Stuttering is a type of speech disorder that involves problems with fluency and speech flow. People who stutter know in their heads what they want to say, but they have trouble saying it at the rate they would like to, often because they repeat or hold a word, syllable, consonant or vowel sound, or because they pause during speech when they reach a troublesome part.
How Common Is Stuttering?
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately three million Americans have a stutter. Though one in 20 children stutter, most will outgrow the disorder either on their own or with the help of a speech-language pathologist. However, around 20-25% of children who stutter continue to do so into adulthood, which is known as persistent developmental stuttering. Only about 1% of adults stutter, and men are affected more commonly than women.
What Are the Symptoms of Stuttering?
There are many possible ways stuttering can present, including:
- Trouble starting a word, phrase or sentence
- Prolonging a word or sound
- Repeating a word, syllable or sound
- Pausing before or in the middle of troublesome words
- Adding filler words, like “um”
Stuttering may be accompanied by other symptoms, like:
- Tension in the face or body
- Anxiety about talking to strangers or in front of an audience
- Limited ability to communicate effectively
- Rapid eye movements/blinking
- Tremors in the lips or jaw
- Facial tics
- Head jerking
- Fist clenching
Symptoms may vary depending on the emotional state of the speaker or the social situation they’re in. Most people who struggle with stuttering can speak aloud to themselves, in unison with other or to a pet/baby with limited difficulty.
What Causes Stuttering?
There are multiple factors that can cause a stutter.
- Genetics. There are several genes that can cause stuttering, which can be triggered by mutations that run in families. A person is 15x more likely to have a stutter if they have a sibling who stutters.
- Poor speech motor control. Abnormalities in timing, sensory and motor coordination may contribute to stuttering.
- Stroke, traumatic brain injury or brain disorders. These factors can lead to what is known as neurogenic stuttering.
If your child is struggling at a Clarke County school because of a stutter, a speech-language pathologist can help. Call ENT of Athens to learn more or to schedule an appointment.