Many myths about stuttering focus on intelligence and nervousness.  If you have a friend or family member with this problem, it can help them if you learn a bit about it. I have created a list of fun facts and common myths about stuttering that can help you to help them. 

What is stuttering?

Stuttering is when a person repeats speech sounds or  words,  or gets ‘stuck’ and isn’t able to get their words out.  Stuttering is involuntary, meaning that the person talking isn’t able to stop stuttering by using sheer willpower.   But here are some facts and myths so that you can help educate yourself and help the person in your life who stutters.

• Do people stutter because they are nervous or shy? 

No.  Stuttering is not caused by shyness or nervousness.  Nobody knows exactly what causes stuttering.  However, scientists have found that people who stutter have a small ‘glitch’ in their brain.  This causes a lag time between their brain and their mouth.  They are thinking faster than they can talk.

• Do more boys than girls stutter?

Yes.  About 4 times as many boys stutter than girls.

• How many people in the US stutter?

More than 3 million people in the US stutter.  Stuttering occurs on average in about 1 out of 100 people.  Since there are over 3 million people in the US, that means that more than 3 million Americans stutter. 

You may ask, if so many people stutter, why don’t we hear people stuttering when we go shopping or to a restaurant?  That’s because in our society today hearing someone stutter makes people feel uncomfortable.  So no one wants to talk with a stutter in public.  There are many people working hard to remove this stigma, so some day stuttering may be viewed as just another way of talking. 

 

• Are people who stutter as intelligent as other people?

Absolutely.  Stuttering has nothing to do with intelligence.

• If you tickle a child too much, will that cause them to stutter?

No.  What?  Why would you think that?

• Can you ‘catch’ stuttering from listening to someone who stutters?

No.  Stuttering is not contagious.

• If someone is stuck on their word, should you finish their sentence for them?

Nope!  First of all, it is highly annoying to the person talking.  Second, you can’t read their mind, so you don’t know what they were about to say.  

• Is it a good idea to tell a stutterer to ‘take a deep breath’ before talking?

No. This is another highly annoying thing that happens to people who stutter.  You may feel like you’re being supportive or helping them out, but you’re just being annoying!

 

I hope this list has helped you learn about stuttering.  The person in your life who stutters will thank you for reading this blog, and you will be able to be helpful and supportive to them.

If you or someone you know needs help with stuttering, please Contact Us