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Word Find
Teens Who Stutter By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Stuttering is not a mental disease, an indicator of mental disability or an indicator of low intelligence. Stuttering is misunderstood. Stuttering can be detrimental to self-esteem and confidence, but it is a condition that can be overcome and controlled.
The Stuttering Facts
According to the National Stuttering Association (NSA), stuttering is a communication disorder involving disruptions in the forward flow of speech. The word "stuttering" can be used to refer either to the specific speech disfluencies that are commonly seen in people who stutter or to the overall communication difficulty that people who stutter may experience. There are perhaps as many different patterns of stuttering as there are people who stutter, as well as many different degrees. Where Does It Come From?
There is no single cause of stuttering, but current research is exploring the connections between stuttering and the neurological coordination of speech. "Developmental stuttering usually begins in early childhood, but can develop and persist into the preteen, teen and adult years," says Catherine Montgomery, executive director of the American Institute for Stuttering in New York, NY. "Stuttering tends to run in families and affects more men than women. Stuttering can be influenced by behavioral factors but is not caused by emotional problems, a nervous disorder and is not the fault of the family or the person who stutters." The Stuttering Teen
Stuttering at any stage of life is difficult, but stuttering can be especially difficult in the teenage years. "When a teen practices avoidance, stuttering is more difficult to manage," says Montgomery. "Many teens are more reluctant to discuss their stuttering openly with peers and parents. A great way a teen becomes more comfortable with addressing their stutter is by meeting others who are going through the same experiences. Groups such as the NSA provide help and understanding and can enhance the success of individual therapy programs." Montgomery explains that the disorder of stuttering takes on a life of its own during adolescence. "Teens not only have to deal with the obvious speech disruptions, but they also have to deal with the roller coaster of feelings that all teens can experience occurring concurrently with their stuttering problem," she says.