"The words get stuck," "My brain goes faster than my mouth" and "My tongue stumbles" are common sentences kids say about their stuttering, KidsHealth says. Scientists don't know the exact causes of stuttering and other language difficulties, but researchers believe that a few factors influence these language difficulties. MayoClinic.com cites three factors specifically: genetics, language development and signal difficulties.
Genetic Factors
Stuttering runs in families, so it is no coincidence that there may be a specific gene that triggers some people to stutter. In 2010, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders "isolated three genes that cause stuttering." According to a press release issued by the NIDCD, scientists found these genes on chromosome 12. The mutations appeared specifically in a gene known as GNPTAB. Researchers then looked at the closely related genes GNPTG and NAGPA, and found mutations in these genes in people who stutter as well. These findings can lead to new treatments, including enzyme replacement therapy.
Language Difficulties
Stuttering and other language difficulties often arise in young children as they are learning to speak and is known under these situations as "developmental stuttering." Developmental stuttering occurs because the child's ability to verbalize his ideas cannot keep up with his brain's ability to process the ideas. The NIDCD says most people who stutter are children between the ages of 2 and 5. Boys are twice as likely as girls to stutter. Around 5 percent of children will stutter at some point, but only 1 percent or less of adults will continue to stutter. MayoClinic.com says that most children outgrow developmental stuttering by age 4. Often these children will work with a speech pathologist. Public schools provide speech pathologists for children at no cost to parents. They work with both the child and the parent on gaining fluency.
Signal Issues
Signal difficulties occur because of a traumatic brain injury such as a stroke or car accident. This type of stuttering is known as neurogenic stuttering and occurs because of a problem with a person's nerves or the muscles that control speech. Those suffering from neurogenic stuttering can benefit from speech therapy as well. The NIDCD says that speech therapy often involves learning regulate breathing, controlling anxiety that may trigger stuttering and gradually going from using single-syllable words to more complex sentences.
Emotional Trauma
The NIDCD points out that emotional trauma and problems with thought are rare causes of stuttering and other language difficulties. This type of stuttering is called psychogenic stuttering; researchers once believed it to be the cause of all stuttering.
Tags: language difficulties, other language, other language difficulties, people stutter, cause stuttering, causes stuttering other, children will