What Is Stammering?

Stammering is universal. It is found in all parts of the world, across all cultures, religions and socio-economic groups. It may be referred to as stammering, stuttering or dysfluency - the terms mean the same.

Stammering has been recorded throughout history. There have been countless theories which try to explain its development and existence. In the past, it has been described variously as an anatomical disorder, a disease, a psychiatric illness, an anomaly of brain functioning and an emotional disturbance! These ancient theories resulted in all manner of attempts to rectify the problem - none was successful.

We do know that:

1. It usually starts in childhood between 2-5 years of age (often after the child has already started to speak).
2. It may start gradually or quite suddenly.
3. While initially it affects boys and girls equally, later on there are about 4 or 5 times as many boys who stammer as girls.
4. About 5% of children may go through a phase when they seem to stammer, but as it only affects about 1% of adults, many children recover naturally or with some help.
5. Parents don't cause stammering.
6. Stammering does tend to run in families.
7. It is often unpredictable, variable and episodic.

Innate

• The pre-disposition to stammer is probably inherited.
• It may be related to a child's developing speech and language skills. Perhaps there are some mismatches in his abilities in one area compared with another, or there may be some (as yet unknown) differences in the way that the child's brain co-ordinates the speech output system.
• The child's own personality may affect the way that he or she deals with moments of dysfluency - some children are more sensitive, some worry more about making mistakes, some are impatient and want to rush everything at the speed of light and others couldn't care less.

Environmental

• Most children cope with busy lifestyles, but some find the hurry and bustle of daily life, the need to adapt quickly and to make their presence felt (verbally and non-verbally) more difficult than others.
• The child who is going through a period of stammering, or who is vulnerable to the problem, will find it harder to be fluent when trying to speak quickly, to participate in rapid conversations, to match others' rates of talking or to use complicated and lengthy sentences.
• The way that others respond to a child's speech dysfluencies can also make a difference.