Stuttering and stammering

Question 1

Features of stuttering

Answer 1

Affects ~5% of children → 1% of adults

More common in boys

Usually begins under 6 yrs of age (2–5 yrs)

No evidence of neurotic or neurological disorder

Causes anxiety and social withdrawal

Question 2

Management

Answer 2

Although most stutterers improve spontaneously,

• speech therapy from a caring competent speech pathologist is very successful (at least 90%).

Not all children ‘grow out of it’.