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Intervention Methods for Stuttering

Stuttering is due in large part to genetic and neurophysiological factors over which sufferers have little control, but there are a variety of treatment programs that help stutterers deal with their speech problems. Most treatment regimens take an integrated approach with intervention methods that address stutterers' cognitive, emotional, linguistic and motor behaviors. No drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of stuttering, although some stutterers have used anti-anxiety medication to reduce the severity of their condition.

  1. Speech Retraining

    • One intervention method used to treat stuttering is a type of physical therapy that targets the vocal muscles. While each speech therapist uses slightly different techniques, most help stutterers alter the timing of their speech and change the amount of muscle tension that goes into producing words. Speech therapists, like others involved in stuttering treatment, don't aim to eradicate a stutter completely, just to help stutterers communicate effectively. No known cure exists for stuttering.

    Relaxation Techniques

    • Another goal of intervention therapy is to help stutterers relax when they speak, since anxiety can induce stuttering and make it harder to get "unstuck" during a stutter. When stutterers become embarrassed and uncomfortable during speech, they tend to tense muscles that make stuttering more severe. Intervention methods encourage stutterers, especially young stutterers, to accept the condition and not let it compromise their self-esteem. Other approaches teach calming techniques such as deep breathing to keep stutterers from becoming tense when they talk.

    Coping Mechanisms

    • Most intervention programs teach stutterers coping techniques to help them minimize the impact of the condition. These techniques include giving simple responses to questions, speaking in short sentences when possible and favoring short words over long. Some programs also teach stutterers to speak more slowly and to breathe regularly when they talk. Most programs, however, encourage stutterers to engage in conversations and not to shun speech altogether. Many programs focus on treating schoolchildren who stutter, since early treatment often has the best results, but treatment options also exist for adult stutterers.

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