Stuttering can have a deep-rooted psychological impact if not treated on time. It can cause an inferiority complex, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence as well. The fear of interacting with people or being in a social circle can also be the outcome of stuttering. Is there any relation between stuttering and anxiety?
Here, we are trying to get that answer by exploring the cause and effect of the whole stuttering issue.
Why people stutter!
Well, that’s an overly analyzed and discussed issue, so here we are not focusing on that. But, instead, we would focus on how anxiety and stuttering are related to one another.
How is anxiety related to stuttering?
The correlation between anxiety and stuttering has been a subject of debate for about a century in almost all the therapies and mental health speeches. In the 20th century, professionals concluded that stuttering is not a physiological problem; rather, it is due to psychological factors, one of them being anxiety. It stimulates the children to speak slowly by playing back the changed recording of their voice when they speak fast. And some electronic devices are worn like hearing aids. The researchers found that children who stuttered were overly anxious than the ones who do not stutter. The studies have shown that stuttering is directly related to social anxiety throughout one’s life.
The problem could be solved easily if one is aware of their anxiousness. It can help you realize when you stutter and help you work upon it then and there. Reducing anxiety and stress can also turn out to be very effective in treating stuttering.
What are the causes of stuttering?
There could be various causes of stuttering. Some of them are:
● Stroke, trauma, or some other kind of brain injury that might have occurred in the past could cause stuttering or make the speech slow with pauses and repetitions
● Emotional distress and anxiety, and various other psychological factors, when one needs to speak in public, could also be one of the leading causes of stuttering
● A family history of stuttering or inherited from genes could be another cause of stuttering
● Children having developmental delays and other speech problems can cause children to stutter
● Loss of social circles and low self-esteem can also cause stuttering
What are the various treatment options for curing stuttering?
Some of the most chosen treatments for stuttering are as follows:
Speech therapy has proved to be a very effective treatment. It reduces interruptions and pauses in speech, boosting the overall confidence of the child. This therapy helps a child monitor their speech rate, frequent breath support, and laryngeal tension.
These devices are equally effective in treating stuttering. It stimulates the children to speak slowly by playing back the changed recording of their voice when they speak fast. And some electronic devices are worn like hearing aids, which create some background noise resulting in the reduction of stuttering.
One can also treat stuttering at home without any external treatment and medication. One needs to learn to speak slowly and not rush to complete sentences and allow oneself to take a few breaths in between. It can significantly reduce stuttering. And speaking in a low-stress environment can also cause less anxiety, thus leading to less stuttering.
So if you are someone dealing with the stuttering issue and feeling anxious about how it will affect your life, do not wait for some overnight miracle and opt for the treatment best suited for you.
