NSAW news release 2013
LOCAL GROUP MARKS STUTTERING AWARENESS WEEK MAY 13-19
Imagine not being able to say what you want. That’s the challenge that faces the three million Americans who stutter. National Stuttering Awareness Week, May 13-19, seeks to educate the public about this widespread but often misunderstood and frustrating speech disorder.
Today, a growing number of people who stutter are becoming successful communicators by participating in support groups such as the ______chapter of the National Stuttering Association (NSA). The NSA is the world's largest association for adults and children who stutter, with more than 100 local support groups in cities across the U.S.
“Support meetings help us improve our communications skills,” said ______, who heads the chapter. “Our members gain confidence in handling situations that are often frustrating to stutterers such as introducing ourselves, using the telephone and even public speaking.”
“Participation in the NSA has helped many of our members get the maximum benefit from professional speech therapy,” ______said. “Chapter meetings are an ideal place to practice speaking techniques and learn about the latest developments in stuttering research and treatment. “
The NSA works closely with speech professionals and refers people who stutter to speech-language pathologists who have the specialized qualifications needed for effective treatment.
The NSA sponsors a national conference, regional workshops and publications for adults, children and parents. The (city) NSA chapter meets (when and where). For further information contact (chapter leader) (phone) or the NSA's national office, 800/364-1677. The organization’s website is
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FACTS ABOUT STUTTERING
Stuttering is a speech disorder that is primarily neurological and physiological in nature. It’s not an emotional or psychological problem, and is not simply caused by nervousness. Recent research indicates that stuttering is genetic in some cases. In all other respects, persons who stutter are perfectly normal.People who stutter make up about one percent of the population.
Difficulty in speaking is only part of the problem. Children who stutter often are teased, and most people who stutter experience shame, guilt and fear of speaking situations. People who stutter also encounter discrimination in employment and other areas of life because of popular misconceptions about stuttering.
There’s no cure for stuttering, but speech therapy by specialized speech-language pathologists has helped many people who stutter. Chronic stuttering in adults can be successfully controlled by long-term practice and stuttering management techniques.
About 1 in 30 children stutter at some point, and at least one-quarter of them do not outgrow it. Expert speech therapy, beginning as early as age 3 or 4, can give children who stutter a head start on recovery and may head off chronic stuttering.
Stuttering support groups complement speech therapy by building healthy attitudes towrd speaking and stuttering. Surveys show that support group participation helps reduce the negative effects of stuttering and enhances the success of speech therapy.
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