STUTTERING - CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL OPTIONS

Stuttering is increasingly being recognised as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This has stimulated new interest in pharmacological approaches to the treatment of the condition. Psychosocial factors are also regarded as important to the course of the condition. Therefore, psychosocial interventions, such as psychotherapy and speech retraining, are important components of a comprehensive treatment programme. A wide range of pharmacological agents are effective in reducing stuttering in selected patients. These include haloperidol, verapamil, bethanechol and some antidepressants. The agents are presumed to work through different mechanisms. Unilateral injection of botulinum toxin directly into the vocal folds is another promising treatment.