What is Stuttering?

Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in the form of speech disruptions or disfluencies. There are many different types of stuttering (e.g. neurogenic, genetic, developmental) caused by a variety of factors (brain injury, stroke, trauma). Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.

Stuttering disfluencies can be part-word repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or blocks (no sound) of sounds and syllables. These may be accompanied by secondary behaviors such as unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak.

How common is it?

Roughly 5-10% of all children stutter at some point in their lives. Most of them outgrow it by age 6. Less than 1% continue to stutter well into adulthood. Among those who stutter as adults, 75 to 80% are men. By current estimates, there are around 80 million people who stutter globally, with roughly 3 million in the US alone.

The frequency and severity of stuttering depend on the situation, i.e. often elevated in situations of high stress like job interviews, when talking on the telephone, or in front of authority figures like police officers or physicians. Yet, it disappears completely while singing or talking to oneself.

What is the social cost of stuttering?

The social, cultural, and economic effects of stuttering are profound and long-lasting.

There are widespread cultural differences in attitudes towards stuttering. Western cultures typically view stuttering less negatively than Eastern cultures. A study on the social perception of stuttering in British, Arab and Chinese cultures, for instance, found that British people exhibited the most positive attitudes toward stuttering, followed by people from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, and least of all, China.

But even in progressive Western countries like the US, over 80 percent of children who stutter experience bullying. They are 4-7 times more likely to have anxiety or anxiety disorders compared to children who do not stutter. They also consistently exhibit lower test scores, educational achievement, and are less likely to finish high school or attend college.

Similary, adults who stutter report significantly lower quality of life than their peers who do not stutter. They demonstrate lower levels of emotional stability, have lower career earnings, experience underemployment, are more likely to face discrimination in the workplace, and express 25% lower job satisfaction rates. They also spend, on an average, around $5,500 more on therapeutic treatments per year than the average person.

Interestingly, research shows an overwhelmingly negative correlation between stuttering and perceived leadership ability (even though several notable leaders and figures throughout history have stuttered).

What does it feel like?

Imagine introducing yourself to someone: "Hi! My name is A-a-___." You're stuck. You know exactly what you're going to say but you physically can't get the words out. You feel a tightness in your chest, your heartbeat goes up rapidly. Your body's "freezing” response is activated. You feel a sudden desire to run away and never look back. But you're forced to stand there awkwardly, trying to get the rest of "— bhi" out. That's stuttering. Or at least one type of it ("blocks").

Madeline Wahl (Huffington Post) wrote an excellent article about how it feels to stutter, which sums it up quite well.

Can stuttering be cured?

There are critical gaps in our current understanding of the neurobiological bases of stuttering due, in part, to the heterogenous and complex nature of speech disorders, limited understanding of the exact brain areas controlling speech, and a general lack of research funding in Speech Language Pathology.

As of now, there is no cure for stuttering, though it can be managed to some degree with regular speech therapy (even then, the chances of a "relapse" are pretty high).

What can I do to help?

There are many best practices to keep in mind when speaking with someone who stutters:

Listen to them the same way you would to someone who doesn’t stutter
If they are stuck on a word, be patient. Resist the urge to finish their sentences
Try not to look embarrassed. Maintain eye contact throughout the conversation
Don't say "Relax," "Slow down" or "Take a breath." It comes across as patronizing and does not do anything to help them
Realize that people who stutter often have difficulty in speaking on the phone or to a blank screen. Where possible, try to speak to them in person or keep your video on
Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat themselves if something they said was unclear. Most people who stutter would appreciate your honesty.