RP187 Stuttering

 RP187 Stuttering

Stuttering (also called “stammering”) is a communication disorder. People who stutter have a very difficult time speaking. When they try to talk, they seem to get stuck on words or sounds. They may repeat the beginning sound of a word many times (as in “My na-na-na-name is...”), or they may make the same sound for a long time before they are able to say the word (as in “My nnnnnnnname is...”). They may also have trouble making any sound at all when they talk.

Stuttering is still a mysterious problem. It affects more boys than girls. It usually becomes obvious at a young age, soon after a child starts talking. One cause of stuttering seems to be genetic. However, not all stutterers have the stuttering gene. It may also be caused by trauma early in life, or other factors in a child’s development. Most children outgrow stuttering, but for some people the problem continues into adulthood.

Stuttering is not a consistent problem. It gets better or worse depending on the situation. Singing often reduces stuttering, while public speaking or even talking on the phone can make it much worse.

Stuttering causes a lot of emotional stress. Stutterers may feel tense and anxious in social situations, or ashamed of the way they speak. This causes some stutterers to stay away from other people, which can lead to loneliness and depression. Now people are accepting stuttering more, and stutterers are becoming less ashamed. There are many famous people who have stuttered: King George VI of England, for example, and Lewis Carrol, who wrote Alice in Wonderland. Even Julia Roberts stuttered at one point. There's even a Facebook page for stutterers to join. Sounding different shouldn't mean you can't communicate.