What is it like to stutter?

Did you ever have those moments when you can't get your words out? You stumble on sounds or parts of words, or even have trouble finishing your sentences. After a full day of seeing kids for speech and language therapy, I have trouble forming any thoughts at all!

But imagine if you had these difficulties every time you tried to say something. That’s what it’s like to stutter.

Stuttering is a fascinating field of study and practice in the area of speech pathology.

Some basic facts:

1. Boys are affected more than twice as much as girls.

2. There is a strong hereditary factor-passed down from grandfathers, dads, uncles, sons. (Also mother to son, if there is stuttering in the mother’s family.)

3. Stuttering in children can coexist with language delays or disorders. Some studies have also found that there is a correlation between stuttering, tics and Tourette Syndrome.

4. Early intervention has proven to be one of the best methods for reducing or eliminating stuttering in adulthood.

5. There are personality traits that can exacerbate the likelihood of stuttering (smart, verbal, anxious, tends to internalize emotions).

6. Working with the whole family is one of the best methods for helping young children who stutter.

7. As with most communication disorders, several factors influence the likelihood of stuttering.

I have seen a dramatic increase in preschool stuttering cases in my therapy practice since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the above information, this is not a big surprise.

Resources:

The Stuttering Foundation (www.stutteringhelp.org) is a wonderful resource for children and their parents, and for adults who stutter.

Contact me with questions or more information about my services.

Catherine M. Villagran, M.A.,CCC,SLP

Villagran Speech Therapy

catherine@villagranspeechtherapy.com