Christine Livingston,
MA, CCC-SLP

 

Phone: 719-434-0888

 

Email:
Christine@LivingstonSLP.com

 

FAX: 719-623-0600

 

For more information,
please contact me.

 

I will reply within 24 hours

 

4465 NORTHPARK DRIVE,

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80907

FACTS ABOUT STUTTERING

  1. There are about 3 million stutterers in the USA and 45 million in the World.
  2. More boys stutter than girls, about 4 or 5 boys to 1 girl.
  3. There is no known cause but much is known about contributing factors.
  4. There appears to be  a hereditary factor:  12.5% have someone in immediate family that stutters and 25% have another relative e.g. uncle, cousin…
  5. Head injury can cause a different form of stuttering.
  6. Research indicates no physiological differences between stutterers and non-stutterers.  Some brain research working on these claims, too soon to tell.
  7. There are no personality or intellectual differences.
  8. Stuttering begins in childhood from ages 2 to 5 yrs old, when language is being learned.
  9. 25% of all children go through a developmental stage when they stutter; 4% may stutter for 6 months or more.  20 – 25% continue to stutter and need therapy.
  10. “Recoveries” are never quick; they are gradual, with ups and downs. Recovered stutterers may still stutter, but are not concerned and do not struggle with it—they feel no need to hide it.
  11. There is no miracle cure but great help, and hope, for easy speech.
  12. Some stutterers may recover spontaneously at 2 different times: Puberty (about 12 yrs old) or young adult (about high school graduation).
  13. Fluency is never perfect for anyone.
  14. Stuttering varies from time to time, situations –cyclic in nature.
  15. There are no special words or sounds for stutterers—only those which become feared.
  16. Authority figures are usually most difficult to talk to.
  17. Stutterers have greatest difficulty talking about themselves: name, age, address, etc.
  18. Time pressure and tension are 2 important factors that increase stuttering.
  19. Excitement, fatigue, confusion and uncertainty increase stuttering.
  20. Often self-consciousness about stuttering affects job choices.
  21. Teen years are difficult as dating and social interaction begin.
  22. Praising fluency does not help; it implies that stuttering is bad.
  23. Stuttering is like an iceberg; 7/8ths is beneath the surface speech act.
  24. Eye contact and pausing decreases stuttering.
  25. Learn to communicate even with stuttering.  Give yourself permission to.     

 

(Much of the above from Vivian Sheehan handout)