Prevent Stuttering

Speech therapy for adults is one way that they can get help for their stuttering.  The therapy is similar to what a speech-language pathologist would provide for a child or teen. 

They may also have to seek psychological assistance in order for them to increase their self-esteem and self confidence.  This can help them overcome they shame and fear they experience when speaking in front of other people.

It’s important for the speech-language pathologist to understand how the adult is feeling.  They are already frustrated and embarrassed about the situation, and coming forth talking to a total stranger is probably one of the most difficult things they’ve ever had to do.  However, since the adult is willing to seek help, it’s a good thing for them.  

During speech therapy, the adult needs to express to their feelings to the speech-language pathologist.  They need to know that the speech-language pathologist has their best interest at heart.  The pathologist’s role in this is to help the adult understand the process of speech therapy and what it’s about. 

The adult must not avoid words or phrases that can help them to overcome their stuttering.  It’s important that the pathologist acts as a sounding board to help them overcome this.  The adult needs to know what to expect from the therapy sessions.  In order for this to work, they have to be involved in the entire process. 

They should actively participate in any speech exercise that the pathologist presents to them.  This will help them gain self-confidence and a sense of self-worth.  Another important thing to deal with is fluency in speech.  This is an important aspect in therapy. 

The pathologist will have the person go through a series of exercises designed to improve their speech fluency.  This is an important aspect when dealing with stuttering.

They should be learning different speech techniques, including pronouncing sounds and syllables.  It may take some longer than others to actively master different speech patterns.  This is not some fly-by-night procedure.  It may even take adults longer to change their speech patterns and improve because they have been stuttering for so long.

Of course, there are always those that do not make much headway or any headway at all.  It may be for a variety of reasons.  However, if it gets to a point where the adult client is not putting for the effort to improve in their speech, it may be time for the speech-language pathologist to part ways with them.

Group Therapy

Another form of therapy for adults is group therapy.  With this type of therapy, one of the factors that they focus on being able to shut out those that act negatively toward them in regard to their speech disorder.  Group therapy can also teach adults how to maintain and improve their self confidence as they focus on improving their speech patterns. 

Also in a group therapy setting, adults are taught how speech sounds regularly.  A demonstration would be to break it up into sections and reworking it with speech movements that coordinate a natural fluency.  The adult will be able to understand how normal speech should sound without the interference of stuttering.

Some people have been programmed to be fearful when it comes to stuttering.   They think that with certain words or phrases that the stuttering will continue to repeat itself.  Group therapy can help to alleviate this by helping the adult to relax and learn to control their speech muscle system. 

Many times, part of the problem with stuttering in adults is that they have been conditioned to be tense and stressed when they attempt to speak.  It’s important for the adult to know that they don’t have to submit to fear.  With group therapy, they will also learn to stop avoiding certain situations, people and saying what they need to say.

Group therapy can help adults discuss their speech disorder with other people.  It can help other people to know more about stuttering and maybe they will understand to be more sensitive to people that are dealing with it.  Stuttering adults will be able to adapt to changes that will help them for the better. 

Not only should adults be talking about stuttering, but they should do it with such confidence and assurance that they won’t think twice when they start speaking.  They will learn to coordinate their speaking and be able to apply it fluently.

After they’ve mastered the basics in group therapy, adults will be able to transfer what they’ve learned to the outside world.   This would include their family, friends and others who they would come in contact with. 

Group therapy can help adults go through the challenges that they face emotionally and mentally.  They can parlay these sessions into something that will help them for many years to come.

Self-Treatment

There is also another approach that adults can take in order to overcome stuttering.  Self-treatment is a process where the person takes the initiative to implement steps for recovery. 

First, they must understand how the speech process works.  They must study how the area of the voice box, with the lips and tongues are use to create sounds.  This can help to get an insight on how people start to stutter.  There are certain muscles that should have enough tension to help adults speak fluently.

When people stutter, these certain muscles have too much tension; they create a block in the vocal area.  When this happens, a stuttering adult has to force themselves to speak in order to get a release.  This is what causes words and phrases that come out of their mouths to sound abnormal. 

When an adult realizes how this mechanism is forcing them to speak, they can work to make changes on their own.  They can work with their vocal system to help them speak more clearly and fluently.  This is done by concentrating and not pushing so hard to get the words and phrases out of their mouths.  It won’t be so hard for them to speak. 

In order for adults to speak normally, they need to have air and their voice must operate efficiently.  Adults can do other exercises, such as opening their mouths when they speak.  They will be able to feel how it sounds when they do that. 

When people stutter, the usual thing for them to do is to not open up their mouth all the way.  This causes the stuttering to become more difficult over time if it continues.  In essence, they’re holding back sounds and words to come out of their mouths.

Even though it is know that stuttering is an embarrassing speech disorder, adults should learn to acknowledge that they have it, even though they’re working on overcoming it.  Not acknowledging it can cause problems down the road. 

Adults have to be comfortable in knowing that the stuttering is there.  On the other hand, they also have to realize that there is a light at the end of the tunnel waiting for them go through. 

It will take time for the process to change.  As long as adults are ready and willing to embrace implementing changes to help them speak clearer and more fluently, then they will be ready to tackle whatever is facing them as far as stuttering is concerned.