What is
Stammering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which sounds, syllables, or words
are repeated or prolonged, disrupting the normal flow of speech.
These speech disruptions may be accompanied by struggling
behaviors, such as rapid eye blinks or tremors of the lips.
Stuttering can make it difficult to communicate with other people,
which often affects a person’s quality of life.
Symptoms of stuttering can vary significantly throughout a
person’s day. In general, speaking before a group or talking on
the telephone may make a person’s stuttering more severe, while
singing, reading, or speaking in unison may temporarily reduce
stuttering.
Stuttering is sometimes referred to as stammering and by a broader
term, disfluent speech.
How is
speech normally produced?
We make speech sounds through a series of precisely coordinated
muscle movements involving breathing, phonation (voice
production), and articulation (movement of the throat, palate,
tongue, and lips) (see figure). Muscle movements are controlled by
the brain and monitored through our senses of hearing and touch.
What causes
Stammering?
Although the precise mechanisms are not understood, there are two
types of stuttering that are more common. (A third type of
stuttering, called psychogenic stuttering, can be caused by
emotional trauma or problems with thought or reasoning. At one
time, all stuttering was believed to be psychogenic, but today we
know that psychogenic stuttering is rare.)
Developmental
Stammering
Developmental stuttering occurs in young children while they are
still learning speech and language skills. It is the most common
form of stuttering. Some scientists and clinicians believe that
developmental stuttering occurs when children’s speech and
language abilities are unable to meet the child’s verbal demands.
Developmental stuttering also runs in families. In 2010, for the
first time, NIDCD researchers isolated three genes that cause
stuttering. More information on the genetics of stuttering can be
found in the research section of this fact sheet.
Neurogenic
Stammering
Neurogenic stuttering may occur after a stroke, head trauma, or
other type of brain injury. With neurogenic stuttering, the brain
has difficulty coordinating the different components involved in
speaking because of signaling problems between the brain and
nerves or muscles.
How is stuttering diagnosed?
Stuttering is usually diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP),
a health professional who is trained to test and treat individuals
with voice, speech, and language disorders. The speech-language
pathologist will consider a variety of factors, including the
child’s case history (such as when the stuttering was first
noticed and under what circumstances), an analysis of the child’s
stuttering behaviors, and an evaluation of the child’s speech and
language abilities and the impact of stuttering on his or her
life.
When evaluating a young child for stuttering, a speech-language
pathologist will try to predict if the child is likely to continue
his or her stuttering behavior or outgrow it. To determine this
difference, the speech-language pathologist will consider such
factors as the family’s history of stuttering, whether the child’s
stuttering has lasted six months or longer, and whether the child
exhibits other speech or language problems.
How is stuttering treated?
Although there is currently no cure for stuttering, there are a
variety of treatments available. The nature of the treatment will
differ, based upon a person’s age, communication goals, and other
factors. If you or your child stutters, it is important to work
with a speech-language pathologist to determine the best treatment
options.
For very young children, early treatment may prevent developmental
stuttering from becoming a lifelong problem. Certain strategies
can help children learn to improve their speech fluency while
developing positive attitudes toward communication. Health
professionals generally recommend that a child be evaluated if he
or she has stuttered for three to six months, exhibits struggle
behaviors associated with stuttering, or has a family history of
stuttering or related communication disorders. Some researchers
recommend that a child be evaluated every three months to
determine if the stuttering is increasing or decreasing. Treatment
often involves teaching parents about ways to support their
child’s production of fluent speech. Parents may be encouraged to:
Provide a relaxed home environment that allows many opportunities
for the child to speak. This includes setting aside time to talk
to one another, especially when the child is excited and has a lot
to say.
Refrain from reacting negatively when the child stutters. Instead,
parents should react to the stuttering as they would any other
difficulty the child may experience in life. This may involve
gentle corrections of the child’s stuttering and praise for the
child’s fluent speech.
Be less demanding on the child to speak in a certain way or to
perform verbally for people, particularly if the child experiences
difficulty during periods of high pressure.
Speak in a slightly slowed and relaxed manner. This can help
reduce time pressures the child may be experiencing.
Listen attentively when the child speaks and wait for him or her
to say the intended word. Don't try to complete the child’s
sentences. Also, help the child learn that a person can
communicate successfully even when stuttering occurs.
Talk openly and honestly to the child about stuttering if he or
she brings up the subject. Let the child know that it is okay for
some disruptions to occur.
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