The involvement of the Valsalva mechanism in various types of stuttering
behavior cannot be determined without further research. In the meantime, the
following criteria are suggested for selecting those individuals who most
clearly seem to exhibit Valsalva-type stuttering and who would be most likely to
benefit from Valsalva Control. The following
suggestions are not intended to be a substitute for individual diagnosis
by a qualified speech-language pathologist or other appropriate
health-care professional.Excluding Complicating Factors
Are you currently free from brain damage or other identifiable neurological
defects or deficits? Yes ___ No ___
Are you free from physical defects that affect your speaking or breathing?
Yes ___ No ___
Was the onset of your stuttering not related to head trauma or other
disease or condition affecting the brain? Yes ___ No ___
Characteristics of Stuttering
Are you able to talk fluently some of the time, or in certain situations? Yes
___ No ___
Are you fluent when you sing? Yes ___ No ___
Are you fluent when you read in unison with someone else? Yes
___ No ___
Does the severity of your stuttering vary depending on the speaking situation
or the words being said? Yes ___ No ___
Do you tend to stutter more on the words that are most important? Yes
___ No ___
When you stutter, are any of the following true? Yes ___
No ___
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Your words are sometimes blocked by tight closure of your lips, your tongue, or
your larynx (your throat)? Yes ___ No ___ |
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When you have a block, whether it be sustained or repetitive, you feel
tightness in your abdominal and/or chest muscles and increased air pressure
in your lungs? Yes ___ No ___ |
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You sometimes have difficulty or delays in making voiced sounds (phonation)?
Yes ___ No ___ |
Valsalva Maneuver Exercises
Perform the following exercise:
Curl your fingers, and link both hands together in front of your
chest. Take a deep breath. Now try to pull your hands apart, as hard as you can,
without letting go. (If you are seated at a desk or
heavy table, an alternative would be to put your fingers under the edge of the
desk or table and try to lift it.)
(Warning: You shouldn't overdo the Valsalva maneuver, particularly
if you have a heart condition. In extreme cases a person might pass out.)
While you are pulling (or lifting):
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Do you notice the muscles in your chest and abdomen tightening up? Yes
___ No ___ |
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Do you notice your throat closing up? Yes
___ No ___ |
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Do you notice your throat closing more tightly, the harder you pull
(or lift)? Yes ___ No ___ |
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Does your throat feel the same as when you block on initial vowel sounds (as
in "apple")? Yes ___ No ___ |
Now try the same exercise again. This time, start by putting your lips
together and pretend you are going to say a p sound. Now pull your hands
apart (or lift) as hard as you can. While you are pulling (or lifting):
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Do you find your lips pressing tightly together? Yes
___ No ___ |
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Do your lips feel the same as when you block on consonants like b and
p? Yes ___ No ___ |
Now see what happens when you press the tip of your tongue to the ridge
behind your upper front teeth, and pretend you are going to say the t
sound. Take a deep breath and start pulling (or lifting). While you are pulling
(or lifting):
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Do you feel the tip of tongue pressing forcefully? Yes
___ No ___ |
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Does this forceful closures feel the same as when you block on consonants
like d and t? Yes ___ No ___ |
(This exercise can be repeated using the articulation positions for other
consonants.)
Valsalva Relaxation Exercise
Intentionally do a sustained, forceful block on the p sound, similar
to the hardest stuttering blocks you have personally experienced. While you are blocking,
notice whether any other parts of your body are tense.
 | Do you feel tightness in your abdominal muscles? Yes
___ No ___ |
Now do another forceful block on the p sound. This time, while
you are blocking, relax your abdominal muscles.
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Did the force of the block automatically disappear? Yes
___ No ___ |
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Are you unable to make the same kind of forceful block while relaxing your
abdominal muscles? Yes ___ No ___ |
If the answers to all, or nearly all, of the above questions are "Yes," the
Valsalva mechanism may be involved in your stuttering
behavior, and Valsalva Control should be seriously considered.
Copyright © 2002, 2005, 2009 by William D. Parry
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