Stuttering: It’s so much more than just getting stuck
Did you know that about THREE MILLION Americans stutter? If you or your loved one stutter, know that you are not alone! Read on to learn more about stuttering, treatment options, and resources.
What is Stuttering?
Stuttering (also known as stammering) is a communication disorder that causes disfluencies in their speech - that can look like repetitions (repeating the same sound or word multiple times), prolongations (extending a sound or word), or blocks (getting stuck on a sound or word with no sound produced). Stuttering impacts not only a person’s ability to communicate, but also their emotions surrounding communication. It can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. However, the good news is that speech therapy can help, not only with the stuttering itself, but also with the underlying emotional toll.
Stuttering Facts
(Check out the NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ page on stuttering for more info)
Stuttering is more common in boys than in girls (almost 4 times more common actually!)
Stuttering usually emerges between the ages of 2 and 6 years old
5-10% of children will stutter at some point, and for some children the stuttering will pass on its own - however per the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, you should seek professional assessment from a speech-language pathologist if your child’s stuttering persists beyond 6-12 months, if they were older than 3.5 years when the stuttering started, if the stuttering suddenly becomes worse, if there is a family history of stuttering, or if your child tenses up or even stops talking because it’s too hard - if this describes your child, reach out today to set up an assessment!
Many famous people stutter - even James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vadar in Star Wars!
Someone who stutters may go through time periods where they don’t stutter, but then may struggle again in the future
Similarly, someone who stutters may stutter less in certain situations or places than others; they may even find that there are specific sounds or times in conversation when they more or less likely to have “bumpy speech”
Early studies show some brain differences in people who stutter - however, we still don’t fully understand what causes some people to stutter and others not to; we do see that many people who stutter have family members who stutter as well
Stuttering Treatment
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are specifically trained to help people who stutter. An SLP can help walk you through techniques to help decrease stuttering, as well as ways to deal with stuttering in particularly stressful situations. SLPs can also counsel people who stutter and their families to help them explore and cope with the emotional underpinnings of stuttering.
There is also power in community! There are many stuttering organizations that can help you find resources and camaraderie among others who stutter. One of the most powerful treatment options is to join a stuttering support group - there’s no one who can better understand the struggles of stuttering than another person who stutters. Check out the resources list below for a few places to start your journey, and of course reach out if you are interested in receiving an assessment or therapy with us!
Stuttering Resources
Friends (an organization targeted at providing a community for young people who stutter)
StutterTalk (a podcast on stuttering)