Stuttering is an impediment to normal, fluent speech. It is just a complex set of speech behaviors that consist of repetition of sounds or syllables, hesitation, and difficulty pronouncing a word or group of words.
If you usually discover your words stuck at the tip of your tongue, you are not alone. More than three million Americans suffer from this speech difficulty. For sure, you are aware how hard it is to manage the condition, not to mention the mocking reaction of others whenever they hear stutters in a speech.
There is no single cure for stammering. However, stutterers can heave a sigh of relief from the fact that their situation could be reduced so that they will turn out to be more comfortable with talking and interacting with people. Because the speech issue varies from one individual to another, individuals who stutter also need different varieties of treatment. The therapy method you will use must be tailored according to your unique symptoms. That way, it will be fast and simple for you to improve your speech fluency.
Nowadays, lots of different treatments is obtainable for those who stutter. Here are some of the therapies and other therapy options you may consider to control your tendency to stumble when you talk.
Anti-Stuttering Medicines
Be sure that the medicines you are likely to take to decrease stammering are prescribed by your doctor. Particular medicines such as risperidone, olanzapine, and haloperidol usually lower the incidence of stammering by 30 to 50 percent. Ask your physician about the side effects of these drugs, so you'll be well prepared if there's any.
Avoid medications that trigger or improve the degree of stammering. These drugs consist of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for example Zoloft and Prozac. Ritalin, a dopamine agonist, is not recommended as well for stutterers.
Stammering Modification Treatment
This treatment method does not aim to stop a person's stammering altogether, simply because it is impossible. As the term implies, the therapy modifies or alters stammering to make the situation less severe. In addition, the therapy helps eliminate avoidance to social situations and reduce the fear associated with stammering. With the help of a clinically trained speech specialist, you may make your self a better speaker despite your tendency to stutter, thanks to stammering modification treatment.
Fluency Shaping Therapy
This treatment uses proper articulation, breathing, and relaxation methods to train a person to speak fluently.
When you undergo fluency shaping therapy, you will see how you can speak correctly and reduce stammering by breathing with your diaphragm, slowly increasing the tension inside your vocal cord as you start talking, prolonging vowels to slow down your rate of speaking, and lessening the pressure on your articulation.
The treatment takes about 1 to 2 years to complete. After the treatment, you will notice significant improvements in your speech such as slower and more fluent speech. About 70 % of patients get successful results from fluency shaping therapy.
Anti-Stuttering Devices
Devices that are designed to stop stuttering are found to be effective when used with fluency shaping therapy. These gadgets provide a modified auditory feedback to their users, helping them to hear their speaking voice.