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Treatments Can Control Stuttering | |
By DR. MARTIN F. SCHWARTZ A combination of psychological, nutritional and physical techniques can help most stutterers keep their speech problem under control. There are about 2.4 million stutterers in the United States. Their speech troubles are due to a physiological problem that is triggered by stress. Studies have shown that under tension, every person focuses on a specific area of the body. For stutterers, that area is the larynx, specifically the muscles that control the vocal cords. In a stressful situation, these people struggle to speak. Their vocal muscles become locked, and the result is stuttering. The problem usually arises early in life and can be triggered by such stresses as starting school or acquiring a new baby brother or sister. The more a stutterer stutters, the more the problem becomes entrenched - a "learned struggle behavior." Nutritional treatment includes testing for foods that trigger tension in an individual. Trigger foods can vary widely from person to person. In addition, taking calcium, magnesium and vitamin B complex helps many people. So does an herbal preparation used for many years in England and now available here. Physical treatments concentrate on teaching breathing techniques that unlock laryngeal muscles. Psychological methods include relaxation techniques and training stutterers to have their listeners prepared for slow, steady speech - another way of reducing stress on the speaker. Combination therapy for stuttering is available from many hospitals and private practitioners across the country. Information on local treatment availability can be obtained by calling a hot line maintained by the National Center for Stuttering in New York. The number is (800) 221-2483. The center also provides information about local support groups. Stuttering is never really cured, but it can be kept under control. The success rate for individuals who stick to these therapies is over 90 percent. But about one individual in three fails to continue the disciplined techniques that are necessary for success. --- Dr. Martin F. Schwartz is Research Associate Professor of Surgery at New York University School of Medicine. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |