Stuttering

This speech disorder makes it hard to speak with a normal flow. A person who stutters may repeat sounds or words. They may get stuck or hold a sound. And, they may have moments where they can't form sounds at all. Stuttering can cause problems with school, work and forming relationships.

Causes

What causes stuttering? We don't fully understand it. But most often, it begins when a young child is learning to speak. Many complex factors may be involved. Stuttering can also develop after a brain injury. It can happen after a stroke or head trauma. With this type of stuttering, the brain has trouble coordinating the areas involved in speech.

Symptoms

Symptoms of stuttering vary from person to person. A person may stutter in different ways throughout the day. Some things lessen stuttering, and some things can make it worse. For example, a person who has a severe stutter when talking on a phone may only stutter mildly when reading aloud.

Treatment

How do we treat stuttering? Therapy can help. So does providing a relaxed environment at home, which helps a person who stutters become more comfortable when speaking. Electronic devices may help some people. And there may be other options, too. For more info, talk to your doctor.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.