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logologologo
  • Home
  • About me
  • Stammering Therapy
    • Children
    • Young people
    • Adults
  • Clinical Supervision
  • Pricing
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About me
  • Stammering Therapy
    • Children
    • Young people
    • Adults
  • Clinical Supervision
  • Pricing
  • FAQ
  • Contact

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is stammering?

Stammering is when the forward flow of speech gets interrupted. This can include the repetition of sounds or short words, stretching of sounds (known as prolongations), or speech ‘blocks’ when no sound comes out. There might also be some movements in the face and body. Stammering typically starts between the ages of two and five years old but it can begin later. Sometimes adults start stammering after trauma such as a head injury or stroke.

As well as the outward features of stammering, the experience of stammering can be difficult. People talk about feelings of shame, anxiety, or embarrassment, and they describe how stammering can stop them from living their lives the way they want to.

Stammering is complex, with a range of neurological, genetic, environmental and emotional factors involved. For that reason, everyone’s stammering is different in terms of the outward features and the impact it can have.

Are stammering and stuttering the same?

Yes. Exactly the same. The only difference is that in the UK we tend to use the word ‘stammering’ and in the USA the word ‘stuttering’ is used. If you are reading about stammering in a book or online and see the word stuttering then you can assume they are talking about the same thing.

Why does stammering change?

Stammering often changes over time and throughout a person’s life. It can happen either more or less depending on where you are, who you are talking to, and how you are feeling. It can also happen more during periods of stress or change such as during exams, when moving house or changing school, or when starting a new job. Some people who stammer have periods of fluency which can last months at a time. It can sometimes be possible to identify patterns to these changes but there are also times when stammering just seems to happen for no reason, which can be frustrating.

Do parents cause stammering?

No. Stammering is nobody’s fault. There is no research or evidence to suggest that stammering is caused by parents or anybody else. In fact, the opposite is true – as parents you are in the perfect position to help your child.

Can therapy help?

Therapy can be very helpful. For younger children, parents are always involved and the first step is often Palin Parent-Child Interaction therapy. Building and maintaining confidence is also important. For young people, therapy is about mastery – knowing and understanding stammering and having the skills to manage it. For adults, there can be a perceived pressure from others to speak fluently. Some adults see stammering as a different and acceptable way of speaking, and others seek support so they can live their lives how they want to. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be beneficial for managing the negative thoughts and emotions that are related to stammering. 

Please get in touch if you have any questions about therapy or how I can help. 

When should stammering be a concern?

For many people stammering is not a problem, and it does not stop them or bother them in any way. In fact, some people are proud of their stammering and celebrate their difference and their neurodivergence. For others, stammering can result in feelings of anxiety, shame, or frustration, and it can stop them from living their lives the way they want to. For younger children, there might be some telltale signs that their stammering causes discomfort, such as visible frustration, changing words, or speaking less. Sometimes this can happen despite support from parents.

Generally speaking, if there is stammering happening and it is also causing concern or worry, or if it is getting in the way, then an assessment might be a helpful first step.

My child has been stammering for more than 2 years. Will they always stammer?

Some people think that once young children have been stammering for more than 2 years then it will continue throughout their life. This is a myth. There is evidence to show that children and young people can stop stammering, or their stammering can reduce to the point that it is not a barrier for them, no matter how long they have been stammering for. There is one rule about stammering, which is: there are no rules! Every child is different, and it is often helpful to identify the factors that influence your child’s stammering. 

 

Can stammering be caused by anxiety or emotional stress?

No, stress and anxiety do not cause stammering. However, some people might experience high stress or anxiety in certain situations which can then result in more stammering e.g. giving a presentation, using the telephone, or meeting people for the first time. There is no research to suggest that people who stammer are naturally more anxious than anybody else, however anxiety can develop over time if stammering results in difficult experiences, or negative reactions from others.  

 

STAMMER SPECIALIST

Children, Young People & Adults

Children

Stammering often starts when children are between two and five years old, but it can start...

Young people

Young people who stammer often say they stammer more frequently in certain situations. For...

Adults

Stammering in adults can occur for a number of reasons. It may be that you have stammered since...
The Stammer Specialist Ltd.
Company No. 13066669
Acacia Road, London E17 8BN (Registered in England and Wales)

Contacts

Kevin Fower
I support people of all ages who stammer

info@stammerspecialist.com
07966 599984

Clinic Address
26 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QJ
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Stammering Services for …

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The Stammer Specialist Ltd. is committed to the protection of your personal data. Kevin Fower is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office ref: ZA871622. Individual information is protected according to these standards. More information can be requested at any time.

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