in his opinion, alarming situations, sees himself in a negative light, and places inflated demands on himself. His behavior is similar to that exhibited by a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Which doctor treats stuttering?
Speech therapist
If no physiological abnormalities are found in the child, the next step is to contact a speech therapist. This specialist specializes in the correction of speech defects and will help the child learn to correctly pronounce sounds that he cannot comprehend. The speech therapist will determine the nature of stuttering - it can be tonic (drawn-out main sounds) and clonic (stutter on consonants). And then he will choose the optimal treatment method.
- It will teach you to breathe evenly so that your breathing does not falter and remains even throughout the entire phrase.
- Place pauses to save speech effort and relieve muscle spasms.
- Form sounds using the speech apparatus: larynx, tongue, teeth, lips.
The specialist works to ensure that the baby overcomes the weakness of the articulatory (speech) apparatus. To do this, the speech therapist will develop certain muscles, for example, the larynx, neck.
Psychologist
However, in most cases, its work alone is not enough. The causes of stuttering are inextricably linked with psychological problems. They need to be corrected no less than speech. Therefore, we recommend that you also contact a psychologist. Visits to this specialist may be even more effective than visits to a speech therapist.
Muscle spasms are often associated with nervous tension and an inability to relax emotionally. Therefore, this doctor will work with a stuttering child in the following areas:
- Teaches you how to behave competently in stressful situations.
- Relax and rest.
- Control your emotions.
- Overcome your fears.
- Contact with peers.
- Express yourself through creativity and communication.
There are a huge variety of methods for psychologists to work with children who stutter. For kids, this may be the development of fine motor skills, for older children - listening to recordings of their own speech with its subsequent correction.
Massage
Massage eliminates the excitability of speech centers and restores speech regulation. To eliminate stuttering in adolescents, acupressure, probe or segmental massage is used. The specialist influences:
- neck area;
- upper shoulder girdle area;
- facial muscles;
- muscles of the lips, tongue;
- larynx area.
The massage therapist massages the listed areas one by one. First it smoothes them, then taps them (vibration), stretches the skin and muscles. Each area has its own set of movements. Massage of the tongue and lips can be carried out using special probes. They act precisely, stimulating certain points.
The effect can be noticeable after the first procedure: muscles relax, spasm is eliminated, speech becomes smooth, without hesitation or pauses. To consolidate the result, a full course of 10–12 sessions is required. After a short rest, the duration of which is determined individually, a repeat course begins.
Ask a speech therapist to teach you self-massage techniques. By performing massage yourself as an addition to the main course of treatment, you can achieve greater results.
What should parents do at home?
It is ineffective to cure logoneurosis without the help of parents at home, since the main support should come from them. Therefore, get ready for the fact that you will also have to contact a psychologist and learn from him. To correct psychological problems in a child, you need to change your daily routine and lifestyle at home. The best way to prevent stuttering is to avoid situations that make it worse.
Mode
Organize your daily routine so that periods of intellectual and emotional stress alternate with proper rest and relaxation.
Dream
Children must sleep at least 8 hours a day, so you need to organize your daily life, home space, and sound atmosphere in such a way as to ensure this minimum.
Intonation
The baby should feel the confidence and calmness coming from the parents, so you need to address him slowly, quietly, calmly, without interrupting him. It is important to explain to loved ones that this is exactly what needs to be done.
Praise
Develop your baby's self-confidence by praising him for any success. Create situations in which he could show his best side. However, praise for success should not be confused with pampering.
Situation
In family relationships, quarrels should remain prohibited. It is impossible to cure a child and prevent stuttering in an aggressive and tense atmosphere. The same applies to visiting noisy companies or places.
Leisure
Limit watching programs, movies, cartoons or games that cause emotional overstimulation. Leisure should be calm, aimed at developing creative abilities.
Communication
Gradually and delicately expand your child's social circle by inviting him to visit public places that do not evoke strong emotions. Introduce him to interesting people. They will help him adapt to the outside world.
Activity
Dosed physical activity has a positive effect on the nervous system, as well as muscle development. Therefore, physical education, swimming, running, just walking, playing in the fresh air should become the norm.
Restrictions
Under no circumstances use punishments that can have a negative impact on children's emotions (punishments should also be calm, no matter what offense the child commits). It is strictly forbidden to leave a child alone in a dark room.
What should adults say?
To prevent relapses of speech disorders (and they may well occur), you as parents need to change or carefully monitor your own speech. This applies to your conversations with each other. Children actively perceive the conversation around them and unconsciously imitate it:
- Speak clearly, intelligibly, without mistakes and without rushing.
- Try to pronounce the phrase a little slower than usual.
- Avoid complex words that are incomprehensible to the baby.
- Various “scary” topics of conversation are taboo.
- It is not recommended to speak in syllables or sing phrases.
Try to get your baby to make friends with balanced children who have well-developed speech. If his speech activity is too high, artificially limit it by giving him the opportunity to silently play alone with himself for some time. Try to get your child to listen more than talk.
What to do to get rid of stuttering
Many celebrities have overcome stuttering. It is now difficult to believe that Elvis Presley, Bruce Willis, and Winston Churchill suffered from this defect. You can get rid of it forever. Your child can do this, no matter what speech defect he or she has. However, this requires serious effort, perseverance, and patience.
Here are the elements on which your success should rest:
- Emotional calm.
- Correct speech construction.
- Organization of the child's daily life.
- Thoughtful daily routine.
- Regular sessions with a speech therapist and psychologist.
The main thing is to practice regularly and not lose control of the problem.
Survey
The examination of such children should include consultation with specialists:
- speech therapist;
- neurologist;
- psychologist;
- if necessary, consult other specialists.
The main specialist involved in the treatment of stuttering in children is a speech therapist.
In the process of working with children, the speech therapist uses various textbooks, poems, fairy tales, and selects special toys.
The purpose of the examination is to determine the frequency, source of occurrence and form of speech spasms. The degree of stuttering and the patient’s speech abilities are also assessed. The second plan, if any, indicates accompanying speech defects.
At the end of the conversation with the patient, the speech therapist formulates a final conclusion.
