Millions of people around the world stutter, but we still don't know exactly how or why this condition begins. — dpa
Around 1% of people make calls, socialise and join meetings with it.
Stuttering is common, and yet, the precise genetic cause remains elusive.
We dig into this condition with the following Q&A:
Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder.
People who stutter know exactly what they want to say, but cannot express it fluently in the moment.
In many countries, stuttering is recognised as a disability and affected children can apply for accommodations in school.
There are three main types of stuttering, characterised by the following core symptoms:
- Repetition of sounds and syllables
- Prolongation of individual sounds
- Blocks before or during a word.
According to German speech therapist Claudia Walther, the main challenge for people who stutter is often transitioning into vowels, particularly after consonants.
Accompanying symptoms may include physical effort to overcome speech interruptions or avoiding certain words altogether.
Experts believe stuttering is primarily genetic.
“People have tried to identify the specific genes responsible, but this has not been successful,” says Germany’s University Medical Center Göttingen neurologist Dr Martin Sommer.
A recent study published in the journal Nature Genetics identified 57 genetic loci linked to stuttering, associated with 48 genes.
However, study leader Prof Dr Jennifer Below from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United Sates noted that: “No one really understands why someone stutters; it has been a complete mystery.”
The study analysed data from nearly 100,000 individuals who reported having stuttered, compared to over a million people who did not.
Dr Sommer, however, criticised the study’s methodology, arguing that the question “Have you ever stuttered or stammered?” was too vague.
He notes that stuttering is linked to differences in the left hemisphere of the brain.
“There is an area with reduced fibre integrity,” he explains.
“The brain fibres connecting various grey matter regions do not function as effectively as in fluent speakers.”
Stuttering typically develops between the ages of two and six.
”Therapy is definitely recommended if the child shows signs of struggle,” says Walther.
For example, if a child realises they are having difficulty speaking and begins shaking their head, raising their voice or forcing out sounds.
Parents should consult a paediatrician if the child feels ashamed, withdraws socially or becomes reluctant to speak.
Speech therapy can help individuals manage their stuttering.
One approach, known as stuttering modification, focuses on altering the stuttering itself by pausing during moments of stuttering and deliberately forming transitions into vowels.
Another method, fluency shaping, aims to modify overall speech patterns.
“This involves techniques to change the way one speaks,” Walther explains, such as elongating speech to improve fluency.
Successful stuttering therapy also addresses any anxiety or fear associated with speaking, which may have developed over time, she adds. – By Stefanie Järkel/dpa
