Written by Dr Niki Tracy
Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a type of fluency disorder. It is most commonly found in children, especially during the phase of learning to speak, typically between the ages of 2 and 5. While most children naturally overcome stuttering as they grow older, some may continue to stutter into adulthood. This article will delve into the causes of stuttering, the risk groups, treatment methods, and differentiate between true stuttering and pseudo stuttering, concluding with seven key recommendations from experts for parents.
The exact cause of stuttering is not fully understood, but scientists believe it may involve the interaction of multiple factors. These include genetic factors, with about 60% of people who stutter having a family member who also stutters. Additionally, neuroscientific research has found that the areas of the brain involved in language processing in those who stutter may be different from those who do not stutter. Finally, developmental factors may also influence the onset of stuttering, such as children going through unfluent stages during the development of language skills.
Stuttering can occur at any age but is most common during childhood. It usually begins when children are learning to speak, roughly between the ages of 2 and 5. Boys are more likely to stutter than girls, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 4:1. Furthermore, if other family members stutter, children are more likely to develop stuttering.
True stuttering is a long-term speech disorder that may persist into adulthood. It may involve the repetition of sounds, syllables, or parts of words, and difficulty moving forward with certain sounds or words. In contrast, pseudo stuttering (also known as developmental stuttering) is a phenomenon naturally occurring as children learn to speak. This may involve the repetition of words or phrases, or a lot of filler words, such as "um" and "uh" during speech. Most children will naturally overcome pseudo stuttering within a few years of learning language.
Professional speech-language pathologists (SLP) will assess a child's language skills and formulate a personalised treatment plan. Treatment may include the following methods:
Stuttering can be a challenge for both parents and children, but with the right understanding and appropriate support, children can learn to manage their stuttering and develop confidence and effective communication skills.