October 22.
Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Stuttering is a human communication
challenge in which the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions of sounds,
syllables or words, the prolonging of sounds or the complete stoppage of speech
altogether. Stuttering is not, contrary
to popular belief, an “emotional” problem.
It’s caused by a combination of factors – including early language
challenges as a child; genetics (60% of people who stutter report that some
other family member stutters, and interestingly, the ratio of male to female
stutterers is 4:1); neurophysiological differences in stutterers, and family
dynamics – a fast paced, high drive lifestyle can contribute to
stuttering. So it’s actually a bunch of
factors that come into play when someone stutters.
Some famous people who stutter(ed) include
actresses Marilyn Monroe, Jane Seymour and Emily Blunt, actors James Earl Jones and
Charlie Sheen, author John Updike, TV reporter John Stossel, US Vice President Joe Biden, singers Carly
Simon and Elvis Presley, Prime Minister
Winston Churchill, and one of the most famous political individuals, King
George, whose story was depicted in the movie The King’s Speech.
Speech-language Pathologists can help
people who stutter but did you know that dogs can help people who stutter too?! Some people who stutter report that when they
talk to their dog, they are fluent! So
practicing speech techniques with a dog might be a good thing to do! We also know that dogs can reduce stress
(well some dogs can) and even that may help individuals who stutter to reduce
tension and practice fluent speech techniques.
So
there are your stuttering facts for today!
No matter whether or not you stutter, go and talk to your dog and reduce your stress. Maybe.
Have a good one!
© Linda Wozniak
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