"Before the device, stutterers were reduced to ridicule, shame and embarrassment because they stuttered. Now, we as stutterers can hold our heads up high and have the confidence necessary to do what we need to do in a speaking environment."

- Vincent Lovell, Holly Springs, NC, User for 12 mos.

Stuttering Help

Causes of Stuttering

Though the exact cause of stuttering has not been proven scientifically, there are three leading theories that propose how stuttering develops.

Causes of Stuttering - Theory 1: Learned Behavior

The theory that stuttering is a learned behavior stems from the fact that many children at the developmental age for learning speech and language can occasionally show signs of disfluency. Such signs of disfluency may include repeating certain sounds (which are usually initial sounds) several times, or prolonging certain sounds before the word is said. Children that feel anxious when they exhibit these disfluencies can often get caught in a cycle of increased stuttering and increased anxiety. If stuttering is a learned behavior then it implies that it is a bad habit that can be corrected, but without ever determining what the stutterer has learned to do wrong or what it consists of, it is often very difficult to overcome the problem.

Causes of Stuttering - Theory 2: Psychological Problem

It is believed by some that stuttering is a psychological problem and a symptom of an emotionally disturbed personality that could be treated with psychotherapy. These flawed beliefs may arise from the wide range of intense emotional reactions that disfluency often cause to the stutterer. Shame and embarrassment are often feelings experienced when stutterers are unable to say what they want to say without having their speech interrupted by an annoying stutter. The fear of being in certain situations or of not being able to say some particular words or sounds can build up anxiety and fear. Often it is a feeling that stems from fear of failure, though the problem can be exacerbated with negative feedback from other people and/or increased feelings of doubt.

Causes of Stuttering - Theory 3: Neurological Disorder

The third theory that some people hold true is that stuttering is organic in nature. Many people believe that the brain is in some way responsible and that neurological differences exist between the brains of those who stutter and those who don't. A different organic theory states that the stutterer hears predominantly with his left ear, whereas in the normal speaker the right ear is dominant. Though it is true that disquieting feelings or uncomfortable situations can trigger disfluent speech, stuttering is basically neurological and physiological. It is not a psychological problem since stutterers are perfectly normal in all other respects..

Causes of Stuttering Are Unknown, Yet Research Provides Some Insight

Since stuttering occurs in families, researchers that study speech are inclined to say that stuttering has genetic roots. Various studies done on families and twins also give some indication that genetic factors are involved in the development of stuttering. The study by Ambrose, N., Yairi, E., Cox, N. called: “Genetic Aspects of Early Childhood Stuttering” published in the Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 36, 701-706, August 1993 found that if you stutter, you are about three times more likely to have a close relative who stutters. The most common type of stuttering is sometimes called developmental stuttering because it usually develops on its own in childhood. Most often the developmental stuttering occurs between ages two and eight.

A Summation of “What is Stuttering?”

A physical disorder

Not thought to be caused by psychological factors such as nervousness or stress

Not thought to be caused by parental reactions nor normal childhood dysfluencies

Not thought to be caused by how parents communicate with their children when they are young

Its exact nature is unknown whether the inheritance is dependent on genetic factors, environmental factors, or possibly both

Stuttering Help for the Majority of Those Who Stutter: SpeechEasy Fluency Devices

Stuttering help is here. This is the conclusion that speech therapists and thousands of those who stutter have already reached - that the SpeechEasy fluency device is a new and valuable tool that has the real capacity to improve fluency. SpeechEasy is not a cure for stuttering but it can provide help to the majority of people who stutter.

Will SpeechEasy Cure Stuttering?

SpeechEasy is NOT a cure for stuttering. We compare using the device to wearing glasses. The effects are present while the device is in use and absent upon removal of the device. Some users report 'carry-over' fluency, meaning that their fluency persists for some time after removal of SpeechEasy. However, no data exists to support this notion, and it is recommended that users of SpeechEasy wear the device as often as possible to get the best effects.

If you are interested in obtaining a SpeechEasy device, we can let you know what to expect and provide you with the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Click here to locate a Providing SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) nearest to you who is certified to dispense and fit SpeechEasy devices.

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