Cure For Stuttering

Although there is no single cure for stuttering that works for everyone, there are several different techniques that have been used successfully. But, a technique that may work to cure stuttering for one person may be totally ineffective for someone else, so don’t get discouraged if you have to try more than one method.

Stuttering, or stammering as it is sometimes called, affects both adults and children. Often it seems to run in families. In fact, almost 3 million people in the United States have a stuttering problem.

At any stage in life, stuttering can be devastating. If left untreated it can even worsen over time, resulting in psychological issues. So you can see why it’s so important to provide treatment for stutterers

Let’s take a look at a few of the most successful techniques for curing stuttering.

Speech Therapy

Since stuttering is a speech disorder, many cures for stuttering have focused on techniques in the area of speech and language. Working with a speech therapist is often recommended if there is a family history of stuttering.

A speech therapist works on voice control and rhythmic speech. They will also include airflow therapy as part of the program. Anxiety often plays a big role in stuttering, so the therapist may include breathing exercises and other techniques designed to reduce anxiety.

Every person is different so after assessing your needs, a speech therapist will come up with a personalized treatment plan. The plan will include exercises that can be done at home between visits. A supportive family can make a big difference in the success of treatment with a therapist.

It’s like a sport. In order to improve your skills you need to devote time to just practicing. The more you practice and work on specific skills the better you get. Think of your “homework” from the therapist as practice. And realize that the more you work on your treatment program at home, the more quickly your stuttering will be controlled. 

But sometimes stuttering is more a psychological issue. In that case, working with a speech therapist may not be as effective. If you stutter at all, your stutter will likely get worse if you are nervous or anxious. So dealing with this type of stuttering is a case of getting rid of stress and anxiety and learning to relax.

Stress And Anxiety Reducing Techniques

If you see yourself or someone you care about in this, there are several things that may help. First of all, it’s important to relax. Slow, deep breathing is calming. While breathing deeply, focus your attention on breathing in and out. Try not to think about anything else.

Another thing that has been effective for relaxation is yoga. The stretching and breathing used in yoga almost force you to let go of some of the tension, both in your body and in your mind.

Meditation is another good technique that can be used to reduce stress. Find a quiet place, put on some relaxing nature music, close your eyes and allow yourself to release any tension you are feeling. If you do this every day for 10 to 20 minutes, it will leave you feeling calm and relaxed.

Taking it a little further is hypnotherapy. The power of suggestion is powerful stuff. And during hypnotherapy, the suggestion being made is that you can speak clearly and easily. This is one of those things that if you believe it will work, it often does. But if you can’t convince yourself of that it probably won’t.

Anti-Stutter Devices

Anti-stutter devices have produced good results for some people who stutter. The stutterer wears a device in or behind their ear, similar to a hearing aid.

The theory here is that the stutterer hears their own voice but with a slight time delay and change in pitch, similar to an echo. This tricks the brain into thinking that the stutterer is speaking together with another person. This chorale effect results in improved fluency.

There is some discussion as to whether the effect will be long lasting. New stutter devices are under development to address these issues but the technology is certainly very promising.

Drug Therapy

A final option is drug therapy. This is often recommended for very severe cases of stuttering. In some cases, medications have proven to be very effective. But they don’t always work and there are side effects associated with some of the drugs used.

However, if you have exhausted all other ways to find a cure for your stuttering, you may want to consult a doctor about this option. He can discuss the pros and cons with you and help you make an informed decision.

These are just some of the techniques that can be used when you are looking for a cure for stuttering.