Subvocal muscle activity during stuttering and fluent speech: a comparison.

Abstract

Electromyography measurements utilizing needle electrodes, were made to compare the laryngeal muscle activity of a stutterer and a non-stutterer, (a) when they indicated anticipation of either difficulty or no difficulty speaking, (b) when they actually spoke. The stutterer exhibited the earliest and longest laryngeal activity when he anticipated difficulty and actually stuttered. The stutterer exhibited more intense muscle activity before speaking than the non-stutterer. Therapeutically, it is suggested that stutterers learn to control the muscle activity prior to the moment of speaking.