instance, it would be necessary for the tongue to press tip against the
base of the lower row of front teeth. But before the tongue can assume
that position, it is necessary that the brain send to the tongue a
message directing what is to be done.

When the number of different organs involved in the production of the
simplest word of one syllable is considered (such as the word "you"
just mentioned), and when it is further considered that separate brain
messages must be sent to each of the organs, muscles or parts concerned
in the production of that word, then it will be understood that the
process of speaking is a most complicated one, involving not only
numerous physical organs but also intricate mental processes.

When all of the organs concerned in the production of speech are
working properly and when the brain sends prompt and correct brain
impulses to them, the result is perfect speech, the free, fluent and
easy conversation of the good talker. But when any or all of these
organs fail to function properly, due to inco-ordination, the result is
discord--and defective utterance.

CAUSE OF DEFECTIVE UTTERANCE: Now, let us consider the cause of
defective utterance. What is it that causes the organ, muscle or parts
to fail properly to function? The first and most obvious conclusion
would be that there was some inherent defect in the organ, muscle or
part which failed to function. But experience has proved that this is
usually not the case. An examination of two thousand cases of defective
utterance, including many others besides stuttering and stammering,
revealed three-tenths of one per cent. with an organic defect--that is,
a defect in the organs themselves. In other words, only three persons
out of every thousand afflicted with defective utterance were found to
have any physical shortcoming that was responsible for the affliction.

Take any of these two thousand cases--say those that stammered, for
instance. What was the cause of their difficulty, if it did not lie in
the organs used in the production of speech? This is the question that
long puzzled investigators in the field of speech defects. Like Darwin,
they said: "It must be this, for if it is not this, then what is it?"
If stuttering and stammering are not caused by actual physical defects
in the organs themselves, what then can be the cause?

DUE TO A LACK OF CO-ORDINATION: Cases of stammering and stuttering
where no organic defect is present are due