What is stuttering?

Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.

What causes stuttering?

The precise cause of stuttering is not known. There are four factors most likely to contribute to the development of stuttering: genetics (approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also); child development (children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter); neurophysiology ( recent research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language in different areas of the brain than those who do not stutter); and family dynamics ( high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering). Stuttering may occur when a combination of factors comes together and may have different causes in different people. It is probable that what causes stuttering differs from what makes it continue or get worse.

How many people stutter?

Approximately 1% of the population.

What is the ratio of males to females who stutter?

Stuttering affects four times as many males as females.

How many children stutter?

Twenty percent of all children go through a stage of development during which they encounter disfluencies severe enough to be a concern to their parents. Approximately 5 percent of all children go through a period of stuttering that lasts six months or more. Three-quarters of those will recover by late childhood, leaving about 1% with a long-term problem. The best prevention tool is early intervention.

Is stuttering caused by emotional or psychological problems?

Children and adults who stutter are no more likely to have psychological or emotional problems than children and adults who do not. There is no reason to believe that emotional trauma causes stuttering.

I think my child is beginning to stutter. Should I wait or seek help?

Even though some dysfluency is age appropriate, stuttering typically starts between the ages of 2 ½ and 5 years. Early intervention is the most effective way to help children overcome their speaking difficulties, so it is important for parents and pediatricians to seek an evaluation by a qualified speech-language pathologist who specialises in stuttering as soon as they become concerned about a child’s dysfluency.

Can stuttering be treated?

Yes, there are a variety of successful approaches for treating both children and adults. In general, the earlier, the better is good advice.

Are there any famous people who stutter?

Aristotle, Albert Einstein, Boris Becker, James Earl Jones, John Stossel, King Charles 1, King George V1, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Carly Simon, Bob Love, John Updike, Julia Roberts, Isaac Newton, George Washington, Napoleon, Bruce Willis, Tiger Woods, all are famous people who stuttered and went on to have successful lives.

I read about a new cure for stuttering. Is there such a thing?

There are no instant miracle cures for stuttering. Therapy, electronic devices, and even drugs are not an overnight process. However, a specialist in stuttering can help not only children but also teenagers, young adults and even older adults make significant progress toward fluency. Although there is no simple cure for stuttering, people who stutter can benefit from treatment and learn how to speak more easily, manage their stuttering, increase their speech fluency and feel better about themselves and their speaking ability thus communicating more effectively.

These stuttering facts and stuttering information are sourced from the Stuttering Foundation of America