Speech and language: Stammering

Swindon has a well-established specialist stammering service for children and adults who have a stammer. Early referral is very important as early support has positive outcomes. The service provides individual assessment and therapy, support groups and support for settings/ schools/ college/ work place.

Get in touch if you are worried and check out some information and resources

What is stammering?

  • Stammering, also known as stuttering, affects up to 8% or about one in every 12 children and around 3% of adults
  • Stammering often starts between the ages of 2 and 5, but for some it starts after this
  • Stammering may stop naturally or with the help of speech therapy
  • Stammering may continue as you get older. It’s difficult to predict what will happen next.
  • Stammering may come and go, disappearing for weeks or months before reappearing.
  • Stammering is a way of talking caused by subtle neurological differences. It is not caused by nervousness or lack of intelligence.
  • Stammering can run in families
  • Stammering is very individual and each person will stammer in a different way

Stammering can be:

  • repeating words or parts of words several times, for example, ‘m my guitar’
  • stretching sounds, for example, ‘I want a s______tory’
  • blocking or getting stuck on a sound
  • accompanied by extra movements, gasping or tension, for example, foot tapping, clenching fists
  • hidden, a person may try to hide their stammer by changing words, staying quiet or pretending they have forgotten what to say

Stammering can also be about how someone feels on the inside.

Negative feelings like shame, embarrassment, isolation, fear, anxiety and frustration may accompany the stammering and the person feels the need to hide their stammer. This is often driven by the negative reactions from others, for example, being laughed at or ridiculed.

Even the language we use to talk about stammering has an effect on people, for example, saying ‘he has a really ‘bad’ stammer’ implies that stammering is not desirable.

Stammering is a different way of talking, if people were more patient and accepting of stammering, then people who stammer might feel more comfortable to say what they want to say when they want to say it.

Stammering resources

We want to raise awareness of stammering and help people understand what they can do to support and celebrate those who communicate in different ways.

The following resources provide information for supporting children and young people who stammer.

Resources for young people

  • My Stammering Tap - for young people who stammer
  • Stambassadors - inspiring young people who stammer
  • SPEAK- A film for young people made by young people. This film aims to support, inspire and encourage young people who stammer, as well as educate people about stammering.
  • Me and my stammer

Resources for parents

Resources for settings, schools and further education

E-Learning stammering awareness course

Video's by Maddie

Maddie, a young person who stammers, gives information about stammering and how to support secondary pupils who stammer in school (12 minute video)

Maddie, a young person who stammers, gives top tips for supporting primary and secondary pupils who stammer in school (2 minute video)

Please visit Resources for Teachers section of the STAMMA website for more information.

Swindon stories

  • How to be more hedgehog by Anne-Marie Conway for every Swindon Primary School
  • The boy who made everyone laugh by Helen Rutter for every Swindon Secondary School

Stammering awareness information for schools

Resources and how to use the book 'How to be more hedgehog', to talk about stammering in your school include: 

Further resources

We also recommend these resources for creating a stammer friendly classroom.

Exams and presentations

Children and young people with communication differences should have reasonable adjustments made for exams including speaking or oral assessments. Speech and Language Therapists can advise on what reasonable adjustments should apply to a student.

Residential courses

In partnership with the Fluency Trust charity, specialist intensive courses for school age children (10-17 years old) who stammer, are run every summer.

These courses combine intensive group therapy and outdoor activities.

For further information on the courses and the charity visit The Fluency Trust website or call the team at the Salt Way Centre on 01793 466790. 

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