1
Stuttering is only about "b-b-blocks" or repeating sounds; it doesn't involve hidden feelings or tension.
FALSE
Stuttering has "invisible" components. It often includes feelings of shame, embarrassment, or fear (known as social anxiety) and may lead to avoidance behaviors (like substituting words or avoiding speaking situations).
Females are more likely to stutter than males.
FALSE
Stuttering is caused by emotional trauma, bad parenting, or a difficult childhood.
FALSE
Research confirms that stuttering is not caused by parenting style or emotional trauma. It is a complex, neurodevelopmental condition influenced by genetics and differences in how the brain processes speech.
Speech therapy aims to "cure" stuttering in all adults and children.
FALSE
There is no reliable, research-backed cure for stuttering. Therapy for persistent stuttering focuses on teaching techniques to manage disfluencies, reducing negative feelings and avoidance, and improving overall communication confidence.
Males are more likely to stutter than females.
TRUE
Stuttering is 2 to 3 times more common in boys than in girls, and it is more likely to persist into adulthood in males
Stuttering can develop later in life due to a stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions.
TRUE
While most stuttering is developmental (starting in childhood), adults can acquire neurogenic stuttering following a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or certain degenerative diseases that affect the brain's speech pathways.
Stuttering can involve repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.
TRUE
The core characteristics include repeating sounds or syllables (e.g., "b-b-ball"), prolonging sounds (e.g., "ssssnake"), or having a silent block where a person is momentarily unable to produce sound.
People who stutter can speak fluently when they sing or whisper.
TRUE
Most people who stutter achieve fluency when singing, whispering, speaking in unison with another person, or talking to a pet. This suggests the disorder involves the speech production motor system, not the ability to formulate language.
You can "catch" stuttering from hearing another person stutter.
FALSE
Reality: Stuttering is not contagious. It is thought to be caused by a complex interaction of factors, including genetics, brain function, and neuromuscular development.
Telling a person who stutters to "slow down," "take a deep breath," or "just relax" will help them.
FALSE
Reality: Advice like this is generally unhelpful, as it makes the person more self-conscious and can increase the pressure they feel, potentially making the stuttering worse.
Stuttering is a neurological speech disorder with a genetic component.
TRUE
Research indicates that stuttering is related to differences in the way the brain processes speech and language, and it often runs in families.
People who stutter are less intelligent or competent.
FALSE
Reality: There is absolutely no link between stuttering and intelligence. People who stutter have the same full range of intelligence and capabilities as those who do not.
Stuttering is caused by nervousness, stress, or anxiety.
FALSE
Reality: Stuttering is a neurological and physiological condition. While anxiety or stress can make stuttering worse, they are not the cause.
Stuttering affects about 1% of the world's adult population.
TRUE
Although about 5% of children go through a period of stuttering, for those whose stuttering persists, the prevalence in the adult population is approximately 1 in 100 people worldwide.
Most children who stutter will definitely outgrow it without any help.
FALSE
Reality: While about 75% of young children who stutter will spontaneously recover, for the other 25%, it can persist into adulthood. Early intervention by a speech-language pathologist is important to determine the child's risk and provide appropriate support.
Stuttering typically begins in childhood.
TRUE
Developmental stuttering usually begins between the ages of 2 and 5 years as children are rapidly developing their language skills.