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Sudden onset of stuttering: a case report
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|August 1, 1982
Summary
Sudden onset stuttering in an adult male, linked to psychological distress, improved with delayed auditory feedback (DAF). This case highlights the impact of severe stress on speech fluency.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Psychological distress can manifest in various somatic symptoms.
- Sudden onset of speech disorders in adults is uncommon and warrants investigation.
Observation:
- A 28-year-old male presented with sudden onset stuttering following a suicide attempt.
- Stuttering occurred during specific speech tasks and under auditory manipulation (white noise, DAF).
- Patient exhibited stuttering-like repetitions even during speech miming, without secondary stuttering symptoms.
Findings:
- Nonfluencies were primarily initial or stressed syllable repetitions.
- Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) intervention led to a marked decrease in stuttering frequency within one month.
- The patient's presentation is consistent with stuttering of sudden onset due to significant psychological distress.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential link between severe psychological distress and acquired stuttering in adults.
- Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) may be an effective intervention for stress-induced stuttering.
- Further research is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress-related acquired stuttering.