Childhood Trauma May Be a Cause of Stuttering

Speech and Language Therapist Hazel Ezgi Dündar, points out that childhood experiences or trauma can play a role in making stuttering manifest and become visible. Speech and Language Therapist Hazel Ezgi Dündar at Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Centre made assessments on the psychological causes of stuttering.

Associated with psychological factors

Defining stuttering as a speech and language disorder characterized by disrupted speech fluency, Dündar continued: "Stuttering, a fluency disorder, is associated with various factors such as genetic factors, brain functions, environmental conditions and language development, but it can also be associated with psychological factors. However, we cannot say that stuttering arises directly from psychological causes. Psychological factors can only affect characteristics of existing fluency disorder such as its severity, frequency and manifestation."

Are childhood traumas a factor?

Addressing the role of childhood trauma in stuttering onset, Dündar stated, "Childhood experiences or traumas can affect many areas of our lives, as well as our language and speech development, but they do not create stuttering from nothing in a person. Instead, they can be effective in making the manifestation of stuttering visible or can trigger symptoms in a negative way."

Therapy process is individualised

Providing information about stuttering treatment, Dündar said, "Each person's stutter is unique like fingerprints, which is why therapy processes should also be individualised in the same way. While there are many approaches in this field containing techniques aimed at making speech more fluent, the most appropriate course of action would be to obtain an evaluation from a speech and language therapist and develop a therapy plan suited to the stuttering and the person's characteristics."

Emphasising the importance of early intervention in stuttering treatment, Dündar continued:

"Early intervention is of great importance in reducing the effects of stuttering and facilitating the therapy process. When stuttering symptoms are suspected, it is extremely important for parents to consult a speech and language therapy specialist and support the child in collaboration with the therapist. During this process, parents should be patient and supportive and create an environment that will facilitate increased speech fluency and self-confidence in the child. Underlying all of this should be an approach that includes providing access to appropriate speech and language therapy options." Addressing coping with stuttering in adulthood and the speech and language therapy process, Dündar said, "Coping with stuttering in adulthood can sometimes be difficult because this condition can have negative effects on social interactions and professional success. However, this does not mean that this therapy process will not be beneficial. With proper planning of a process suited to the person in collaboration with a speech and language therapist, adaptation to the individual's daily life, and adoption of a supportive approach that will encompass the person's work and social life, it is possible in adulthood as well to cope with the negative effects of stuttering on quality of life."