International Stammering Awareness Day - 22 October
Stammering is when someone repeats, prolongs or gets stuck when trying to say sounds or words. There might also be signs of visible tension as the person works hard to get the word out.
We don't know exactly what causes stammering, but research is showing that it is neurological. This means that the way speech is produced in the brain is different for people who stammer. It is also often hereditary too.
Stammering Facts
- About 8% of children will stammer at some point. For the majority of children this will be temporary.
- Up to 2% of people will stammer into adulthood.
- Stammering can run in families. Around 60% of people who stammer have a relative who stammers or used to stammer.
- In the UK we largely use the term stammering. Other countries call it stuttering. But it means the same thing.
- More men than women stammer.
- People of all ethnicities can stammer.
- People do not stammer because they are less intelligent. It has nothing to do with personality types either.
- Like other neurological conditions, it covers a spectrum. Everyone stammers differently and to different degrees.
- Stammering is variable. People can stammer less on some days and more on others. They might also have periods in their life when they stammer less, and periods when they stammer more.
- You might not even know that a person stammers. Some people use methods and strategies to mask their stammering, so that it is less obvious to others.
Tips for how to make things comfortable when speaking with a person who stammers.
It can be disconcerting talking with someone who stammers, but don't be distressed by it. Just listen and be patient.
- Advice. Don't go there. Don't tell the person to 'slow down', 'take a breath', or 'relax'. And definitely don't make the joke: 'Did you forget your name?'.
- Don't interrupt or speak over them.
- Don't try and guess or finish their words, it can be disempowering and unhelpful if you get it wrong.
- Maintain natural eye contact, listen, and wait until the person has finished speaking.
- Let the speaker know you are listening. Focus on what they're saying, not how they say it.
- People who stammer often find controlling their speech on the phone particularly hard. If you pick up the phone and hear nothing, give the caller plenty of time to speak.
- Don't be afraid to ask them how you can make it easier for them.
This year’s theme for International Stammering Awareness Day is ‘Being seen and being heard’. Airedale NHS Stammering Centre have created a fantastic video ‘I don’t need to be fixed- what I wish the world understood about stammering'. Please watch and share this to help the world to become a bit easier for people who stammer.
Help and support
Speech and Language Therapy. Whilst early stammering does resolve in many children, up to 2% will continue to stammer. It is important to liaise with a speech and language therapist to determine whether the stammer is likely to continue, and to check if the stammer is having an impact on the child and/or their family. Please do not advice parents to watch and wait. If you are concerned about a child who has started to stammer, or you are an adult and would like help with your fluency then please get in touch. See our website for further details.
STAMMA provide a wealth of helpful information and resources for parents, teenagers, adults, teachers and employers on stammering and the support that is available. They also offer a helpline and webchat service, which is run by people experienced in stammering - volunteers who stammer, relatives of people who stammers or those working in the field. It’s free and confidential. Call 0808 802 0002 (weekdays 10am-12pm & 6pm-8pm) or email help@stamma.org
Natasha Wimbledon - Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Dysfluency