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Stammering

Stammering (also known as stuttering) is a difference in the way some people speak.

Someone who stammers might:

  • repeat sounds or words – for example “My name is J-J-J-J-John”
  • stretch or prolong sounds – for example “Can you read me a ssssssstory?”
  • have a silent block where a sound gets stuck – for example “———Can I have…” (a block could last for a few seconds or longer)

These can happen at any point in a sentence.

Everyone does these things occasionally. But for people who stammer they happen more often, sometimes nearly every time they speak.

Other stammering behaviours

If they’re working hard to get sounds out, someone who stammers might also:

  • appear tense in their mouth, face or body
  • change their breathing pattern or feel out of breath
  • close their eyes or look away
  • use other parts of their body to help get a word out or release tension. For example they might jerk their head, tap their fingers or stamp their feet
  • say “um” or “er” or repeat a word they’ve already said to help launch into words they find more difficult to say

Everyone’s stammer is unique and everyone stammers differently.

It’s normal for stammering to fluctuate. People can stammer less on some days or in certain situations, and more in others. Lots of people find they stammer more when they are tired.

The above information has been taken from STAMMA – the British stammering association.

Ways to support children and young people who stammer 

Demands/capacities training presentation is a good starting point for all young people who stammer.

Tips for talking with the child who stutters
My Stammering Tap and My Stammering Child animations (NHS Humber)

The Stuttering Foundation USA has some good videos to watch.

Stambassadors – Action for Stammering Children is a website showing lots of people who stammer who are very successful adults, along with further advice.

Michael Palin Centre for Stammering has this video with advice for teachers as well as other advice:

The following resources may also be helpful:

Voice disorders

For help with other voice disorders, please see: