«The stuttering does not grow out of control»

Mr Braun, what makes speaking so difficult?
Speaking is a very complex process. If a person says the sound A alone, they need 160 muscles - for breathing, for the voice and for articulation. 160 muscles that the brain has to coordinate within thousandths of a second.
Which a person who stutters often fails to do. What does stuttering mean from a professional point of view?
Stuttering is a complex phenomenon and there is no such thing as a typical stutterer. Basically, stuttering is a speech disorder, an unwanted interruption in the flow of speech. We observe three main forms: The un...interruption, the Wi-Wi-Wi repetition of letters and syllables and the elongation. However, there may also be other characteristics, such as the search for simpler words, the use of paraphrases, communicative withdrawal or moving the head.
What are the causes?
We know from twin research that a predisposition to stuttering is often inherited, but not the stuttering itself. Genetic predisposition alone does not lead to stuttering. It is possible that even the smallest damage or changes in the brain are involved and disrupt the coordination of the muscles involved in speech, for example. A distinction must be made between causal and triggering factors. Moving to a new class, the birth of a sibling, an accident, stress at school or the divorce of parents can be triggers for stuttering. However, they are not the cause. If the stuttering then occurs in the child, unsettling behaviour in the environment can encourage and perpetuate the stuttering.
What do you mean by that?
80 per cent of children go through a phase between the ages of three and six in which they do not speak fluently. For the majority of them, these difficulties pass by themselves. However, if parents constantly ask their child to speak more slowly and clearly, they make them even more aware of this disorder, which can lead to it manifesting itself in stuttering.

When these children reach puberty, they certainly don't have it easy. They want to fit in, they just don't want to stand out.
That's not necessarily the case. I know very self-confident, self-contained personalities among stammerers. They had to learn early on to assert themselves with their handicap. But it's true - stuttering is a challenge, especially when the peer group becomes more important.
Many stutterers report that on some days they don't stutter at all, while on others they find it very difficult to speak.
That's the insidious thing about this handicap. We explain this using a kitchen scales model. In order to speak fluently, there needs to be a balance between the demands and capacities of the child. External factors such as exam stress, changes or lack of sleep can upset this balance - this imbalance makes relaxed, easy speech more difficult.
What are the most feared everyday situations for young stutterers?
This can vary greatly. Some people find it difficult to talk on the phone. Others have no problem with it, but perhaps the idea of having to speak in front of a group makes them sweat. I advise those affected to be open about their handicap. For example, you can point out at the beginning of a presentation that it may take a little longer, as you may need more time to get the words out at one point or another. This takes the pressure off the person concerned and, not least, improves the flow of speech.
This is easier to do in a safe space. When looking for an apprenticeship, however, those affected certainly don't want to reveal their disability right at the start.
That may be the case. But here, too, I generally advise openness. And also not to limit the choice of career too much in advance because of the communication impairment.
Can stuttering be cured?
Stuttering does not develop. But in therapy - as early as possible - children from infancy to adolescence have a good chance of dealing with stuttering confidently or learning speech techniques that prevent stuttering from occurring in the first place.
What does that mean?
They speak so fluently that hardly anyone notices that they stammer. To achieve this, we combine two methods in therapy settings such as the stuttering camp: The «non-avoidance approach» is designed to get the children to stop frantically avoiding stuttering and to lose their fear of it. They learn how to deal with stuttering with confidence. We also teach a speaking technique that promotes fluent speech.
What is the best way to respond to a stutterer?
The most important thing is to maintain normal communication behaviour with the person you are talking to. This includes making eye contact and listening patiently, signalling: «I have time, I'm listening to you.» I would particularly like to give this tip to parents of affected children and their teachers. Advice such as «Speak slowly» or «Think about it first» only unsettles the child and ultimately reinforces the stuttering.

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Report: «I stutter - so what?»