The cause or causes of stuttering are not yet known. Although stress and emotional factors may increase the degree of stuttering, the emerging scientific view is that stuttering has a physical basis. Research has shown that the speech muscles of stutterers do not perform the correct sequence of movements necessary to produce fluent speech. The Fluency Master reduces stuttering by modifying physical factors that affect speech, giving the brain the ability to more effectively control the movement of speech muscles. The Fluency Master fosters better hearing of the natural vocal tone associated with speaking.
Vocal tone provides information for the brain to use in guiding speech muscle movements.
The following example will help to clarify the definition of vocal tone. If you have ever heard a recording of your speech, you are aware of the fact that you do not sound the same during a tape playback as you do when you are in the process of talking. The reason is quite simple. A tape recorder does not capture the vocal tone that travels inside your body from your throat to your ears, yet you hear this sound every time you speak. Stuttering control by the Fluency Master involves the use of a miniature microphone to detect vocal tone vibrations.