Will people with a stutter be accepted into the army: the main aspects of passing a medical examination

Stuttering and the Army

Various kinds of speech pathologies have always provoked negative feelings of embarrassment and inferiority in young men; for this reason, many young people with a disorder such as stuttering turn to specialists for help in order to correct this defect by the time they reach conscription age.

Article 88 of the Schedule of Diseases, which contains a similar disease as logoneurosis, expresses the degree in two positions:

1. Point “a” includes signs that indicate a high degree of stuttering. Pathology was identified throughout the speech apparatus. In addition, when pronouncing words, neurotic expressions can be traced, including breathing problems. This form of the disease is not capable of allowing a young man to perform military service, since speech is considered an integral tool.
2. Moderate expressions of the disease in the form of prolongation of individual sounds belong to point “b”, which makes it possible to serve with restrictions in the choice of troops. Speech in this case becomes less intelligible, but can be distinguished. In addition, there are no disruptions in the activities of key important human systems.

The complex form, which is prescribed in paragraph “a”, belongs to the fitness category “B”, and the easier form – to the fitness category “B”. It is possible to conclude that there is no clear answer to the question of suitability for service, as with other diagnoses.

The form of stuttering can be:

1. Neurotic (logoneurosis) is a psychogenic disease with a predominant lesion of speech function.
2. Neurosis-like stuttering is an organic lesion of the central nervous system.

A decision on suitability for service is not made immediately. If a conscript has a speech disorder, he should be referred for a more detailed examination to a neurologist, speech therapist, or psychiatrist. The commission will make a final verdict only on the basis of documentary information. It is quite difficult to compare the form of the disease with the theoretically described data in the article. For this reason, speech monitoring is carried out over a fairly long period. Different psychological conditions are formed for the subject.

Types and criteria of the disease

Stuttering, like many diseases, is ranked according to severity and manifestation of impairments. It can develop in preschool age or be a consequence of any disease (brain injuries and diseases, nervous and mental disorders, etc.). In this case, stuttering takes on a more serious form, called logoneurosis.

Logoneurosis is a common form of stuttering that is a consequence of neurotic disorders. It is expressed by impaired speech fluency, prolonged sounds and their repetitions, and the manifestation of convulsive symptoms. It occurs in both adults and children. According to ICD 10, it refers to mental illness and is a behavioral disorder.

• brain injuries;
• infectious diseases;
• stroke;
• tumor neoplasms;
• psychopathy and mental illness;
• heredity;
• unstable psyche, emotional excitability (typical for teenagers).

The decision of the military commission depends on the severity of the pathology, so it is important to divide stuttering into degrees:

• Mild – occurs when there is excessive excitability, anxiety, or the need to quickly convey information. The speech is clear, the speaker does not focus on defects, and the latter, in turn, are easy to eliminate.
• Medium – can also occur at rest. During a period of emotional outburst, stuttering becomes pronounced.
• Severe – stuttering becomes constant, complemented by gesticulation.

And also stuttering has 3 types:

• Evolutionary - appears in childhood (usually preschool) age. During puberty it intensifies, after which a decline is often noticeable. May have a neurotic or neurosis-like nature.
• Reactive – observed in adolescents as a result of exposure to psychogenic factors.
• Symptomatic – occurs due to damage to brain structures, encephalitis, neoplasms, circulatory disorders. Acts as a secondary sign.

Why is clear diction needed in the army?

The desire to serve in the army will only be welcomed by the employees of the military commissariat, for this reason, if the conscript does not insist on being released due to stuttering, then, most likely, he will be accepted for military service. The determining factor here is the human factor. At the personal request of a conscript, in case of minor speech pathologies, members of the commission can issue a fitness category “A”, since category “B” can become a ticket to a construction battalion, and this is unlikely to tempt the young man.

The psychological component for a patient with logoneurosis can be expressed both favorably and negatively in the service. It can often be like this: if a conscript is not ashamed of his own illness, then the initial difficulties are more easily experienced, and the young man can continue to have a favorable stay in the company of other conscripts, even with the likely favorable dynamics of speech development. However, mockery and irritation from commanders and colleagues should also be taken into account. Nervous stuttering can only become worse.

From this we can conclude that clear diction of speech in the army is not of particular importance for service, apart from the fact that all soldiers are required to make certain speeches of greeting and others. This can cause some difficulties for a person who stutters. In addition, the problem may also be emotional in nature, which will aggravate the well-being of a soldier with a stutter.

In what cases is exemption from service granted?

Whether someone with a speech defect will be accepted into the army depends on how severe the pathology is. Having such a diagnosis, a conscript can count on one of two categories: “B” or “C”.

Logoneurosis and army are considered incompatible in the presence of significant speech defects with breathing problems and neurotic manifestations. In this case, the conscript will receive a “non-conscription” category “B” and go to the reserve. As practice shows, young men whose speech, due to stuttering, is practically incomprehensible to others, can count on a “white” ticket.

With a weak or moderate degree of logoneurosis, the conscript should prepare for military service. In such cases, they are usually assigned the “B-4” category, which limits the choice of the type of military for service - the young man is sent to serve where his speech problems will not be of particular importance. Sometimes conscripts with a speech impediment are given a deferment for treatment.

"Slope" for stuttering: mission impossible

It is no secret that many modern young people do not want to serve in the army. One of the most popular ways to avoid conscription is to feign various serious illnesses. Moreover, stuttering is a favorite diagnosis for those who want to avoid service.

However, this is unlikely to be easy to do. A young man suffering from a severe form of stuttering simply must have a serious history of communication with medical institutions: certificates, examination results, entries in the medical record. The medical board at the military registration and enlistment office will not believe in such a diagnosis if it is not documented - such a “slope” simply will not work. In addition, the malingerer is guaranteed to be “brought to light” during a comprehensive examination, which is carried out by a whole group of specialists. Of course, you can try to bribe doctors, but this is not at all easy to do. It should also be recalled that evasion of military service is a crime that is punishable by law.

There are also opposite cases: young men with speech impediments want to join the army. It is clear that such an impulse is welcomed by the military registration and enlistment office employees, and the conscript is sent to military service. He may even be assigned category “A” instead of “B”, unless, of course, the disease is too severe.

Do people with a stutter get recruited into the army?

When answering the question of whether people are hired to serve with stuttering, it is necessary to highlight the fact that this disease develops in varying degrees. This will directly determine whether the young man will be accepted into the army or not. Almost all conscripts who suffer from such a pathology are considered fit for military service. The only limitation is that such guys may not be accepted into the elite troops.

Article 89 of the Regulations on Military Medical Examination can be considered an exceptional rule, which can be the reason for declaring a conscript unfit for military service. It states that only a guy with a severe form of pathology will be considered unfit. This includes the degree of stuttering that affects the entire speech apparatus. This pathology has disturbances in the breathing process, disorders of the nervous system, and pathologies of speech are expressed, making it almost completely inaudible.

Will they accept service with a moderate form of illness? The answer can be unequivocally yes. This form is determined when only a delay in the pronunciation of words and hesitation at the beginning of sentences can be observed. At the same time, all other phrases are pronounced easily or slightly slowly, but the young man does not repeat himself in words.

If a conscript has a violation of speech function, then a thorough examination is prescribed for him. Taking into account the results of this examination, the commission decides on suitability for military service.

The stage of development of the disorder is established through dynamic observation of how the young person pronounces phrases under different conditions. Next, doctors evaluate those situations where stuttering was more pronounced.

Medical examination of a conscript for logoneurosis

The presence of signs of stuttering must be documented and documented over a long period of time.

The diagnosis of “logoneurosis” is established, as a rule, by a speech therapist, but can also be confirmed by a neurologist, otolaryngologist and psychiatrist if the disease is neurotic in nature.

However, even if there is a documented diagnosis at the medical examination, the examination will have to be repeated.

Do they take people who stutter into the army? When passing a military medical commission, a conscript may be sent for additional examination and subsequent determination of the young man’s suitability for service.

Read more about diagnosing stuttering in this article.

High degree of stuttering

Taking into account the intensity and duration of muscle spasms of the speech apparatus and taking into account the disorders associated with stuttering, 3 degrees of severity of the disease are distinguished. Let us dwell in more detail on the high degree of stuttering.

If a young person has a high degree of stuttering, then stuttering can be traced in all forms of speech, without any exceptions. Communication with such a person is almost impossible. In addition, over time, other disorders are added to stuttering, which include logophobia, embolophrasia, accompanying movements, and others.

Stuttering has the ability to progress and acquire new complications. In addition, stuttering causes certain complexes in a person; many may withdraw into themselves and try not to make contact with people.

Logoneurosis and the army

Logoneurosis is a pathology when speech impairment occurs. The majority of conscripted citizens may be wondering whether they will be accepted to serve if they have such a pathology.

The goal of speech therapists is to correct the young man’s speech before the conscription period. This is due to the presence of excessive nervous tension at this age, which leads to complications.

Before recruiting a young man for service, it is recommended that he undergo a military commission. The list of diseases is a document that the conscript is recommended to familiarize himself with in advance. It includes information about key diseases and recommendations for experts in each specific variant.

In accordance with Article 88, the complexity of logoneurosis is determined according to 2 positions. The first of them indicates the presence of symptoms indicating a high (severe) degree of stuttering. The formation of pathologies can be traced in the area of ​​the entire speech apparatus. If a young man tries to express his own opinion, then the emergence of neurotic disorders can be traced.

Note ! _ In some cases, the pathology is accompanied by impaired breathing. With this form of the disease, army service is contraindicated, since interaction between soldiers is carried out through speech.

A young man can serve in special forces with minor violations. With moderate logoneurosis, the guy draws out specific sounds. Despite the significant incomprehensibility of the speech, it is quite possible to understand it. In case of illness at this stage, service, if there are no disruptions in the activity of other organs and systems.

How to get out of the army due to stuttering?

If a conscript is diagnosed with logoneurosis to a high degree, then nothing needs to be done in order to be rejected from the army due to stuttering. In all other situations, the conscript is subject to conscription and will be taken into the army. Therefore, if you have a high degree of logoneurosis and this is documented, then you should not worry about being taken into service.

In other situations, when diagnosed with mild or moderate severity, the conscript is called up for service, but he may not get into the so-called “elite” troops. He is assigned to specialized troops.

What to expect from the commission?

Frequent repetition of individual sounds and syllables, hesitations and stops when trying to pronounce words or entire phrases are characteristic signs of stuttering. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not enough to exempt you from military service. Any diagnosis must be documented by qualified specialists. Stuttering as a diagnosis is made by a speech therapist or otolaryngologist.

Various reasons can lead to such speech impairment, most often causing the disease in childhood.

Article 89 (Schedule of Diseases)

Article 89 – speech disorders, includes:

• High degree of stuttering , which covers the entire speech apparatus, with pathology of respiratory processes and neurotic expressions, and other pathologies of speech that make it slurred. In this case, the fitness category “B” is assigned - non-conscription.
• Moderate stuttering and other speech impairments that make it insufficiently understandable. Assigned category “B-4” - conscription.

If there are pathologies of the speech apparatus, the conscript undergoes increased examination. A conclusion on the suitability category is awarded on the basis of information from a survey and examination of documentation received from a military unit, military registration and enlistment office, study or work.

The degree of manifestation of stuttering is determined through dynamic observation of the state of speech function in different circumstances and is assessed by its state at the moments of the most pronounced expression of the disease.

A moderate degree of stuttering, which does not interfere with the performance of the service, is considered to be only a delay in pronunciation, “stumbling” at the beginning of a phrase, other words are pronounced freely or slightly slowly, but the words are understandable and are not repeated.

Appeal the decision of the draft commission

At any time and at any stage of the commission, you can appeal the decision of the draft commission, in accordance with paragraph 7 of Article 28 of the Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service”. This happens in an administrative manner, that is, for this you need to write a complaint, describing in detail the essence of the claims, and send it to a higher commission, that is, to the draft commission of the region or region. After consideration of your complaint, within three days you will be scheduled for a re-examination with the involvement of independent specialists. The complaint shall indicate in writing the name of the higher commission, your full name and your postal address, and the essence of the complaint shall be indicated in detail. A personal signature and date are also required. Please refer this complaint to the head of the military registration and enlistment office, with the decision of which you do not agree. By filing such a complaint, the present decision of the draft commission is declared invalid until the results of the re-examination are received. In practice, the re-commission is quite objective and makes a decision in your favor. The main thing is to stutter as hard as you can if you don’t want to serve. And if possible, don’t stutter if you want to serve, but they don’t want to hire you.

And if you do not agree with the decision of a re-examination by a higher regional or regional commission, you can appeal it in court. In practice, it is almost impossible to prove the illegality of the decision of the repeated conscription medical commission on your own. Therefore, find yourself a lawyer as soon as possible, with whose competent support your chances of achieving the desired court decision are quite high. Let us note that it is useless to sue the decision of an individual doctor, since this will not suspend the legal force of the decision of the draft commission. It is necessary to file a lawsuit against the decision of the draft commission; this suspends its action until a court ruling is made. But the lawyer already knows all this well, the main thing is not to delay in finding him.

It should be added that you can also file a lawsuit against a decision of a draft commission of any level while already in a military unit, but this will be more difficult. We repeat, a lawyer can help you.

In case of particularly serious violations of the draft commission, we recommend that, in parallel with filing an application to the court, you contact a local prosecutor or the military prosecutor's office at the appropriate level. However, it should be borne in mind that contacting the prosecutor’s office does not suspend the action of the decision of the draft commission that is unlawful in your opinion.

What does the suitability category depend on?

After handing over the completed report, the doctor from the military commissariat will be able to determine the conscript’s suitability category. Whether a young person will be hired depends on the severity of the violation. Examination of conscripted citizens is carried out according to Article 88 of the Schedule of Diseases.

In accordance with it, a conscript is able to receive the following categories:

1. For moderate violation – “B-4”.
2. With a high degree of violation - “B”.

Survey from the military registration and enlistment office

An additional examination at the military registration and enlistment office is a necessary procedure, the main task of which is to confirm or refute the previously established diagnosis of a conscript.

During it happens:

1. identifying the root causes of the disease;

For example, whether stuttering is a consequence of a malfunction of the central nervous system, or whether it arose against the background of an infectious disease.

1. definition of pathology for further classification of the disease according to the article “Schedule of diseases”.

It is worth noting that a proper additional examination should include checking the conscript by several qualified specialists . And if this condition is violated, then the young man has the right to demand correction of the current situation.

For information: some young people undergoing screening by the draft board are faced with negative work by its psychologist. In particular, conscripts are “scared” of undergoing inpatient treatment in a mental hospital.

However, according to the Law on Basic Health Protection and the Law on Psychiatric Care, a person has the right to refuse this type of medical examination. The corresponding application should be sent to the head physician of a particular medical institution.