What is Stuttering? 

Download in Acrobat Reader-format

The word "stutter" means disrupted speech. The World Health Organisation, the WHO, defines stuttering as follows:

 Stuttering covers interruptions of the forward flow of speech in which the speaker knows exactly what he or she is going to say but is momentarily unable to say so due to involuntary repetitions, prolonged or disrupted sounds (1977)

 Stuttering may occur in many different forms during the speech:

·        Repetitions of parts of a word: lo-loving

·        Word repetitions: I - I'll go now

·        Repetitions of phrase: I would – I would like to help

·        Prolongation of sounds: mmmmmmore cake, please

·        Blockings: m---ust you go now?

·        Extra words/fillers (well, I mean, like etc.): Well, I must be going

·        Reformulation or incomplete phrase: Please pass the br- may I have the tray, please?

(by Per Alm: Stamning. Natur och Kultur, Borås, Sweden 1995.)

Stuttering is a physiologically determined speech disorder. This fact is supported by the relatively high degree of heredity. Professional literature on stuttering points to hereditary percentages of 40 - 70 %. Secondly, stuttering may give rise to a number of other disorders, such as speaking anxiety, lacking self confidence and discomfort when socialising with other people.