Introduction

Stammering also sometimes referred to as stuttering is a relatively common speech problem in childhood,which can persist into adulthood.

This page covers:

What is stammering?

Types

Getting help

Treatment

Causes

Who's affected

What is stammering?

Stammering is when:

  • you repeat sounds or syllables for example, such as saying "mu-mu-mu-mummy"
  • you make sounds longer for example, "mmmmmmummy"
  • a word gets stuck or doesn't come out at all

Stammering varies in severity from person to person, and from situation to situation.Someone might have periods of stammering followed by times when they speak relatively fluently.

They're known as:

  • developmental stammering the most common type of stammering; it occurs in early childhood when speech and language skills are developing rapidly
  • acquired or late-onset stammering is relatively rare and occurs in older children and adults as a result ofa head injury, stroke or a progressive neurological condition; it can also be caused by certain drugs or medication, or psychological or emotional trauma

This topic focuses on developmental stammering.

What causes stammering?

It isn't possible to say for sure whya particular child starts stammering, but it isn't caused by anything the parents have done.

Developmental and inherited factors may play a part, along with small differences in how efficiently the speech areas of the brain are working.

Speech development

Speech development is a complex process that involves communication between different areas of the brain, and between the brain and the muscles responsible for breathing and speaking.

When every part of this system works well, the right words are spoken in the right order, with correct rhythm, pauses and emphasis.

A child learning to construct simple sentences needs practise to develop the different speech areas in the brain and lay down the neural pathways ("wiring") needed for the different parts to work well together.

Talking problems can occur if some parts of this developing system aren't quiteco-ordinated. This can cause repetitions and stoppages, particularly when the child has lots to say, is excited,or feeling under pressure.

As the brain continues to develop, some of these problems resolve or the brain is able to compensate, which is why many children"grow out" of stammering.

Sex differences and genes

Stammering is more common in boys than girls. Differences in brain development between the sexes might make boys more vulnerable to speech and language difficulties.

Genes are also thought to play a role. Around two in every three people who stammer have a family history of stammering, which suggests the genes a child inherits from their parents might make them more likely to develop a stammer.

When to get help

You should get advice if you have any concerns about your child's speech or language development.

Treatment for stammering is often successful in pre-school age children, so it's important to get referred to a specialist as soon as possible.

Contact your GP or health visitor to discuss your concerns with them. If necessary, they may refer your child to a speech and language therapist (SLT) for an assessment.

In many areas, you can phone the children's speech and language services directly and refer your child yourself.

The British Stammering Association (BSA) website has information and advice for parents, and a helpline you can call on 0845 603 2001 to find out about the services available in your area.

If you're an adult who stammers and it's having a significant impact on your social and work life, you may want to ask your GP to refer you to an SLT.

Treatments for stammering

There are different speech and language therapy approaches that can help people who stammer speak more easily.

You'll work together with a therapist to come up with a suitable plan tailored to you or your child.

This may involve:

  • creating an environment where your child feels more relaxed and confident about talking
  • strategies to increase fluency and develop communication skills
  • working on feelings associated with stammering, such as fear and anxiety

Electronic devices to reduce stammering are also available and can help some older children and adults, but they're not usually available on the NHS.

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Who's affected

Studies suggest around1 in 20 young children go through a phase of stammering.

Around four in five children who stammer will grow out of it, although it's difficult to predict when this will happen in a particular child.

It's estimatedstammering affects around 1 in 100 adults, with men being around four times more likely to stammer than women.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017