STAMMERING OR STUTTERING

Stammering or stuttering.. hmm. It is a condition with many superstitions surrounding it ... Did you know that in Bible days in the city of Corinth, everyone wanted to speak in tongues because they thought someone who stammers is the mouth piece of the gods before Apostle Paul corrected them.. And in some places in Africa, it is believed that if you make jest of someone who stammer, you will begin to stammer ( and in actual sense, it appears so) . So what really is stammering!

Stammering, or stuttering, is a relatively common speech problem that occurs in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Stammering is "characterized” by stoppages and disruptions in fluency which interrupts the smooth flow and timing of speech. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak…People who stammer may avoid certain words or situations which they know will cause them difficulty.

Some people avoid and substitute words to such an extent that people in their lives may not realize they have a stammer. This is known as "covert stammering". People who stutter often find that stress and fatigue make it harder for them to talk flowingly, as well as situations in which they become self-conscious about speaking, such as public speaking or teaching. Most people who stutter find that their problem eases if they are relaxed. We all have the capacity to stutter if pushed far enough. This may happen during a very stressful interrogation in a police station, talking to emergency services on the telephone, or trying to respond to a particularly agile and aggressive lawyer while on the witness stand in court. 

According to the Stuttering Foundation of America, there are many factors that could lead to stammering.

Genetics is said to be a major contributor to this condition Approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also.

Child development is also another factor as children with speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stammer.

Most stammerers are known to be short-tempered, because they are aware of their condition and feel that people do not bother to fully listen to them. In the process of stammering, what the person is trying to say may be lost on the listener and invariably, the listener may conclude or complete sentences for the person in ways that may be contrary to what he/she intended. This makes the stammerer angry due to bottled up anger or frustration, as they are not able to freely express themselves.

The cause of stammering, which eluded scientists for decades, has been found to be an abnormality in the left half of the brain. The condition affects one in 100 adults and can lead to frustration and embarrassment for sufferers.

Ms. Pauline Orji, a psychologist says, “Even though stammering sometimes can be hereditary, it is not so in all cases. For instance, if a father or mother stammers, it could be transferred to the child from the mother during pregnancy. This goes straight to the baby’s subconscious and it develops it. In this case it is hereditary.”

She further explains that there is a particular part of the brain that controls speech. A human being born 100 per cent normal has three levels of the mind. One of these - Id - is responsible for stammering. The Id is the set of uncoordinated instinctual trends.

It is responsible for stammering when you are aware of certain things but can’t do them, due to a complex.

The major cause of stammering is fear, she states. Being ashamed or not being composed can also be responsible, she says.

Stammering could have negative effects on the sufferer, says Orji. “There is the tendency for sufferers to become violent, because they can’t air their views. They end up developing immoral urges because they can’t speak out. When you voice things out, the part of the brain that controls that activity is empty but when you can’t speak out or say what you want to say, that part of the brain is filled. When this happens, sufferers develop immoral urges which make them think of bad things resulting in unacceptable behaviour,” she adds.

What are the risk factors?

·                          Family history - approximately half of all children who have a stutter that persists beyond the developmental stage of language have a close family member who stutters. If a young child has a stutter and also a close family member who stutters, his/her chances of that stutter continuing are much greater.

·                          Age when stutter starts - a child who starts stuttering before 3.5 years of age is less likely to be stuttering later on in life. The earlier the stuttering starts the less likely it is to continue long-term.

·                          Time since stuttering started - about three-quarters of all young children who stutter will stop doing so with one or two years without speech therapy.

·                          Sex of the person - long-term stuttering is four times more common among boys than girls.

How to behave when you are talking with somebody who stutters

People who are not used to talking to somebody with a stutter may be unsure about how to respond. This can make the listener to look away whenever the stutterer stutters, or try to help out by completing his/her missing words or phrases - or simply to try to avoid people who stutter altogether. 

It is important to remember that a person who stutters is interested in communicating just like everybody else, and would like to be treated just like any other person. Focus should be on the theme of the speaker, the information he/she is conveying, rather than how it is coming across. 


Telling the stutterer to relax, or to take a deep breath, may have helpful intentions, but could stress the stutterer more (it may help some, though). Stuttering is not simple to overcome, and cannot usually be easily sorted out with a few deep breaths. 

If you are really not sure how to behave, and you are talking to a person who stutters and nobody else is around, it may be helpful to ask them what would be the most best way to respond to his/her stuttering. 

Famous people who stammered

Stammering does not reflect a person's intelligence or personality. Here is a list of famous people who stammer/stammered:

·                            Aesop - Greek storyteller

·                            Alan Turing - Computer science founder

·                            Aneurin Bevan - Labour Party MP and Minister

·                            Anthony Quinn - Actor (Zorba the Greek)

·                            Aristotle - Philosopher

·                            Arnold Bennett - British writer/journalist

·                            Bruce Oldfield - British fashion designer

·                            Carly Simon - Singer (You're so vain)

·                            Charles Darwin - Scientist/Naturalist

·                            Claudius Cesar - Roman Emperor.

·                            Demosthenes - Greek orator

·                            Sir Jonathan Miller - British theatre/opera director

·                            Elizabeth Bowen - Author

·                            Erasmus Darwin - Scientist/Doctor, grandfather of Charles Darwin

·                            Field Marshall Lord Carver - British military leader/author

·                            Gareth Gates - English pop star

·                            George Washington - American President

·                            Harvey Keitel - Actor (Life on Mars)

·                            Isaac Newton - Scientist

·                            Jack Harold Paar - US comedian & TV host

·                            James Stewart - Actor (It's a wonderful life)

·                            John Montague - Poet/Author

·                            Joseph Priestley - Scientist (discovered oxygen)

·                            Kenneth Tynan - British theatre critic, writer

·                            Kim Philby - British double agent for the Soviets

·                            King Charles I - England 1625-1649

·                            King George VI - UK 1937-1952

·                            Lenin - Russian revolutionary

·                            Lewis Carroll - Author (Alice in Wonderland)

·                            Louis II the Stammerer, King of France, 877-879

·                            Marion Davies - Famous silent-movie actress

·                            Michael Bentine - British comedian, script-writer and TV star

·                            Michael Ramsey - Archbishop of Canterbury 1961-1974

·                            Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Author

·                            Nevil Shute (1900-1960) - Author

·                            Philip Larkin - Poet, author, critic

·                            Raymond Massey - Actor (High treason)

·                            Richard Condon - Author

·                            Robert Boyle (1627-1691) - Scientist

·                            Robert Heinlein - Author

·                            Rowan Atkinson - Actor (Mr. Bean)

·                            Sam Neill - Actor (Jurassic Park)

·                            Samuel L. Jackson - (Pulp Fiction)

·                            Somerset Maugham - Author

·                            Theodore Roosevelt - American President

·                            Thomas Becket - Archbishop of Canterbury 1162-1170

·                            Thomas Jefferson - American President

·                            Walter H. Annenberg - Publisher, diplomat, philanthropist

·                            John Updike - Author

·                            Bill Withers - Singer, songwriter (Ain't no sunshine)

FIGURES THAT REALLY COUNT

Phone numbers, PINs, security codes. We know these numbers by heart but what about the numbers that are near and dear to our heart? Most people can probably rattle off their weight and height but ask most of us about our cholesterol levels, blood pressure or body mass index and we're usually stuck for answers.

While we may not all have ideal bodies, doctors say we should at least be aiming for ideal numbers when it comes to our health and fitness. Knowing your vital statistics is important, health professionals say, because these benchmarks help us keep track of our health. With that in mind, here are some of the numbers that medical professionals use to measure health.

                                             FACTS THAT EQUAL A HEALTHY HEART

120/80: Generally, blood pressure should be lower than 120 over 80 (millimetres of mercury). The first number, which is always higher, measures systolic pressure. That's the force of blood pressing against the arteries when the heart pumps. The second, lower number measures diastolic pressure, which is the blood pressure between each heartbeat. High blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney damage and even memory problems, could be indicated when systolic pressure is higher than 120 or when diastolic pressure is higher than 80. ''Both warrant treatment, so both numbers count,'' says Dr Jennifer Lindstrom, a specialist in internal medicine and clinical nutrition at New York's Albany Medical Centre.

2 or less: Most people know that high cholesterol levels have been linked to heart disease but many people are confused about the way cholesterol levels are measured and what the different numbers mean. Here's the breakdown. Cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles of cholesterol per litre of blood, (mmol/L) and they are measured in three ways:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol and should be no higher than 2mmol/L.

1 or more: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good cholesterol because it helps protect against coronary heart disease. Higher numbers here are better - above 1mmol/L.

Below 1.5: Cholesterol includes triglyceride, a component of cholesterol that relates to blood sugar, and that number should be lower than 1.5mmol/L. High triglyceride levels can cause fatty deposits to build up in the liver and can lead to diabetes and heart disease. The bottom line is that the maths varies and each number matters. If you don't know your blood-cholesterol level, ask your doctor to check it by conducting a blood test.

                                                     ADDING UP TO THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

18.5 to 25: In the old-maths world of beauty queens, 36-24-36 (inches) added up to the perfect figure. Medically speaking, the new maths is a bit more complicated because it is based on body mass index (BMI).

To calculate it, take your weight in kilograms and divide that figure by your height, in metres, squared. W(Kg)/H(m)

An index of 18.5 to 25 is considered a healthy BMI. An index of 25 to 30 is considered overweight and more than 30 obese. In 2007-08, 61 per cent of Australian adults were overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is a growing problem, too.

80 and 94: BMI is used as a screen for adiposity, or excess fat, but as visceral belly fat is considered the most dangerous, waist circumference is another measure of health. Even if you're of normal weight, a pot belly is a health risk. As a general rule, a waist measurement of less than 80 centimetres for women and less than 94 centimetres for a men is considered healthy. These recommendations are for caucasian men and caucasian and Asian women. Waist measurements are yet to be determined for all ethnic groups. They may be lower for Asian men and are likely to be higher for Pacific Islanders and African Americans. To download a tape measure, see measureup.gov.au.

To get an accurate measurement, wrap the tape measure snugly around your waist just above the hips (across the belly button) and relax.

Medically, you're better off being pear-shaped than apple-shaped but as body shape is inherited, there's not much you can do to change it short of plastic surgery. But trimming your waistline can reduce the associated health risks of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

5.5 or less: Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, is a growing health concern for many people.

If your weight or family history put you in a high-risk category, it's important to have your blood-sugar levels tested regularly. Ideally, according to Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, fasting blood-sugar levels should be 5.5mmol/L or less. If the result is between 5.5mmol/L and 6.9mmol/L, a second test, or a glucose tolerance test, is warranted. A fasting blood-sugar level of 7mmol/L or more is consistent with diabetes but this may need to be confirmed with further testing.

Blood Sugar
A measure of how much sugar (glucose) is in your blood. High blood sugar can signal diabetes.

Fasting levels below 100 mg/dL are healthy
Fasting levels between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL are considered prediabetes
Fasting levels of 126 mg/dL or higher typically result in a diabetes diagnosis

                                                   THE PRIME AGE FOR TESTING

18: Gynaecologists recommend women get their first Pap test at age 18, or within two years of becoming sexually active - whichever is later. The National Cervical Screening Program promotes routine screening with Pap smears every two years for women between the ages of 18 and 69 years. The current human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines only target two-thirds of the viral strains responsible for cervical cancers, so all vaccinated women will still need regular Pap smears.

40: BreastScreen Australia offers free mammograms to women aged 40 years and over, specifically targeting women aged 50-69 years. Women aged over 50 years are advised to have a breast X-ray every two years.

45: The Heart Foundation recommends regular blood-cholesterol tests from age 45. More than half adults have elevated cholesterol levels, which increases their risk of heart disease. Testing is recommended for younger adults who have high blood pressure, smoke or have a family history of heart disease.

50: If you are over 50, you should be tested for bowel cancer every two years. Bowel cancer can be treated successfully if detected in its early stages but fewer than 40 per cent of cases are detected early.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in Australia is a partially funded program that offers free faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) - the best researched screening test for bowel cancer - to people who turned 50 years old between January 2008 and December 2010 and those who turned 55 or 65 between July 2008 and December 2010.

Completing an FOBT every two years can reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by up to one-third. If you are not eligible for a free test you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist about buying an FOBT. For more information, call the Cancer Council Helpline, 13 11 20. (for Australians)

60 and over: Osteoporosis Australia recommends bone-density screening about 10 years after the onset of menopause. Women who have had surgical menopause, or anyone who has had a low-trauma fracture or is taking certain medication, should be screened at an earlier age. The federal government will subsidise bone-density screenings for all people from age 70.

''The point about all these screening tests is these are just guidelines,'' Lindstrom says. ''People may fall outside these guidelines, depending on their personal risk and family history. That's why it's really important for them to talk to a doctor about it.''

REF:  

• Here are the figures that really count, write Jayne Keedle and Peta Doherty.
• Know Your Numbers; WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER

STRANGELY ODD BUT MEDICAL FACTS

STRANGELY ODD BUT MEDICAL FACTS

• A passionate kiss uses 6.4 calories of energy

• During a kiss, as many as 278 bacteria colonies are exchanged (beware)

• By age of 60,  most people have lost half of their taste buds

• You blink every 2-10 seconds. As you focus on eachword in this sentence, your eyes swing back and forth 100 times a second and every second; the retina performs 10 billion computer-like calculations

• Laughing just twice a day can lower your blood pressure

• An adult heart weighs about 10 ounces

• It takes an interaction of 72 different muscles to produce human speech

•  A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s  due to having a smaller area to pump blood to.

•  The short term memory capacity for most people is between five and nine items or digits. This is one reason that phone numbers were kept to seven digits for so long

• Every time you sneeze it reaches speeds of over 100mph, which is why people struggle to keep their eyes open when they sneeze.

• Everyone has a unique smell, except for identical twins.

• In 1972, a group of scientists reported that you could cure the common cold by freezing the big toe.

• People who have never been married are seven and a half times more likely than married people to be admitted to a psychiatric facility

• women have a better sense of smell than men and continue to have a better sense of smell throughout their lives.

• Dogs and humans are the only animals with prostates

• Americans spend an estimated $500 million each year on allergy treatments

• Coca-Cola contained Coca (whose active ingredient is cocaine) from 1885 to 1903.

• Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine.

• Brain surgery is done with the patient still awake. The brain has no nerves therefore it has no sensation. The person is put to sleep to open the skull but after that, the person wakes up to see the operation be completed

• Your hearing is less sharp if you eat too much

• Your brain is more active at night than during the day.

• The storage capacity of human brain exceeds 4 Terabytes.

• An average person can go as many as 11 days without water. That’s assuming a mean temperature of 60degrees Fahrenheit

• Her curvy hips makes her smarter..( Smart women grow curvy hips! University of Pittsburg and University of California studied about 16,000 women and reported the following in 2007: curvy hips indicate smart women who will deliver intelligent children! Women should have fat in their hips, rather than their waist, because hip fat is usually high on omega-3 fatty acids (fat that develop the brain), while waist fat is high on omega-6 fats that do not develop the brain.)

• In the time it took you to read this, you have inhaled enough air to fill a swimming pool, you have blinked over 100 times and your heart has beaten over 1000 times.

EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME

Despite the sensational name, there's no danger that your head will actually blow apart.
"When most people hear of it, they visualize an individual's head exploding," says Kline That's not what happens."

Marie Raymond sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, freaked out by the sound of her name being shouted loud and clear. Other times she'll be awakened by the sound of a huge crash, as if someone has broken a window or knocked over a set of dishes. 

"The sound is terrifying — super loud, like someone has broken in," says Raymond, a 38-year-old arts administrator from Seattle. "But when I get up to look around, nothing's amiss and everything's quiet." After dealing with it off and on for the last several months, Raymond believes she may have exploding head syndrome. She hasn't seen a doctor about it, but has done some research online.

Exploding head syndrome is a rare and relatively undocumented parasomnia event in which the subject experiences a loud bang in their head similar to a bomb exploding, a gun going off, a clash of cymbals or any other form of loud, indecipherable noise that seems to originate from inside the head.It is a form of hallucination called hypnagogic in which the sufferer sometimes experiences a sudden loud noise coming from within their own head. 

"It's usually described as a loud bang or pop that occurs in the first third of the night," says Dr. Neil Kline, sleep physician and representative of the American Sleep Association in Wilmington, Del. "It's a sensory phenomenon. The individual senses that some type of explosion has occurred nearby, but ultimately realizes it's in their head. It's not associated with pain or with any disorder that we know of and there are no physiological medical consequences that are associated with it."

First described in 1920 as a "snapping of the brain," there is little to be found on the phenomenon in medical literature. Some patients experience a bright flash of light along with the loud explosion or crash, according to a 1989 study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry that looked at 50 patients suffering from the syndrome. In almost every case there are physical aftereffects, such as "a sense of alarm, together with a cold sweat, labored breathing and tachycardia" (a rapid heart rate).

Exploding head syndrome is said to happen more often after the age of 50 (although there have been reports of it happening in children) and believed to be more common among women. Due to the rarity of the syndrome, though, it's hard to establish any kind of parameters., Exploding head syndrome is thought to be highly connected with stress and extreme fatigue in most individuals. What actually causes the sensation in individuals is still unknown, though speculation of possible sources includes minor seizures affecting the temporal lobe, or sudden shifts in middle ear components.

Since the phenomenon is often linked to stress, sleep experts suggest relaxation techniques  like exercise, reading before bedtime or yoga to help alleviate the episodes. According to studies, a few patients have also found relief by taking certain types of antidepressants. A 2001 study in the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports found "most sufferers require only reassurance that the spells are benign in nature." 

BY: OPEOLUWA ADETOLA