STUTTERING - CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL OPTIONS

Stuttering is increasingly being recognised as a neurodevelopmental di sorder. This has stimulated new interest in pharmacological approaches to the treatment of the condition. Psychosocial factors are also rega rded as important to the course of the condition. Therefore, psychosoc ial interventions, such as psychotherapy and speech retraining, are im portant components of a comprehensive treatment programme. A wide rang e of pharmacological agents are effective in reducing stuttering in se lected patients. These include haloperidol, verapamil, bethanechol and some antidepressants. The agents are presumed to work through differe nt mechanisms. Unilateral injection of botulinum toxin directly into t he vocal folds is another promising treatment.