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How Much Do You Know About Stuttering as a Speech Disruption?

How Much Do You Know About Stuttering as a Speech Disruption?

by | Oct 23, 2021 | Archive, Blog, Blog & News

October is the month of harvest and the celebration of Halloween. It’s a month full of thrills, chills, and tricks or treats. There is also a special day, that is unknown to people, which is an international stuttering awareness day, which is October 22nd.

Stuttering is a speech disorder that repeats syllables, sounds, or words. There are even interruptions with words or sounds called blocks. It also can include behaviors such as eye blinking, tremors, or quivering lips. Unfortunately, this affects job interviews, socializing, and communications. It could affect the person immediately, which is to feel anxious when speaking to people, speaking in front of an audience, or speaking on the phone. (National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders).

I did some research and found out how many people have this issue growing up. Approximately, 3 million Americans have an issue with stuttering. It affects people in different age groups. It often occurs during the age of 2 to 6 years old, which is the age when children start to learn their language skills. About 5 percent to 10 percent of children will have the issue of stuttering throughout most of their life. About 75 percent of children can learn to control their issues with stuttering, while the other 25 percent will have the issue of stuttering for the rest of their lives. (NIH)

There are two types of stuttering, there are development stuttering and neurological stuttering. Developmental stuttering comes from the child’s language abilities and is unable to meet with the child’s verbal speech. While neurological stuttering occurs from a stroke, head trauma, or a head injury. There are many different ways to help with your issues of stuttering, these include therapy for children, stuttering therapy, drug therapy, electronic devices, and self-help groups. (NIH)

Understandably, that growing up with a speech issue is quite frustrating and it can even affect your self-confidence. I grew up with a stuttering issue, and I had been dealing with it for most of my life. It is mainly because of my anxiety that influences my way of speaking. What had helped me is seeing a speech therapist. I also resorted to seeing a counselor and seeking medication for my anxiety, which has helped my stuttering issue tremendously. What also helped me is to speak a little slower and more clearly to avoid stuttering. Do not let the issues with stuttering conflict with your socializing skills with others, it is quite normal, and affects everyone. (NIH)

Written By Chelsea Whittington is a volunteer with the Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. working under the mentorship of Kanisha Blake, BS, MPH.  

References

NIH, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Stuttering

How Do You Save Yourself From Stress?

How Do You Save Yourself From Stress?

by | Jun 27, 2021 | Archive, Blog, Blog & News

In the United States and around the world, the month of April each year is celebrated as Stress Awareness Month. Interestingly, April is also well known for its spring weather. With April now behind us, I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on stress and share some tips on how we can untangle ourselves from stress and live a stress-free life. 

The stress awareness month is a month when health professionals show the statistics and percentages of people who reported stress-related mental or physical illnesses. The American Family Care notes that it is important to learn how to cope with stress and to deal with stressful situations in order to live a long and healthy life. The health professionals had joined forces every April to have the country be aware of the causes of stress and the treatments for stress. 

During the past year, no thanks to COVID-19 that ravaged the world, there had been an increased percentage of depression or anxiety disorder caused by stress, which suddenly increased from 36.4% to 41.5%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The age group that had the largest increase in stress is 18-29 years old. At the beginning of 2020, it increased to 8%.  This includes those who do not have a high school diploma. Mental health treatments also increased during this time. During the past year, it has increased from 22.4% to 24.8%. Mental health needs also suddenly increased from 9.2% to 11.7%; this includes people that were in the age group from 18-59. During the past year, the percentage of mental health needs increased by 23.8% and increased by 2.8% says the CDC. 

There are three types of stress, including acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress, says the Mind Body Green (MBG) Health. Acute stress is when the individual is burdened by high stress by fleeting moments such as public speaking or meeting in the boss’s office. The signs of acute stress are high heart rate, tense muscles, strong emotions, and shortness of breath. Episodic acute stress is similar to acute stress, but due to increased frequency, it takes its toll on the body. It is from intensely stressful events such as tight deadlines or moving on from one crisis to another. Chronic stress is a constant experience over a long period of time, such as finances, trauma, or racism. It is when the body is flooded with stress hormones causing sleep trouble, reduced immune function, and a negative effect on cardiovascular health, according to MBG experts.

There are many ways to help with stress, such as exercising. The Mayo Clinic asserts that exercises can lower stress hormones and release endorphins, which improve your mood and a natural pain reliever. It can also improve your sleep and boosts your self-confidence. There are many exercises that you can try out that can be a good fit for you. There is yoga, zumba, walking, cycling, or dancing, adds experts from Mayo Clinic. 

Stress relief can also include spending time with friends and family, spending time with your pets, laughing, reducing your caffeine intake, deep breathing (meditation), listen to soothing music, practicing mindfulness (be optimistic), avoid procrastination, avoid watching television, write your thoughts and feelings down, and take a bubble bath, according to Mayo Clinic experts.

Every person in the world, including me, sometimes goes through a stress point in their lives. I used to be a “stress-eater” due to my anxiety and stress situations. This has led me to exercises for at least 30 minutes and meditation for 10 minutes a day. These gradually increased my positive outlook in my life and boosts my self-confidence. 

My last point for you all is to try not to make stress take over your life, learn how to sit back and relax even if it’s for a couple of minutes. Life is too short to worry over something that’s not going to last forever. People should take hikes with loved ones and learn to think positively.

Written By Chelsea Whittington is a volunteer with the Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. working under the mentorship of Kanisha Blake, BS, MPH.  

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/basics/stress-relief/hlv-20049495 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7013e2.htm 

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/related/stress-statistics/ 

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-kind-of-stress-is-good-for-you-3145055 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety 

Loneliness, Social Isolation Damaging the Health of International Students

Loneliness, Social Isolation Damaging the Health of International Students

by | Aug 17, 2019 | Blog & News, News

Although international students come to the U.S. to improve their academic and social status through graduate education, they are at increased risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness which are damaging to their physical and mental health.

A new study published in the International Journal of Translational Medical Research and Public Health showed that loneliness and social isolation greatly impact an individual’s mental and physical health, particularly those of international students at the university level.

New research studies across the world are linking loneliness and social isolation to both increased morbidity and premature mortality, making them major public health problems, but the new study is the first to explore this phenomenon among foreign graduate students at a major research university in the U.S. and across various levels of graduate education among students from different parts of the world.

According to the study authors, Dr. Mehrete Girmay and Dr. Gopal Singh, their study entitled “Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Mental and Emotional Well-being among International Students in the United States,” is one of the first attempts to comprehensively explore the short and long term effects of loneliness and social isolation among international students.

Some of the key findings of the study are:

• Social isolation and loneliness are growing public health epidemics with the potential to cause detrimental health consequences such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and premature mortality;

• There is a reciprocal relationship between health-related factors and risk factors of social isolation and loneliness among international students;

• University and community support are crucial in the potential remediation of adjustment needs for the international student population in the United States; and

• Poor acculturation can have detrimental effects on students’ mental and physical health and there is a critical need for more effort to be focused on attending to both the mental and physical health needs of migrant students during their stay at the host university.

For additional information, please contact the study’s lead author, Dr. Mehrete Girmay of the Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services (email: [email protected]).