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From: Libby Oyler
Date: 10/15/03
Time: 10:46:08 PM
Remote Name: 209.105.186.241
Jennifer, Children who stutter (CWS) have been found to have significantly more negative speech-associated attitudes than children who do not stutter (CWNS) that children with voice and articulation disorders. My research (1999) found CWS (beginning at age 3) are significantly more sensitive than nonstuttering children, and that they as a group become increasingly more sensitive through ages 12 to 14, and then these adolescents who stutter become slightly less sensitive as a group through age 17, but still in the highly sensitive range (a cubic relationship). This research study goes through age 17. In a 1992 study I conducted with adults who stutter (AWS) compared to adults who do not stutter (AWNS), AWS were significantly more sensitive than the group of AWNS. So, what these studies suggest is that a large percentage of people who stutter are significantly more sensitive at a very young age (probably are born with a more sensitive temperament and CNS) and become more sensitive, probably influenced by the experience of stuttering. Elaine Aron's The Highly Sensitive Child explains the characteristic well (© 2002). I don't know about any research comparing CWS to children with a pervasive handicap. However, I do know that a stuttering disorder does have a significant impact on a child and adult. PWS are truly beautiful people. Libby