Also known as stammering or childhood-onset fluency disorder, stuttering is a speech disorder that causes people to repeat or prolong sounds, words, or syllables. It can also manifest in the form of disruptions to the regular flow of speech, as well as in unusual movements or expressions.
Over 3 million people in the US suffer from stuttering, with about 5-10% of all children experiencing some form of stammering that goes away after several months or years. Stuttering can be especially problematic when it occurs in students who are in the process of learning a new language at an English school in San Diego, California.
In this article, we'll take a look at what causes stuttering and provide you with 3 tried-and-true ways to reduce or even completely neutralize it. Keep reading to learn more.
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WHY DO I STUTTER WHEN I TALK?
Stammering typically occurs in children aged 2-5. It tends to be more common in boys and can last from anywhere between a few weeks to a few years. However, a small number of kids doesn't naturally outgrow stuttering and may even be dealing with it for the rest of their lives.
Stuttering can be caused by:
- Genetics. There's significant proof that stammering tends to run in the family.
- Emotional trauma, or psychogenic stuttering, has also been documented.
- Brain injury. Stroke, brain trauma, and other brain injuries can cause a person to develop a stutter.
- Stress. Being nervous or otherwise stressed out can cause even people who don't have a disorder to stutter while they talk. This often happens with bilingual students who lack confidence in their ability to speak English.
HOW CAN I SPEAK FLUENT ENGLISH WITHOUT STUTTERING?
Unfortunately, an easy cure for stammering doesn't exist. That being said, there are various factors (for example, fatigue, nervousness, pressure, etc.) that can temporarily worsen a stutter. Knowing how to manage these factors can go a long way toward alleviating stuttering.
Here are 3 tips to reduce stutter:
1. SPEECH THERAPY
According to recent research, speech therapy is the single most effective long-term solution for stuttering in both children and adults.
A speech therapist specializes in teaching people how to:
- Be aware of it when they stammer
- Develop a more fluid speech pattern
- Control situations that make their stuttering worse
- Speak at a slower rate
2. TAKE YOUR TIME
Speaking slowly and deliberately will help you reduce anxiety and the symptoms of stammering. Adding a short pause between sentences and phrases is another great way to help yourself slow down your speech.
A great way to practice this is by slowly reading out to yourself when you're alone. Once you get used to it, you can apply the same slow pace while talking to others.
3. DON'T USE TRIGGER WORDS
Some people who stammer tend to do so only while speaking certain words. If you find this is the case with you, write down a list of these problematic words and replace them with synonyms or alternative phases in your daily speech.
WHERE CAN I FIND A TOP-NOTCH ENGLISH SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA?
Students who are looking to learn English or another foreign language often find themselves stuttering or otherwise have trouble speaking fluently as a result of feeling insecure about their command of the foreign language.
Luckily, these and other language-learning difficulties can be overcome with the help of trained teachers who know how to help non-native English speakers get a firm grasp of the language. This is where the College of English Language comes in.
Located at the very epicenter of Downtown San Diego, we use state-of-the-art learning techniques and modern teaching equipment to provide our students with a first-rate approach to learning English. Reach out to us today!
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