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Stuttering is a speech condition that disrupts the normal flow of speech. Fluency means having an easy and smooth flow and rhythm when speaking. With stuttering, the interruptions in flow happen often and cause problems for the speaker. Other names for stuttering are stammering and childhood-onset fluency disorder.
People who stutter know what they want to say, but they have a hard time saying it. For example, they may repeat or stretch out a word, a syllable, or a consonant or vowel sound. Or they may pause during speech because they've reached a word or sound that's hard to get out.
Stuttering is common among young children as a usual part of learning to speak. Some young children may stutter when their speech and language abilities aren't developed enough to keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow this type of stuttering, called developmental stuttering.
But sometimes stuttering is a long-term condition that remains into adulthood. This type of stuttering can affect self-esteem and communicating with other people.
Children and adults who stutter may be helped by treatments such as speech therapy, electronic devices to improve speech fluency or a form of mental health therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy.
Stuttering symptoms may include:
These actions may happen when stuttering:
Stuttering may be worse when the person is excited, tired or under stress, or when feeling self-conscious, hurried or pressured. Situations such as speaking in front of a group or talking on the phone can be especially hard for people who stutter.
But most people who stutter can speak without stuttering when they talk to themselves and when they sing or speak along with someone else.
It's common for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years to go through periods when they may stutter. For most children, this is part of learning to speak, and it gets better on its own. But stuttering that continues may need treatment to improve speech fluency.
Call your healthcare professional for a referral to a specialist in speech and language called a speech-language pathologist. Or you can contact the speech-language pathologist directly for an appointment. Ask for help if stuttering:
Researchers continue to study the underlying causes of developmental stuttering. A combination of factors may be involved.
Stuttering that happens in children while they're learning to speak is called developmental stuttering. Possible causes of developmental stuttering include:
Speech fluency can be disrupted from causes other than developmental stuttering.
Males are much more likely to stutter than females are. Things that raise the risk of stuttering include:
Stuttering can lead to:
Stuttering is diagnosed by a healthcare professional trained to evaluate and treat children and adults who have a problem with speech and language. This professional is called a speech-language pathologist. The speech-language pathologist listens and talks with the adult or child in different types of situations.
If you're the parent of a child who stutters, the primary healthcare professional or speech-language pathologist may:
If you're an adult who stutters, your primary healthcare professional or speech-language pathologist may:
After an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist, you can work together to decide on the best treatment. Many different methods are available to treat children and adults who stutter. Because problems and needs vary, a method — or combination of methods — that's helpful for one person may not work as well for another person.
Treatment may not get rid of all stuttering, but it can teach skills that help you or your child:
A few examples of treatment methods include:
Although some medicines have been tried for stuttering, and studies continue, no medicines have been proved yet to help the condition.
If you're the parent of a child who stutters, these tips may help:
It can be helpful for children, parents and adults who stutter to connect with other people who stutter or who have children who stutter. Many organizations offer support groups. Along with giving encouragement, support group members may offer advice and coping tips that you might not have thought about.
For more information, visit the websites of organizations such as the National Stuttering Association or The Stuttering Foundation.
In the U.S., if your child stutters, your child may be able to receive speech and language services at no cost through the school. A speech-language pathologist can help you and the school decide what services are needed.
If stuttering causes major problems communicating, you may be able to have reasonable accommodations at work. These may vary depending on your job but can include aids needed for communication. A few examples are having extra time to give speeches, speaking in smaller groups, or using audio or video recordings rather than in-person speeches.
You'll probably first discuss stuttering with your child's pediatrician or your family healthcare professional. Then you may be referred to a specialist in speech and language disorders called a speech-language pathologist.
If you're an adult who stutters, you may want to search for a program designed to treat adult stuttering.
Here's some information to help you get ready for an appointment for you or your child.
Before your appointment, make a list that includes:
Questions to ask may include:
Feel free to ask other questions during your appointment.
Your healthcare professional or speech-language pathologist is likely to ask you questions such as:
Be ready to answer questions so you'll have time to discuss about what's most important to you.