The Researcher is In

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drug studies for stuttering

From: Patti Bohlman
Date: 05 Oct 2005
Time: 18:16:11 -0500
Remote Name: 207.200.116.138

Comments

I have a concern about the drug studies that are being done in hopes of finding a medication that would help people who stutter. Most of these are psychotropic drugs. I have tried to ask researchers about people who stutter who also have panic disorders, anxiety, depression, ocd, etc. They seem to have no interest. Let's just look at stuttering. However these disorders interact with the stuttering. Some medications make it worse, some better. When it makes the stuttering better, I believe it is because it works on the mental health componant that interacts with stuttering. For example. Many stutterers with anxiety disorders report that klonopin helps decrease the stuttering and also the amount of effort that is put into the stuttering (the stuttering is less of a struggle). Wellbutrin is known by many PWS to make their stuttering horrible. Since PWS are just as likely as the general population to have mental health issues, what can be done to advise PWS about medications that may help or make their stuttering worse. Where is the research on this? Or is it even possible? As an slp, how can I reliably guide clients to medications (when needed for a mental health disorder) that will have a chance of increasing fluency and not making it worse?


Last changed: 10/31/05