While stuttering and stammering are not mental health conditions, tomorrow is stuttering and stammering awareness day, so we felt it would be appropriate to share this fact file today.
What is stuttering and stammering?
It is a difference in the pattern of speech which may involve one or more of the following:
– Repetition of sounds: such as ‘c-c-c-cat’
– Prolonging sounds: such as ‘mmmmilk’
– Blocks: gaps in speech / absence of sound
It is estimated that 70 million people worldwide are affected by a stutter / stammer.
Types of stutter and stammer:
There are three types to be aware of:
– Developmental: This is the most common form and it usually develops around the same time that a persons language skills are developing (around the age of 2-5 years old)
– Neurogenic: This is when a stutter or stammer occurs after the likes of a stroke, head trauma or brain injury that causes problems with the signal between the brain, muscles and nerves that are involved in speech production.
– Psychogenic: This is the least common form. It may occur after a person has experienced an emotional trauma of some sort.
Most people will recover from a stutter/stammer via the help of speech therapy and early intervention.
Stuttering and Mental Health
The severity of a stutter or stammer will vary across each individual; and while it is not a dangerous condition to have, it can have a negative impact on a persons mental health.
40% of children with a stutter between the ages of 12-17, also have mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This may be linked to feeling isolated or being treated differently by their peers or classmates, or could derive from feeling frustrated at oneself for being different and not being able to express themselves as clearly as others.
Adults who stutter are twice as likely to develop depression and/or anxiety and up to three times more likely to be diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Causes:
There is no definitive cause of stuttering / stammering (in most cases), however there may be some contributing factors:
– Family history: You may be three times more likely to develop a stutter or stammer if an immediate family member has one (a parent or sibling)
– Genetics: Mutations in DNA can contribute to the development of a stutter or stammer. It may also have an impact on whether or not the stutter improves.
– Differences in brain structure: People who stutter or stammer are likely to have differences in certain areas of their brain. These are often areas that control speaking muscles or muscle co-ordination.
Treatments:
In regards to treatment, it is often speech therapies and targeted activities to help reduce the stutter. It is also common for mental health medications to be given alongside this for those who may be struggling.
Resources:
https://westutter.org/what-is-stuttering/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfvpywx
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14162-stuttering
