More Than 70 Million People Worldwide Stutter, But Myths
Persist
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- To promote greater understanding and
acceptance of stuttering, the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA) is focusing on educating the public this
National Stuttering Awareness Week.
Unfortunately, many people who
stutter say they've been mocked or bullied—in childhood and
adulthood. Such experiences can take a toll.
More than 70 million people worldwide stutter—including an
estimated 3 million Americans. Generally, stuttering begins in
childhood—and manifests in a variety of ways. Although some people
repeat sounds in words, others have breaks in their speech,
difficulties starting sentences, and/or physical tension when they
speak. An individual's stuttering can even vary day-to-day—or
situationally.
"There are many myths about stuttering that can lead to harmful
misunderstandings and outright stigmatization," said Tena McNamara, AuD, CCC-A/SLP, 2024 ASHA
President. "However, more education can help eradicate such myths.
We want people to know that stuttering is not at all an indicator
of a person's intelligence, nor is it a psychological disorder or
something people can control by just 'taking their time,' 'slowing
down' or 'relaxing.'"
McNamara continued: "Unfortunately, many people who stutter say
they've been mocked or bullied—in childhood and adulthood. Such
experiences can take a toll. We all have the power to change that
by being respectful, patient, non-judgmental, and accepting."
The Facts About Stuttering
ASHA encourages the public to learn the facts about stuttering. One
important fact is that some people who stutter think of their
speech as a different way of talking—and are proud of their
resilience and confidence speaking.
That outlook aligns with contemporary intervention and treatment
approaches for stuttering. Today, treatment by speech-language
pathologists often focuses on improving confidence and reducing
avoidance of speaking—as opposed to only speaking fluently. It also
debunks the myth that the goal of treatment is to "cure" or
"overcome" stuttering. In fact, some speech therapy goals may be to
help people:
- Stutter in an easier way with less tension
- Feel better about speaking
- Improve overall communication
Tips for Communicating With People Who Stutter
Often, people who stutter are not given the opportunity to speak or
finish their sentences—at times by people who are well intended.
The tips below can help avoid that and other unfortunate day-to-day
situations:
- Be patient. It may take an extra moment for a person to get
their thoughts out. Give them the courtesy of time and
understanding.
- Don't speak for the person. You may think you are helping by
finishing a person's sentence for them. However, you shouldn't
assume you know what they're trying to say.
- Be kind. Bullying or making fun of someone who stutters is
never okay.
- Be aware of your body language. Don't look away when someone
stutters. Stay engaged in the conversation. Be considerate—and use
positive body language.
- Educate yourself. Consider whether what you think you know
about stuttering is accurate. Listen to people who stutter
themselves. ASHA provides numerous educational resources, as do
other organizations that focus on stuttering.
For more information and resources, including public service
announcements about stuttering, visit ASHA's website.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing
association for 234,000 members, certificate holders, and
affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists;
speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and
speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists
specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance
disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including
hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess,
and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.
http://www.asha.org
Media Contact
Francine Pierson, ASHA,
301-296-8715, fpierson@asha.org, https://www.asha.org
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SOURCE ASHA