Adult Stuttering*
Recently, I’ve noticed a higher number of adult stutterers who are seeking out services independently. Some of these clients received speech-language therapy services when they were younger, and some never received services at all. Whether they received supports or not, stutterers often develop smart strategies on their own to manage fluency in day-to-day life. For some, this works well and they are satisfied with successful management and acceptance of their speech fluency as is. Others may wish to seek out more support and further development of strategies to reduce stuttering, but they aren’t sure what therapy would look like, or what they can expect.
Reducing Stuttering and its impact on the client
Stuttering treatment typically includes fluency-shaping strategies to reduce or eliminate the amount of stuttering that occurs in their speech. It can include ways to recognize and adjust disfluent speech in real time when it occurs. Ideally, the client develops self-monitoring skills, furthers their education about stuttering, receives counselling about anxiety and fears around speaking, and uses their most effective strategies outside of therapy sessions to generalize practice to real life. This can work to modify stuttering even at the moment it happens.
What increases the chances of success?
All clients will define “success” differently! Each person will have different expectations and feelings about their speech and about their therapy program. Treatment will not always work to entirely eliminate stuttering, and there is no “cure” for stuttering; even if stuttered speech disappears, stuttering is shown to be a neurological difference (even if stuttering does not surface!). Therapy should include fluency-shaping strategies + maintenance strategies, and should also help the client to overcome fear/anxiety around speaking. Successful therapy means that the client is able to increase their overall participation in life events, build relationships, and support overcoming negative attitudes about communication. Consultation with a speech-language pathologist can help to support adult stutterers maintain more fluent speech and/or provide support for building communication skills and strategies, including self-advocacy, self-monitoring strategies, opportunities to check in, or resources connecting them to a wider community of stutterers.
For more information about stuttering, feel free to check out the following resources:
https://www.stutteringhelp.org/
*please note that this post addresses adults with developmental stuttering, a condition beginning in childhood (~2-5 years) without any brain damage or other known cause. This is distinct from neurogenic stuttering, also known as acquired stuttering, which can occur after brain damage (such as stroke or traumatic brain injury).