Stammering, which is also known as stuttering, is when a child or young person:

• repeats a sound or word, for example “r, r, red”
• prolongs a sound, for example “mmmmummy”
• gets stuck and no sound comes out when they are trying to talk.

There may also be signs of visible tension as the child or young person works hard to get the word out.

We do not know exactly what causes stammering, but research shows that there are many factors that can influence a young person's fluency.

About 5 per cent of all children will stammer at some point, often between the ages of two and five years, when speech and language skills increase rapidly and they begin using longer and more complex sentences.

Stammering can run in families, so if there is a history of stammering in the family, a child may be more likely to stammer.

For the majority of children, stammering will resolve on its own within a few weeks or months. However, if a young person continues to stammer, they may benefit from support from a Speech and Language Therapist to develop strategies that support talking.

What can you do to help?

• Give the young person space and time to talk. If they get stuck in a moment of stammering, do not interrupt them or finish the sentence for them. Give them time to finish what they want to say.
• Show them that you are interested in what they are saying, not how they are saying it. It is important that young people understand that it is okay to stammer and that it is not something they should try to hide.
• Maintain natural eye contact when they have difficulty talking and try not to react with changes in your facial expression.
• Do not show that you are anxious about how they are talking.
• Reduce the number of questions you ask and create opportunities for the young person to talk without creating pressure around talking.
• Slow down the rate of your own talking. We naturally try to match our rate of speech to those around us. If you slow down, this shows the young person that it is okay to take their time and they are more likely to slow down themselves.
• Support and encourage the use of pausing and thinking time during class discussions, reading and presentations.
• Do not single the young person out. Provide opportunities for them to offer their thoughts and views but do not create pressure around talking. Small-group discussions are often easier than large-group discussions.
• If completing reading practice in class, give the young person the option of when they would like to take their turn. This can reduce anxiety about knowing their turn is approaching.
• Carefully consider the use of random name generators in lessons, as these can create a high level of anxiety. Discuss this with the young person beforehand to determine whether they are comfortable with their name being included.
• Give plenty of notice about class presentations. Talk to the young person about how they feel and discuss any options available to support participation. If they are worried about speaking in front of others, focus on what would make participation easier rather than avoiding the activity altogether.
• Watch out for teasing or bullying related to stammering and address it promptly in line with your school's behaviour policy.
• Provide specific praise when the young person does something well, not just when it relates to talking. Celebrate successes and help them recognise their strengths and talents.
• Look for opportunities to give the young person small responsibilities around the classroom or school to help build confidence.
• For secondary-age students, consider applying for extra time in oral examinations. Anxiety around oral exams and presentations can affect fluency. Extra time may be available through the examination board if supported by appropriate evidence. Discuss this option with the young person well in advance.

Next steps

It can be difficult to know which children will naturally grow out of stammering and which children may need additional support.

Consider a referral to the Speech and Language Therapy Team if:

• the child or young person has been stammering for more than six months
• there is a family history of stammering
• the child or young person is becoming self-conscious, worried or frustrated about talking.

Further information

Wait Wait I'm Not Finished Yet and My Stammering Tap are short videos available on YouTube featuring young people who stammer talking about what they would like others to know about stammering.

Useful websites

Stamma The UK charity for people who stammer and their supporters.

Michael Palin Centre for Stammering