Dr. Narramore, graduate of Columbia University, New Yerk City, is a psychologist and Consultant in Research and Guidance with one of the largest school systems in the United States.
STUTTER ING
chological factors. Hence, it is not primarily a speech defect, but rather a symptom of personality maladjust ment. Conflicts and emotional tensions are apparently the basis of such speech difficulties. On this basis, stuttering may occur as a result of improper treatment or handling in the home or at school. R i d i c u l e , unfavorable comparisons with brothers and sisters, strict dis ciplinary measures, nagging, fear, anxiety, and similar stress-raising fac tors may bring on stuttering. Chil dren who have difficulty in control ling their feelings, who are easily embarrassed and w h o frequently worry are particularly vulnerable to stuttering. Research indicates that most stutterers are emotional, excit able and sensitive. What to Do When children are bom they are not destined to be stutterers. We make them that way. Whether a child or an adult becomes a stutterer depends on how he is treated by his parents, friends, teachers, associates and rela tives. Since stuttering is usually a symp tom of emotional maladjustment, one cannot expect it to be remedied until the basic conflicts and emotional stresses and strains have been greatly reduced. There is evidence that some persist in their speech spasms be cause of the recognition and atten tion which such verbal deviations gain for them. It is possible that this speech defect may constitute the in dividual’s only bid for sympathy and a sense of uniqueness. Stutterers may not be aware of this, and just know ing it may not help them. As noted before, authorities differ regarding procedures for correcting stuttering; however there seems to be considerable agreement on the fol lowing points: (1) establish a sym
pathetic relationship with the individ ual so that confidence and security may prevail, (2) remove the tension- producing forces that seem to be re sponsible, (3) encourage the individ ual to take part in social activities'— to become a good group member, (4) ignore, or at least do not comment upon the person’s speech, (5) provide for relaxation and rest, (6) under competent guidance provide an or ganized program of reading aloud, recitations, and ordinary conversa tions. One doesn’t need to be a highly trained speech therapist in order to help one who stutters. Just a sympa thetic, understanding person is help ful, .However, the services of a psy chiatrist, psychologist or speech ther apist are certainly advised. Profes sionally trained persons can get to the basic causes and can provide ex cellent help. Usually we need to work with the family as well as with the patient. People who stutter need a process, not a lecture nor a book. Very often a year of counseling and therapy is. beneficial. They need per missive climates, and an opportunity to talk about their hostilities and jealousies. They should have oppor tunity to discuss their resentments, fears, qonfusions, special preoccupa tions and doubts. Those who stutter need families and friends who are not critical, who do not punish, frighten, nor threaten them. Stutter ers usually feel that others don’t have time to listen to them. They feel they should not tell just how they think about things. Although treatment consists mostly of discovering and removing factors that produce emotional tensions, there is also great value in practice in articulation and phonation. Cases of stuttering should be treated by clini cians trained in speech pathology.
Q. I have a boy in my Sunday school class who stutters badly. What causes it? Is there anything I can do to help him? A . There are many forms of stutter ing, and authorities tell us that there are over a million people in the United States who stutter. Not long ago I was talking with a young man who has a speech problem, and he told me that he would rather have almost any handicap than to be un able to express himself when he de sired. Probably very few of us realize the mental anguish of those who stut ter. One person told me that all through high school he was accused of cheating because he was never able to answer questions in class, yet he always made superior grades on writ ten examinations. It was embarrass ing and sometimes impossible for 'him to explain his difficulty to his teacher. I have a friend who is a speech specialist with unusually wide experi ence. She states that most stutterers are above average in intelligence. It is not unusual to find that they have high levels of aspiration, seeking to “get ahead,” and to do well in life. Stutterers are often characterized by rather aggressive outgoing personali ties, and with capacities for deep feel ing. Causes There are various theories concern ing the causes of stuttering, includ ing structural defects, chemical im balance, nutrition, emotional malad justment, physical pathology, disrup tion of the speech center by change of handedness and various forms of psychological tension. I think it might be said that much has been surmised, but not a great deal is known re garding the actual nature of speech disorders. Many authorities believe that stut tering appears as the result of psy
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