Stammering
Stammering
What is stammering?
Stammering is a ‘hic-cup’ that happens inside the parts of the brain that help to make talking. It causes natural, underlying responses such as:
- repetitions: ‘d…d…d…daddy can I…?’
- prolongations: ‘Wwwwwhat’s for tea?’
- blocking of sounds: no sound comes out.
It may also cause ‘struggle’ feelings and behaviours such as frustration, upset and tension in the face or body or stamping feet.
Stammering is also sometimes referred to as stuttering. It causes changes to the rhythm and fluency of speech. We all use breaks or interruptions that break our flow of speech when we talk, but for the majority of people this is not stammering.
When does stammering start?
Stammering has distinctive characteristics and usually begins between the ages of two and a half years to five years of age, when children’s language is developing rapidly. It is rare for a child to start stammering after 12 years of age.
What causes stammering?
Many parts of our brain work together quickly and at once to make speech – over a hundred muscles for speaking need to be activated. A blip in this brain-processing disrupts the intricate timing needed for muscle activation.
Researchers still don’t know what causes the timing blip or precisely which part of the brain it happens in or between, but due to advances in technology to measure brain signals we do know there is one.
How many people stammer?
- 8% of young children stammer – most (but not all) stop by puberty
- 1% of adults stammer in the world – five times as many men stammer as women
- 60% of people who stammer have a close relative who stammers
How to respond to stammering
It is vital to understand that children who stammer cannot help it. While they have the ‘timing disturbance’, stammering will be the way they talk sometimes. Therefore, it is not helpful to try to stop a child stammering or to ‘fix’ how stammer on words by telling the child how to speak e.g. to slow down or to repeat the word.
To prevent or reduce negative impact on a child’s well-being and participation we need to give them the message that it is okay to stammer; that what they say is important whether they stammer or not. You can do this by making positive changes in the speaking and listening environment at home, nursery or school. See below for helpful and unhelpful responses.
-
Its important to empathise with your child, showing them that you understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Your child is experiencing distress. If they show it, comment on what you hear and see – or WING it:
- I’m Wondering…
- I’m Imagining…
- I’m Noticing…
- I’m Guessing…
Give them a pat, squeeze or a hug with a facial expression that shows you know how the child feels such as, a sad face. Comment on what you observe, for example:
- ‘I can see that you are frustrated/upset’
- ‘I’m noticing that you are sad’
- ‘I’m guessing it can be annoying when your word gets stuck like that’
- ‘Mummy imagines that you are confused as to why that word took longer to say’
Children’s feelings and experiences need to be understood; they want to know that you care. Empathy also helps build resilience, confidence and self-esteem in your child and your relationship with your child.
-
Ignoring stammering
You may want to ignore the stammering for fear that drawing attention to it, and any responses to it, will cause more stammering. This is not true.Children who stammer need to be communicated with in the same way as any other child and comforted when they are in distress – so it’s unhelpful to not look at your child when they are stammering. Not talking about the stammering or about your child’s responses to it, ie the child’s frustration is also unhelpful.
Playing down the stammering
‘Playing down’ your child’s words, behaviour or feelings because they cause discomfort for you, the adult, or because you don’t want your child to experience discomfort is also unhelpful. Avoid saying- ‘It’s okay’ when your child is not feeling okay
- ‘Don’t be silly’ when your child is not being silly
- ‘No, you don’t…feel [an emotion]’ when the child is feeling this way
In order to develop emotional intelligence, children’s feelings need to be understood and communicated back to them in a way that demonstrates care. This helps build resilience, confidence and self-esteem as well as strengthening the relationship with your child.
Compensating
Don’t speak for, interrupt or finish your child’s sentence, or allow them to speak over other people in the belief that you are helping them or because you don’t want people to hear the stammering due to stigma or shame.
Your child has a voice; they can communicate. They also need to learn the rules of effective communication such as, listening and turn-taking.
Trying to reduce the stammering
You may try to reduce the stammering because:
- you want your child to speak without stammering;
- you don’t know what to do
- you think children who stammer need more time to think – this is not true.
Phrases like, ‘slow down’ or ‘take your time’; ‘take a deep breath’ or ‘calm down’; ‘say it again’ or ‘say it properly’; or ‘think before you speak’ give your child the message that they are speaking incorrectly, which may cause them to develop negative thoughts and feelings about their speech. This can lead to avoidance of talking and/or lowered self-esteem
Helpful resources for children and teenagers who stammer
These websites and video resources may be useful when supporting a child or teenager who stammers.
-
Action for Stammering Children is a charity that aims to ensure that every child and young person across the UK who stammers has access to effective services and support to help them meet any challenges they may face as a result of stammering.
Stambassadors connects people from the world of work who stammer with young people who stammer, sharing their stories and inspiring young people to think big when they are considering their career choices. By sharing their own career journeys, including to becoming engineers, doctors, political advisors and journalists they also hope to give young people confidence.
STAMMA also known as the ‘British Stammering Association’, is the national organisation for adults and children who stammer. This is run by people who stammer and provides lots of useful information about stammering.
Talking Out is an organisation that offers specialist support for people who stammer and their families from all parts of the UK. Their aim is to help everyone feel that it is ok to stammer. They offer online and residential groups for people who stammer and their families. This is fully funded by ‘Action for Stammering Children’.
Let’s talk about stammering is a free e-learning module from speech and language therapists at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust that can be completed by anyone, including people working in education, health and social care who would like to learn more about stammering and how to support a person who stammers.
The eLearning package was created to bust myths and highlight evidence-based facts about stammering. Crucially, it challenges current negative attitudes and responses to stammering in society, enabling a more stammer-friendly world through an engaging, non-judgmental approach.
The tool is free for anyone to use and can be accessed by registering at: https://www.bdcftelearning.co.uk/ – search for ‘about stammering.
-
My stammering child – YouTube – ‘My stammering child’ looks at the concerns of parents and puts their unique role in supporting children and young people who stammer with the aim of helping others going through what can be an anxious time.
My stammering tap – YouTube – ‘My stammering tap’ is a video of a child giving a description of what stammering might feel like for the person who stammers.
Dear World…I rock my stammer – YouTube – Check out Sam’s video where he describes how talking negatively about stammering is very unhelpful and highlighting that it is ok to stammer.
“What I have to say is important, even if I stutter” – YouTube – This is a video about 10 year old Jolie who explains the importance of accepting stammering and how it is ok to stammer.
Katie’s video – In this video, Katie talks about how you can respond appropriately to someone who stammers.
Ella’s video – In this video, Ella talks about the importance of the language we use when talking about stammering.
“I have come to recognize the importance of my voice” – YouTube – In this video, 14 year old Taylor talks about how she has developed her confidence and accepting her stammer, and how her therapy focused on her saying what she wants to say whenever she wants to say it rather than focusing on fluency.
Jack speaks at the American Institute for Stuttering Gala – YouTube – In this video, 11 year old Jack talks about acceptance of stammering and the importance of being open with others about stammering.
Has your pre school child started stammering? – Kirsten Howells, Programme Lead at the British Stammering Association trading as Stamma, introduces our new videos giving guidance and tips on what help is available and how you can support your child at home.
Should I be worried that my pre school child is stammering? – In this video Kirsten Howells, Programme Lead at the British Stammering Association trading as Stamma, asks if you need to be worried or not.
Is it my fault that my child has started stammering? – Many parents worry that they are to blame when their child starts stammering. In this video, Kirsten Howells, Programme Lead at Stamma, explains it isn’t your fault.
Using neutral language with children who stammer – In this video, Kirsten talks about using neutral language when talking to your child around stammering, instead of using words like ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
Helpful video series
How To Help Your Preschool Child Who Stammers Part 1
How To Help Your Preschool Child Who Stammers Part 2: Talking to A Child Who Stammers
How To Help Your Preschool Child Who Stammers Part 4: One To One Time With a Child Who Stammers
How To Help Your Preschool Child Who Stammers Part 5: How to Talk About Stammering
If you are referred to us for help with stammering
After you are referred to the Speech and Language Therapy team, parents of under eight year olds will be invited to a parent advice group. Next steps, depending on need, will be discussed at the group.
Parents of children older than eight will be offered a specialist assessment appointment.
For more information please contact speechandlanguagetherapy@bdct.nhs.uk.