Study on Stammering

Clinical research note on 18 listening tests (LT) of stammerers, within the framework of the Audio-Psycho-Phonological Assessment (BAPP). Anonymous document from the AFAPP archives, likely attributable to a clinician of the Tomatis network (the author cites “Tomatis” in the third person) — 1970s-1980s.

Compilation of the constants observed at the level of listening tests in BAPP among stammerers: closed selectivity masking distortions, flat air conduction (AC) in two-thirds of cases, dome or peak in the language zone betraying a relational problem with the father, peaks at high frequencies (8000 Hz AC, 4000 Hz BC) signing the search for the ideal mother, scotoma-peaks around 500-750 Hz pointing to the anal phase. Compact synthesis of a clinical interpretation protocol for stammering as viewed by audio-psycho-phonology.

Study of 18 listening tests of stammerers

One may observe that certain constants are very frequently found at the level of the LT in BAPP among stammerers.

1. Curves that are globally “beautiful”… but deceptive

In a general manner, the LT do not present large distortions. They are often even curves that are quite close to the ideal curve.

However, the “more beautiful” the curve, the more chance one has of being faced with closed selectivity. As the treatment progresses, selectivity opens (quite quickly moreover) and it is then that the distortions on the curve appear. This explains in part why certain end-of-cure tests seem less good — from the point of view of the curve — than that of the BAPP.

At the level of this closing of selectivity, the following interpretations should therefore be retained:

• Hooking onto the mother, onto the past.

• Refusal to use one’s ear.

• Defect of analysis.

• No engagement of the vestibular integrator.

2. Flat AC

In 12 cases out of 18 a flat AC is found (in 5 cases on both ears; in 5 cases only on the right; in 2 cases only on the left).

This flat AC plays in fact somewhat the same role as a closed selectivity, in the sense that it prevents any analysis.

3. Dome or peak in the language zone

A characteristic found in 16 cases out of 18 is the existence of either a dome-shaped BC, or a very clear peak in the language zone. This peak or this dome confirms that in almost all cases, there is a relational problem with the father, and therefore with language:

• Language is hypertrophied but at the same time…

• … deeply aggressive towards the father.

• Language cannot be used as a means of dialogue. It has no value of communication. There is both a search for and a non-encounter with the paternal image.

In the case where the AC is, like the BC, bell-shaped, one can in addition bring the following interpretations:

• Hyper-intellectualisation.

• Possibility of eczema.

4. Peaks in the high frequencies

A peak in the high frequencies is very frequently found: either at 8000 Hz for the AC, or at 4000 Hz for the BC. Distribution observed in the 18 cases:

	AC (8000 Hz)	BC (4000 Hz)
	R + L	R	L	R	L	R + L
Number of cases	10	12	14	9	9	7

(There are only 3 cases in which none of the curves is ascending.)

These peaks almost always (above all on the right) have as explanation:

• A very strong search for the mother; they prove how strong is the affective demand vis-à-vis the stammerer. It must nonetheless be specified that these peaks are often preceded in BC by scotomata, showing most of the time a desire to cut with the mother. The rise then indicates more the search for the ideal mother, for the maternal image, than the dependence on the real mother.

• The peaks also signify that the stammerer often adopts an aggressive behaviour, either very expressed (AC), or latent, veiled (BC), or both. Aggressiveness thus seems to be a strong characteriological component of the stammerer.

5. Scotoma-peak couple at 500/750 Hz

A last point that struck us concerns the existence:

• either of a scotoma at 500 Hz with a peak at 750 Hz,

• or of a peak at 500 Hz and a scotoma at 750 Hz.

Let us recall that we are here, from a somatic point of view, in the intestinal zone; and from an analytical point of view, in the anal sphere. Now, it may be noted that the whole problematic of retention and expression has often been linked with stammering. Tomatis moreover explains that stammering is in connection with a blockage occurring during the anal phase (between 2 and 4 years of age).

6. BC lower than AC

We have also been struck by the fact that BC was almost always less good than AC, which proves a poor control at the level of the body. This being confirmed by the fact that audio-lateral metering is almost always either on the left, or in the middle.

— Clinical note from the AFAPP archives, document undated and unsigned. Archive document of the Audio-Psycho-Phonology network.