Stammering
Stammering, or stuttering affects the smooth coordination of speech. Stammering can be overt - the physical struggle to speak, or covert - the emotional struggle and avoidance of speaking and situations.
How someone stammers and the treatment approach required, will be unique for each person.
About Stammering
Research suggests that individuals have a genetic predisposition to stammering. Stammering usually starts when a child is learning to talk, though it can start later in life. The interplay of neurological ‘wiring’, the environment, linguistic demands and an individual’s psychological make up, are all factors implicated in stammering, and the way it can vary throughout life and in different situations. Stammering often creates anxiety and avoidance of speaking and situations.
Approximately one percent of the world’s population stammers. More boys than girls continue to experience stammering into adulthood.
What helps
Speech management approaches address the physical struggle of speaking. Emotional support and psychological therapies help to manage uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, assisting people to feel more at ease and confident.
It helps to think of stammering as something someone does, rather than who someone is. This can be as simple as saying “I stammer” or a “person who stammers” rather than “I’m a stammerer”. This challenges the ‘single story’ of someone’s reality and allows for a different relationship with the stammer.
Speech fluency approaches
“Stammer more fluently” are Charles Van Riper and Joseph Sheehan’s approaches, widely used in the UK. The four stages of therapy include: identifying what people do and feel when they stammer; feeling less sensitive about stammering; modifying speech patterns before, during or after the moment of stammering; and finally tools for maintaining fluency and going for what matters in life.
“Speaking more fluently” focuses on changing the speech pattern. This includes the Valsalva Technique (Brian Perry) and Vocal Fold Management (Catherine Montgomery).
Technology apps and communication aids change the auditory processing of speech and can be integrated into therapy.
Techniques are best learnt through short and frequent practice, in varying situations.
Psychological Approaches
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a humanistic practice making life’s invisible stories visible. It shines a light on the influences of power, context, upbringing and culture, and on how one makes sense of oneself and the world. It highlights what is important in life. This deeply respectful approach, developed by Michael White and David Epston, shines a light on hopes, dreams and intentions, moving towards a preferred way of living and feeling.
Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassion is at the heart of this approach. Developed by Paul Gilbert, it explores how a compassionate self can provide kindness, strength and wisdom to deal with everyday life and challenging communication situations. The “tricky mind” can be overly critical at times, causing anxiety, sadness, shame and anger.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is an innovative approach developed by Stephen Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, to manage the upsetting and painful experiences of life. It is a contextual cognitive-behavioural intervention, designed to create psychological flexibility when confronted with uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations. It recruits experiential wisdom, explores what matters in life and encourages taking committed actions towards achieving goals.
Clinical Hypnosis
Clinical Hypnosis uses the unconscious mind to unlock inner resources, change habits, reduce anxieties and tap into inner strength. It can reframe uncomfortable and painful feelings and thoughts and overcome distress around communication. Psychotherapeutic behavioural and psychodynamic approaches are used in the “trance state” to bring about change.