Communication Disorders: Communication Disorders: STUTTERINGSTUTTERING
Rebecca ForbesRebecca Forbes
TLSE 457TLSE 457
Summer 2004Summer 2004
What is stuttering?What is stuttering?
Speech impairment characterized by • abnormal hesitations
• repetitions, blocks, and/or prolongations of sounds, words, or syllables
• avoidance or substitution of words– example: “closet” stutterers
Specific CharacteristicsSpecific Characteristics
Repetitions Repetitions
BlocksBlocks
ProlongationsProlongations
TremorsTremors
Pitch & loudness risePitch & loudness rise
Avoidance of talkingAvoidance of talking
Fear & EmbarrassmentFear & Embarrassment
Irregular breathingIrregular breathing
Related behaviorsRelated behaviors• foot tapping, eye blinks, foot tapping, eye blinks,
head turnshead turns
What causes stuttering?What causes stuttering?
No known cause, only controversyNo known cause, only controversy
TheoriesTheories• Genetic dispositionGenetic disposition• Biological explanationBiological explanation• Family FactorsFamily Factors• Psychological factors Psychological factors
– ex: conditioning ex: conditioning
Prevalence/Incidence Prevalence/Incidence RatesRates
Most frequent type of fluency disorderMost frequent type of fluency disorder About 1% of the population stuttersAbout 1% of the population stutters
(2-3 million people)(2-3 million people) More boys than girls stutter (4:1 ratio)More boys than girls stutter (4:1 ratio) Average person: 7-10% of speech is Average person: 7-10% of speech is
disfluent disfluent >10% disfluency leads to stuttering>10% disfluency leads to stuttering 50-70% of people who stutter have at 50-70% of people who stutter have at
least one relative who also stuttersleast one relative who also stutters
Assessment/DiagnosesAssessment/Diagnoses
Speech and language pathologists • read out loud
• pronounce specific words
• talk (time wpm)
• hearing tests Tests determine whether or not a
person needs speech therapy
ex: NIU Speech Clinic
What can teachers do?What can teachers do? Instructional Ideas Instructional Ideas
talking slowly & clearly answer ?’s after a pause stay calm, don’t be bothered (patience!) give reassurance & encourage talking
about his or her stuttering create a plan for class participation allow increased response time
VIDEO CLIP
Technology and StutteringTechnology and Stuttering
Feedback machine monitors speechFeedback machine monitors speech
(Delayed Auditory Feedback)(Delayed Auditory Feedback) Classroom PowerPoint PresentationsClassroom PowerPoint Presentations
• educates peers while decreasing educates peers while decreasing teasingteasing
• helps overcome the fear of speakinghelps overcome the fear of speaking
Interesting Facts about Interesting Facts about StutteringStuttering
Stuttering occurs most often in left-handersStuttering occurs most often in left-handers No stuttering when singing, speaking in No stuttering when singing, speaking in
unison, or whisperingunison, or whispering Famous people that stutterFamous people that stutter
• George BurnsGeorge Burns Thomas EdisonThomas Edison• Charles DarwinCharles DarwinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein• George WashingtonGeorge Washington• Bruce WillisBruce Willis• Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe
References for StutteringReferences for Stuttering Resources used in this presentationResources used in this presentation
• http://www.stuttering.net/stuttering-facts.htmlhttp://www.stuttering.net/stuttering-facts.html• http://www.http://www.wiuwiu..eduedu/users//users/mfrwqmfrwq//whatisstutwhatisstut.html.html• http://http://ashaasha.org/speech/disabilities/stuttering..org/speech/disabilities/stuttering.cfmcfm
• Resources for school personnelResources for school personnel• http://http://nsastutter.org/content/index.php?catid=8nsastutter.org/content/index.php?catid=8
• Video => Stuttering: Straight Talk for TeachersVideo => Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers• The Stuttering Foundation, 2002The Stuttering Foundation, 2002
• Book => Stuttering and Your Child: ?’s and answersBook => Stuttering and Your Child: ?’s and answers• Book => Understanding Stuttering by: Nathan LavidBook => Understanding Stuttering by: Nathan Lavid• Book => Tangled Tongue: Living with a Stutter Book => Tangled Tongue: Living with a Stutter
by: Jock A. Carlisleby: Jock A. Carlisle
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