Reduction of Stuttering Frequency Using Analog Electromyographic Feedback

Abstract

Three stutterers were taught to reduce resting muscle activity by using analog electromyographic feedback from four sites over different muscle groups. They were then trained to reduce muscle activity prior to uttering selected sentences. A functional analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the decrease in stuttering frequency on initial phonemes and the reduction of electrical activity at each muscle site. Subjects demonstrated different responses to training. One subject’s greatest decrease in stuttering frequency was associated with muscle activity training at a lip site. A second subject’s greatest decrease in stuttering was associated with training at a laryngeal site. A third subject’s greatest decreases in stuttering were with both lip and laryngeal site training. Following these demonstrations that stuttering could be controlled with electromyographic feedback, a practical management program was designed for a fourth stutterer. Feedback training to reduce electromyographic activity when paired with speech resulted in elimination of stuttering in two monitored situations, conversations and telephone calls. Probes indicated the stuttering continued to be markedly reduced in all situations nine months after treatment.