Adult Stuttering

Why do people stutter?

The cause of stuttering is unknown. Most often stuttering develops between the ages of 2 and 8 years of age. Stuttering is a physical disorder and isn’t caused by psychological or emotional difficulties. Recent brain imaging techniques have supported a neurological cause for stuttering. Individuals who have experienced head injuries and strokes may begin to stutter, thus providing further evidence of a neurological connection. Parents do not cause stuttering.

How many people stutter?

About 1% of adults and 3% to 5% of children stutter.

Approximately three to four times as many men stutter as women.

About 3 million people in the United States stutter.

Over 100,000 people in the Sacramento area stutter.

Does stuttering run in families?

If you stutter, you are about three times more likely to have a close relative that stutters, according to research published in 1993. In the past, families may have incorrectly labeled the relative as shy or quiet. Or said they “got nervous or stammered.” These are all indications that symptoms of true stuttering may have existed.

Why do so few speech-language pathologists specialize in stuttering?

Stuttering occurs in less than 20 percent of children and less than 5 percent of adults, so finding a professional who has lots of experience is often difficult. Most speech language pathologists don’t have extensive experience with stuttering disorders because it is a “low incidence disorder.” It’s very difficult to become an expert in stuttering if you rarely see a client who stutters.

How is Granite Bay Speech qualified to help with stuttering?

The therapists at Granite Bay Speech have helped thousands of clients successfully manage their stuttering. They have extensive training and continuing education in the area of stuttering. You can be assured of compassionate, evidence-based care when you receive consultation with Granite Bay Speech.

What types of stuttering support services are provided by Granite Bay Speech for families, educators, employers, and the medical community?

Visit our Stuttering Support page to learn more.

What are the symptoms of stuttering?

Each person’s stuttering symptoms are unique. Some people hide their stuttering so well that others barely notice. Other individuals repeat sounds, words, phrases, or whole sentences. Some individuals move their mouth, neck, and body in an effort to get the sounds out. Some people have silent blocks and the sounds appear to be blocked in their throat. No two people stutter exactly alike. Stuttering symptoms often run in cycles and as soon as you think they’re going away, they come back.

Sometimes symptoms of stuttering cause the person so much muscle tension that they’ll complain of sore throats, neck aches, or stomach aches caused by muscle spasms. Individuals may possess less emotional or physical energy as the day progresses due to the extreme effort they expend trying to control their stuttering. A person who stutters may avoid certain words or sounds and may replace the word they wanted to say with a word that omits the feared sound.

What are the symptoms of cluttering?

Cluttering is a fluency disorder and, according to the latest research, often coexists with stuttering and learning disabilities. A person who clutters has a rapid speech rate which is irregular in rhythm and often accompanied by inappropriate pausing and inflection. Speech may sound unclear and blended, especially as words increase in length and complexity (mystery, mysterious, mysteriously).

If an individual’s speech is rapid, disorganized, or abnormal breathing is observed, the diagnosis of cluttering should be considered. To the untrained ear, cluttering is often mistaken for stuttering and inappropriate treatment strategies are utilized. It is important to consult a fluency expert to develop an effective treatment plan for cluttering. Our skilled therapists have treated fluency disorders for over 25 years; you can be assured of competent diagnosis and treatment when you consult with Granite Bay Speech.