Understanding Stuttering

Often times, our speech doesn't flow smoothly. We might sprinkle in "uh" or "like," or find ourselves repeating certain sounds or words. Hiccups like these can be known as disfluencies.

For individuals who stutter, disfluencies can be more frequent and varied. They could repeat their words a lot or stretch out time gaps between their speech. Stuttering comes in all different ways and is unique between different people. It can also be changed from day to day.

What Stuttering Sounds Like vs What It Could be Mistaken For:

Cited from ASHA, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Not Stuttering:

• Adding a sound or word, called an interjection – "I um need to go home."

• Repeating whole words – "Cookies cookies and milk."

• Repeating phrases – "He is–he is 4 years old."

• Changing the words in a sentence, called revision – "I had–I lost my tooth."

• Not finishing a thought – "His name is . . . I can't remember."

Stuttering:

• Part-word repetitions – "I w-w-w-want a drink."

• One-syllable word repetitions – "Go-go-go away."

• Prolonged sounds – "Ssssssssam is nice."

• Blocks or stops – "I want a (pause) cookie."

What Are Some Causes of Stuttering?

Common causes are things like family history, brain differences, development factors, environments, trauma and or injury.

To get more information visit:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

• National Stuttering Association

• Stuttering Foundation of America

• American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders

• International Stuttering Association

• Stuttering Association for the Young

• Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter

• Stuttering Home Page