It's ok to stammer!

What is stammering?

Stammering, also known as stuttering, (it’s the same thing!) is a difference in the way some people speak and how speech flows. Someone who stammers might do one or more of these things:

• Repeat sounds or words e.g., “b-b-ball”, “and, and, and…”

• Stretch or prolong sounds e.g., “can you read me a ssssstory”

• Have a silent block where a sound gets stuck e.g., “---can I have a…”

These can happen at any time and everyone does these occasionally, but for someone who stammers they happen more often, nearly every time they speak. Everyone’s stammer is different and unique. It is normal for stammering to fluctuate, for example; people can stammer less on some days, in different situations, and more in others. People who stammer are still great communicators and therefore it is important that we listen to what they say and not how they say it.  

People who stammer might also:

• Appear tense in their body, face or mouth

• Change their breathing pattern or be out of breath

• Close their eyes or look away

• Say “um” or “er” or repeat a word they have already said

• Use other body parts to help get a word out or release tension e.g., tap their finger / foot etc.

When does stammering start and the causes?

Stammering can start in early childhood between the ages of 2 years and 5 years old. This is usually when children are going through changes in their language development and it is referred to as ‘developmental stammering’. Some children can stammer later in life and this may be due to language becoming more complex i.e., longer complex sentences and more complicated grammar!

We don’t know exactly why stammering happens, but research shows that there is a slight difference in how the brain is wired in people who stammer. We do know that stammering has a genetic link, meaning it can run in families. Around 60% of people who stammer have a family member who stammers or who used to stammer.

Parents or guardians do not cause stammering, being bilingual does not cause stammering. Stammering is not associated with where you are from, people of all ethnicities and from every country can stammer.

How do we support children who stammer?

At Liverpool Speech Therapy our work with children who stammer is neuroaffirming in nature, which means that therapy does not necessarily focus on techniques to make children speak more fluently or to reduce the stammer itself.

Instead, our therapy approaches focus on the emotional and confidence side of stammering, helping children understand and accept their stammer, build self-esteem, reduce anxiety around speaking, and to develop positive communication skills. Our approach aims to support children to communicate confidently and comfortably, rather than eliminate stammering. We make sure that we don’t just talk about acceptance with our children, but with our parents and educational staff also.

Stammering facts:

• At least 1% of adults stammer

• Around 8% of children will stammer at some point

• Around 75% of adults who stammer are male. Around the same number of girls and boys start stammering, but girls are more likely to stop than boys.

• Stammering has a genetic link

  
  

Well known people who stammer:

Stammering does not have to stop you from doing what you want to do. Below is a list of people who have used their stammer in creative ways and people who are using their stammer to change perceptions through social media, art and activism:

Musicians: Ed Sheeran, Gareth Gates, Kendrick Lamar, Mel B (Spice Girls), Carly Simon.

Actors: Bruce Willis, Charlie Sheen, Emily Blunt, James Earl Jones, Marilyn Monroe, Nicole Kidman, Rowan Atkinson

Politicians: Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan, Ed Balls, Joe Biden

Historical Figures: Alan Turing, Charles Darwin, George VI

Writes, Poets & Philosophers: Colm Tóibín, Lewis Carroll, Maggie O’Farrell

TV: Jessie Stride (from The Traitors), Felicity Baker, Musharaf Asghar (Educating Yorkshire)

Sports people: James Rodriguez (footballer), Joao Gomes (footballer), Katie Walsh (Jockey), Kelly Brown (Rugby player), Ken Sema (footballer), Luke Ayling (footballer), Mark Jones (rugby player) 

Stammering does not define who you are, our aim is to make people feel comfortable with their stammer and we know that sometimes it can be frustrating not being able to express yourself in the way that you want. We also want people to be more accommodating and accepting of stammering. Listen to what people have to say and not how they say it!

For more information about stammering please visit STAMMA, The British Stammering Association on www.stamma.org 

If you are concerned about your child’s stammer and would like support, you can book an appointment with one of our Speech and Language Therapists at our clinic. They will work with you to understand your child’s needs and provide personalised advice and support.