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Stammering

What are the symptoms?

Stammering usually begins in early childhood when the child is developing his/her speech and language skills. It can, however, also start later in childhood, adolescence and adulthood although these incidences are less common.

As a communication problem, for the child or adult who stammers, confidence and self-esteem can be seriously affected. This means they may experience difficulties in a range of social, educational and employment settings. Sometimes stammering may develop into a "hidden" problem as the person may avoid relationships, situations and opportunities in attempt to hide their stammer. It has been known for parents to believe their child no longer stammers and for partners/spouses to be unaware of this complex disorder of fluency when the person becomes so competent at avoidance behaviours.

View Background Background  |  How is it treated? View How is it treated?

Medical text written November 1999 by Elaine Christie. BSc. Reg. MRCSLT., Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, British Stammering Association, London, UK. Last updated October 2004 by Karen E Allen, BSc. Reg MRCSLT., Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, British Stammering Association, London, UK.

 

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