Myths About Stuttering

Drawing by Dorota Ida

Myth 1:
Stuttering is a defect of speech.

It is not because every stutterer is able to speak fluently, regardless of the structure of speech apparatus.

Myth 2:
Stuttering is genetically conditioned.

So far, no stutter gene has been detected. Only one can speak of the predispositions of speech inability to speak.

Myth 3:
Stuttering is innate.

No one is born with stuttering. No stuttering babies were recorded on babbling and chewing. Pickles are purchased between 3 and 6 years of age in the development phase of speech. It happens that you stutter 1.5 year old children, especially those who have a very rapid development of speech. Stuttering precedes the phase of liquid speech. The problem most often concerns the boys. It is not true that the child stutters because he thinks faster than he says, because under this rule we all have to stutter. Always think ahead of the word. Also, using multiple languages before age 5 does not cause stuttering.

Myth 4:
You grow out stuttering.

Not true, every stutter should be subjected to comprehensive and systematic therapy. Do not use random advice or so. "Domestic ways" (talking into the bucket, correcting, syllabelling, scaring).

Myth 5:
The stink is built on stress.

No, there are many factors that cause stuttering. Firstly, you have the ability to stutter: high sensory and emotional sensitivity, decreased excitability, perinatal problems, delayed or accelerated speech development, disturbed lateralization, delayed myelination, stuttering in the family, and many others. Secondly, triggers for fear, horror, detention, separation from parents, traumatic events, imitation of a stutterer, impaired organism (allergy, chronic diseases). Third - stuttering fixation factors, stigmatization, ineffective treatments, prolonged disease states, ineffective conscious struggle with stuttering, parental over-anxiety.

Myth 6:
Jaws cannot be cured completely.

No, stuttering can be cured. Stomach is a learned emotional response - a specific, learned program written in the brain. Stuttering creates personality stuttering. The one who stutters is stuttering even when he speaks fluently. Stiffened, stutters not only when he speaks, but especially when he is planning his speech (mental level). This is what distinguishes people who do not stutter, which sometimes also have moments of speechlessness.

Myth 7:
Stuttering is a way to deal with anxiety.

No, the fear is secondary to stuttering. The stuttering behavior and reactions of the stutter are built on stuttering. Stuttering is caused by communication anxiety rather than stuttering due to anxiety.

Myth 8: Psychological problems cause stuttering.

Not true, stuttering causes psychological problems and sometimes even psychiatric (depression, psychosis).

Myth 9:
The child does not realize that she is stuttering.

Not true, the child just does not know the name of his ailments (stuttering). Every living organism knows that it is uncomfortable for him. The children are turning their eyes, covering their mouths, silent, crying, stomping their feet, asking for help, though they cannot talk about what's going on with them, which does not mean they have no problem.

Myth 10:
"Traditional" speech therapy helps to improve speech.

Unfortunately not. Rhythmizing, syllabelling, tapping, clapping, bouncing, squealing of hard pseudosaurs, chanting of rhymes, speeding of the slow tempo, "well" practice (speaking in a bucket), echo-corrector even stuttering. It could even be said that these are archaic and ineffective methods used since the days of Claudius, who would not say stuck to the well in order not to stutter. Do not over-protect children from stress. Psychological anxiety therapy will also not solve the problem, as the relaxation techniques themselves do not solve the problem.

Check my other related posts:

Fluency/StutteringResources

Acollection of resources after Judith Maginnis Kuster

Stutteringor Disfluency?

UnderstandingStuttering