Stammering team

• Repetitions - this may be sounds, syllables, words, phrases e.g b-b-book, boo-boo, book-book
• Prolongations - stretching the sounds out e.g sssssssnake
• Blocking - getting stuck on a sound or word
• Sometimes there may be physical tension when speaking, such as head and body movements
• Stammering can impact a child/young person's confidence in communication and may feel anxious about speaking. Sometimes children may avoid stammering by changing their words and speak less in some situations.

There isn’t one specific reason a child stammers and parents do not cause stammering, however, there are some associated factors which may make it more likely for a child to stammer which include:

• Genetics: Stammering tends to run in families. It is influenced by, but not completely explained by, genetics. There is ongoing research into this. There are likely to be several genes involved rather than one single gene.
• Differences in Brain Development: Stammering can arise because the complex neural pathways involved in speaking develop slightly differently in people who stammer. Scientists have found subtle differences in the way that the parts of the brain involved in speaking interact and some subtle structural differences. There is continued ongoing research into this.
• Language and Speech Motor Skills: Learning to talk is one of the hardest things a child has to master and doesn’t always happen smoothly. Finding the right words to say and coordinating speech is very complex and requires the use of over a hundred different muscles, which puts a huge demand on the child’s developing brain.
• Thoughts, Emotions and Temperament: Research into broader aspects of temperament suggests that some children who stammer experience emotions relatively intensely and find it harder to regulate their emotions. This is another area that is being investigated by researchers currently.

Facts and figures:

• Between 5-8% of children will stammer at some stage, between 1-3% will continue to stammer into adulthood
• Stammering most commonly starts between 2-5 years. This is when language skills typically develop at a quick rate and children are starting to use longer words and speak in longer sentences. It means that there is added demand on the child’s still-developing speech motor system at this time
• Stammering can also start later than this and it can start gradually or quite suddenly
• Stammering can vary from day to day and from situation to situation
• There is no relationship between stammering and intellectual ability, and stammering affects people from all walks of life. There are many, many highly successful people across the world who stammer.

We use a stammer affirming approach. We see stammering as an acceptable and valid way of talking; there is nothing wrong with stammering, it is just a different way of talking. We understand however, that stammering can cause concern for parents and can impact a child’s or young person’s self-esteem and confidence. If parents are concerned, or a child or young person’s stammer is holding them back from doing what they want to do, or is causing upset and frustration, we are here to help.

If you have been referred into the service, you will be offered an initial appointment with your child. We will speak to you, and your child if appropriate, to find out your/their concerns. We will interact with your child to listen to their speech and discuss the next steps with you and your child.

Therapy for stammering is individualised for each person and usually depends on the child’s age and awareness. For younger children, we typically support parents and staff in nursery or school to learn more about stammering and how best to support their child at home and in nursery or school. We offer online workshops and sessions in clinic and will discuss your best hopes for therapy to collaboratively plan what support would be beneficial for you and your family. 

For older children and teenagers, we continue to support parents and teachers, however, we may also recommend sessions with the young person. This may be individual or group therapy sessions. In these sessions, we work with the young person to problem solve how to make things more achievable and easier for them. We usually explore their thoughts and feelings about their stammer and support and empower children and young people to be confident communicators, regardless of their stammer.

We work across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre in the following clinics:

• Cleveleys Health Centre
• South Shore Primary Care Centre
• St Annes Primary Care Centre.

• "It might be easier to speak for your child but try not to, and let them talk"
• "Giving feedback on speech such as 'take your time' isn't very useful"
• Stammering is fine, try and accept it and move forwards. There is no cure, it is just a difference in speech"
• Coming to speech therapy is he best thing you can do. When you need that support, you need to speak to someone who understands"
• "I am not to blame (when talking about causes of stammering)"
• I believe knowledge is power - not only to support your child effectively but also to build your own confidence as a parent. Make full use of the services available through the NHS, and consider joining parent support groups on social media; they've been incredibly valuable for me"

• Michael Palin Centre for Stammering
• STAMMA
• Action for Stammering Children