The cause of stuttering

[grantM]

A quote from Anne Smith of Purdue University lifted from the 2008 Oxford Disfluency Conference

In fact, we know a great deal about the factors that cause stuttering. We don't know precisely every detail explaining the development of stuttering, but we don't know every detail concerning the onset of Parkinson's disease. This fact doesn't stop scientists and clinicians from stating what is known about the causes of Parkinson's disease.

Anne suggested we need a short statement that could capture our knowledge about the cause of stuttering and communicate it clearly. She attempted to make such a statement at the meeting:

"Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving many different brain systems active for speech - including language, motor, and emotional networks. Each infant is born with a genetic makeup that contributes to his or her probability of stuttering, however whether stuttering will develop depends upon experience. To learn to speak fluently, a child's brain must develop many different neural circuits, and these circuits must interact in very precise and rapid ways. Stuttering emerges in childhood as a symptom than the brain's neural circuits for speech are not being wired normally. For this reason, early intervention is critical, because by shaping the child's experience, we can affect the ongoing wiring process in the child's rapidly developing brain. The longer the stuttering symptoms persist in early childhood, the more difficult it is for us to change the brain's wiring, and stuttering becomes a chronic, usually lifelong problem."

[agantx]

A quote from Anne Smith of Purdue University lifted from the 2008 Oxford Disfluency Conference

In fact, we know a great deal about the factors that cause stuttering. We don't know precisely every detail explaining the development of stuttering, but we don't know every detail concerning the onset of Parkinson's disease. This fact doesn't stop scientists and clinicians from stating what is known about the causes of Parkinson's disease.

Anne suggested we need a short statement that could capture our knowledge about the cause of stuttering and communicate it clearly. She attempted to make such a statement at the meeting:

"Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving many different brain systems active for speech - including language, motor, and emotional networks. Each infant is born with a genetic makeup that contributes to his or her probability of stuttering, however whether stuttering will develop depends upon experience. To learn to speak fluently, a child's brain must develop many different neural circuits, and these circuits must interact in very precise and rapid ways. Stuttering emerges in childhood as a symptom than the brain's neural circuits for speech are not being wired normally. For this reason, early intervention is critical, because by shaping the child's experience, we can affect the ongoing wiring process in the child's rapidly developing brain. The longer the stuttering symptoms persist in early childhood, the more difficult it is for us to change the brain's wiring, and stuttering becomes a chronic, usually lifelong problem."

I agree with the statement. The one thing I don't agree with is that stuttering is passed on by genes. Yes it's proven that stuttering runs in families from generation to generation 60% of the time. But we also have 40% random cases in which stuttering doesn't run in families. Because of this, it isn't proof that stuttering is passed on by genes. Another thing is that scientists didn't yet find specific stuttering genes. The search still continues. Until we find more scientific evidence, it is wrong to conclude that stuttering is largely genetic.

[happy7117]

This question about What is the cause for stuttering?? has been going on for so many years.

It almost makes me mad.

There should be an answer by now to that question.

[grantM]

There should be an answer by now to that question.

The problem is the lack of consistency between stutterers and their stutter themselves. For example I was perfectly fluent until around the age of 8 and I woke up one morning and spoke completely differently. I somehow acquired mine without any notion of stress or emotional upheaval. Others as you know develop it from an earlier age. Some others start later in life. They way we block also differs. For some people also it disappears without warning totally never to return. I personally have only met one ex-stutterer who is completely cured and works as a marriage celebrant after only one McGuire Program and a lot of hard work. She now no longer uses any form of recovery technique and has no fear at all about it returning. Her name is Wendy O'Hagan and you can read an early article about her http://www.beyondstuttering.com.au/resources/Wendys_Article.jpg

[emily445455]

This question about What is the cause for stuttering?? has been going on for so many years.

It almost makes me mad.

There should be an answer by now to that question.

Why does it almost make you mad?

[Silent]

I agree with the statement. The one thing I don't agree with is that stuttering is passed on by genes. Yes it's proven that stuttering runs in families from generation to generation 60% of the time. But we also have 40% random cases in which stuttering doesn't run in families. Because of this, it isn't proof that stuttering is passed on by genes. Another thing is that scientists didn't yet find specific stuttering genes.
It's not stuttering per se that is passed on by genes. It's the likelihood to develop a stutter.

Until we find more scientific evidence, it is wrong to conclude that stuttering is largely genetic.
I'm not sure what "largely genetic" means so I can't comment on that. What we do know is stuttering is partly genetic.

There doesn't have to be a specific stuttering gene. Most of the features of any living organism are the expression of a combination of many genes.

For example, you may have a gene responsible for high dopamine levels in the basal ganglia, a gene responsible for increased reactivity of the amygdala, a gene that slows down the development of the speech center, etc. If you have them all, you're very likely to develop a stutter. If you have some of them, you may or may not develop a stutter, depending on environmental factors, childhood traumas, etc.

[Silent]

She now no longer uses any form of recovery technique and has no fear at all about it returning. Her name is Wendy O'Hagan and you can read an early article about her http://www.beyondstuttering.com.au/resources/Wendys_Article.jpg
Thank for the link, it's very encouraging to hear success stories like this one :)

However, I couldn't find in the article where it says she no longer uses any technique (?)

[grantM]

However, I couldn't find in the article where it says she no longer uses any technique (?)

No I don't think there is an article there about that. The one linked seems to be an earlier one. I have heard her and McGuire instructors talk about her being "cured". If you want I can try to contact her and get her to post here.

If you go to the http://www.beyondstuttering.com.au website and go to the media section you can download her TV interview in which you can still hear her using technique.

[Adrian]

I personally have only met one ex-stutterer who is completely cured and works as a marriage celebrant after only one McGuire Program and a lot of hard work. She now no longer uses any form of recovery technique and has no fear at all about it returning. Her name is Wendy O'Hagan and you can read an early article about her

Grant,

I am also a McGuire grad and have heard about Wendy. Did you know her prior to McGuire? I am curious as to how severe she was. Personally I believe it is next to impossible for a moderate to severe, adult stutterer to reach this level of fluency. I know one person who cls to be cured of stuttering, but when questioned, admits to only stuttering slighty in certain situations. For those of us who stutter in basically all situations, I'm not sure if being cured is a realistic or healthy goal.

Adrian

[grantM]

Hello Adrian, I have only seen her initial 1st day tape in which she was quite marked. I agree that a "cure" is not a healthy goal. It is like hanging out for the golden egg which never may come. You have to actively tackle your stutter and accept I think that you may not be as fluent ever as a non-stutterer, but you may be far more eloquent and interesting to talk to :)

[Adrian]

Hello Adrian, I have only seen her initial 1st day tape in which she was quite marked. I agree that a "cure" is not a healthy goal. It is like hanging out for the golden egg which never may come. You have to actively tackle your stutter and accept I think that you may not be as fluent ever as a non-stutterer, but you may be far more eloquent and interesting to talk to :)

Grant, thanks for your reply. I don't want to say I don't believe Wendy's story, but I truly think she is an anomoly. I was a bit bothered by her article. It really makes McGuire look like a cure, which David McGuire himself would agree that it is not. In Wendy's defense, the media does have a way of twisting things around. Anyway, I think you and I have similar views on the "golden egg."

[grantM]

Thanks Adrian and I agree with you about what Dave would say. Yes she is an anomoly for sure otherwise more would be up there with her. The media always twists things, gee even with my job when issuing a press statement to our media services section it always comes back and gets edited wrong! A cure may happen one day, perhaps, for some, in some fashion. But I cannot wait for the hope of it. I have better things to do