Hypnotherapy for Stuttering

What is stuttering or stammering?

Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. The letters usually are harder to pronounce M- S- ST- T…

There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak.

Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.

What causes stuttering?

There are a number of factors that have been cited to contribute to the development of stuttering:

• genetics (approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also)
• child development (children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter)
• neurophysiology (recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter)
• family dynamics (high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering).

Stuttering may occur when a combination of factors comes together and may have different causes in different people.

It is probable that what causes stuttering differs from what makes it continue or get worse.

How many people stutter?

It is estimated that more than 68 million people worldwide stutter, which is about 1% of the population.

In the UK that is equal to about 650,000 sufferers!

What is the ratio of males to females who stutter?

Stuttering affects four times as many males as females.

How many children stutter?

Again, it is estimated that about 5 percent of all children go through a period of stuttering that lasts six months or more.

Three-quarters of those will recover by late childhood, leaving about 1% with a long-term problem.

The best prevention tool is early intervention.

Is stuttering caused by emotional or psychological problems?

Children and adults who stutter are no more likely to have psychological or emotional problems than children and adults who do not.

However, it is interesting that when a client suffering from a stutter or stammer first experiences Hypnosis, very often the stutter or stammer recedes due to the deep level of relaxation that Hypnosis offers.

Often a stutterer has placed themselves under so much “internal pressure” that the problem could almost be described as “Anticipatory Anxiety”, a process we examine and discuss at length in our Thrive program.

Stutters or stammers are also often the result of Social Anxiety (Social Phobia) and might be negatively affected by a sense of being judged or feeling “on the spot”.

Can Hypnotherapy help with Stuttering?

Advanced Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis techniques have an excellent track record at helping sufferers overcome stuttering and stammering, although the actual therapeutic technique that is used differs in each client according to their own specific set of circumstances.

I read about a new cure for stuttering. Is there such a thing?

There are no instant miracle cures for stuttering. Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, Speech-Therapy, electronic devices, and even drugs are not an overnight process.

It can take time for all forms of help and assistance to become effective and no one form of therapy has been proven to be better than any other.