Stuttering is a communication disorder in which speech is interrupted by repetitions, prolongations and/or abnormal blocks. There is no single cause of stuttering, but rather multiple factors that contribute to triggering it. Research indicates that stuttering is probably neurological in origin, may have a genetic predisposition and often results in emotional components (Yairi & Ambrose, 2013). External factors such as stress, traumatic events, and lifestyle can’t cause stuttering, but could play a role in triggering and worsening it (Guitar, 2006).
Here are 5 common myths about stuttering:
Myth 1: People who stutter are not intelligent.
Stuttering is not a sign of low intelligence, and there is no connection between stuttering and intelligence. There are many people who stutter that have typical intelligence ranges and are highly intelligent and successful (Gabel & Simon, 2018).
Myth 2: Stuttering is caused by stress and nervousness.
If stuttering was caused by stress or nervousness, everyone would stutter. While people who stutter may be nervous because they stutter, nervousness is not the cause of stuttering (Howell et al., 2018).
Myth 3: My child started to stutter because he played with a friend who stuttered.
Stuttering is not contagious. It can’t be ‘learned’ by imitation and the cause of stuttering is not due to a habit (Stuttering Foundation, n.d.).
Myth 4: Stuttering is caused by bad parenting.
Although there are many things parents can do to help their child to overcome and deal with stuttering, stuttering cannot be caused by parents (Yaruss & Reardon, 2019).
Myth 5: I am helping a person who stutters if I’m finishing his/her sentences for him/her.
Please don’t interrupt a person who stutters by finishing their sentences for them. It will make them feel like you don’t have time for them to finish the sentence on their own. It will increase the amount of pressure they feel to speak without any dysfluencies and that pressure will most likely make the stutter worse. More helpful responses include listening patiently, making normal eye contact throughout the conversation, and speaking at a slower speech rate yourself (Stuttering Foundation, n.d.).
In conclusion, stuttering is a complex disorder that is often misunderstood. By dispelling common myths about stuttering, we can increase understanding and promote more effective communication with individuals who stutter.
References list:
Gabel, R. M., & Simon, C. E. (2018). Stuttering and intelligence: a critical review of the literature. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 58, 1-12.
Guitar, B. (2006). Stuttering: An Integrated Approach to Its Nature and Treatment (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Howell, P., Davis, S., & Williams, R. (2018). The effects of emotional state on stuttering: a review. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 56, 55-71.
Stuttering Foundation. (n.d.). Five myths about stuttering. Retrieved from https://www.stutteringhelp.org/five-myths-about-stuttering
Yairi, E., & Ambrose, N. (2013). Epidemiology of stuttering: 21st century advances. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 38(2), 66-87.
Yaruss, J. S., & Reardon, N. L. (2019). Treating stuttering in the schools: A guide