Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-15
THOSE WHO STAMMER
III. AddingtOn Bruce

r INQUIRIES continue to come to- me from
numerous correspondents indicating
A much misunderstanding still obtains
with regard to the true nature and proper
treatment of stammering. Especially do peo-
pie fail to appreciate that stammering is es-
sentially mental malady and as such should
be treated by mental means.
Only occasionally do we come across a
stammerer whose trouble is due to some or
ganic speech defect, perhaps the sequel of in
| fantiIe paralysis Ninety-nine times out OF
hundred the difficulty is a psychological
rather than physical one.
AS is sufficiently indicated by the fact that
most stammerers talk we'll enough when
alone. Which clearly shows that whatever
else they need they do not need to be taught
how to talk. Their speech organs are Intact,
and they require no instructions in using
them.
Many. indeed, can talk readily in public as
long as they are so interested in the subject
of conversation-or so excited--as to for
get about themselves. But let anything oc-
cur to rouse thoughts of self and at once they
begin stumble over their words.
In this respect they closely resemble ntu-
rOtic persons whose aches and pains abate
when their attention is distracted from them.
And, in fact, the trend of scientific opinion is
all in the direction of identifying stammer-
ing as neurotic symptom. In the words
of one present day authority:
"Those who stammer do SO because, for
one reason OF duOLu0i, Luey nave udu Lu6lE
attention abnormally fixed on themselves.
"They may not be selfish people, but they
certainly are ego-centric ones Hence they
stand in need Of special training a psychic
re-education, that shall assist them to deem
tralize their thoughts.
also they may need psychological exam
inaton to free them from particularly dis
quieting idtas. Often you will find that
stammering, like other neurotic symptoms,
is the outward sign of an inner mental
conflict.
ga child, for example, commits some fault
which fills it with sentiments Of fear and
shame. 1t feels it has a shameful secret,
which it fears it may inadvertently betray to
others.
Animated by this fear it becomes awk-
ward and shy when in company. Or it may
develop a speech disorder which persists
long after the original cause has been for
gotten.
"In the depths of it's mind, however, it still
carries the old-time fear. The recall of this
to conconscious remembrance, and setting
of the mind at rest, may be Indispensable to
a cure"
This would account both for the origin of
many cases of stammering and their resist
ance to the usual methods Of treatmtnt. It
also emphasizes the fact, which it is Of
especial Importance all stammerers should
ppreciate-nameIy:
That the one person best qualified to deal
with stammering is the specialist in mental
and nervouse diseases, expert in delving into
| the remotest recesses of the human mind.
Such man stammerers will be we'll" ad-
vised to consult, rather than practitioners
without psychological training. The latter
may effect cures, and doubtless often do
But if stammering is a psycho-neurosis, as
everything points to its being, the medical
psychologist is obviously the ore best fitted
to treat it.
Copyright, 1919, by the Associated News
papers,