What Is Stammering?

Stammering occurs in all parts of the world, across all cultures,
religions and socio-economic groups. It is a highly complicated problem that has mystified researchers, academics and those who stammer throughout history. Even the name creates confusion; it may be referred to as stammering, stuttering or dysfluency.

Individuality and variability

Stammering can take many different forms, and each person who has a stammer shows slightly different features.

One common feature is its unpredictability and variability. This makes it a deeply frustrating problem to the person who stammers and to the family. Many parents describe how phases of stammering are followed by a fluent period which may last for weeks - naturally this adds to the dilemma of when or whether to ask for help.

Often parents report that there is no obvious pattern to the problem, for example, sometimes it's bad when the child is tired, but not always, sometimes it's better in the holidays, but not consistently. There are no hard and fast rules.

Characteristics of stammering

Although the quantity and type of the stammering differs for each individual, the following features are more usual:

• Repetition of whole words, e.g. "and, and, and, then I left"


• Repetition of single sounds, e.g. "c-c-come h-h-here"


• Prolonging of sounds, e.g. "sssssssometimes I go out"


• Blocking of sounds, where the mouth is in position, but no sound comes out


• Facial tension - in the muscles around the eyes, nose, lips or neck


• Extra body movements may occur as the child attempts to 'push' the word out: stamping the feet, shifting body position or tapping with the fingers


• The breathing pattern may be disrupted, for example, the child may hold his breath while speaking or take an exaggerated breath before speaking


• Generally the flow of speech is interrupted and this may cause distress to the speaker and the listener

Sometimes the child adopts strategies to try and minimise or hide the problem, for example:

• Avoiding or changing words - the child may say "I've forgotten what I was going to say', or may switch to another word when he begins to stammer, e.g. "I played with my br- br- br... my sister on Saturday"


• Avoiding certain situations - for instance, speaking in assembly or asking questions in class

Some children become so adept at hiding their problem in this manner that they may appear fluent, or just become very quiet.

   When Does It Begin?