Stuttering is a communication difficulty in which the person who stutters is unable to verbally communicate when they wish to in the way in which they want to. (Stuttering, stammering and dysfluency all refer to the same condition.)

Stuttering is a complex set of behaviours that may involve repeating sounds, syllables or words, prolonging sounds, blocking or hesitating, and avoiding or substituting words.

There may be other secondary behaviours associated with stuttering such as excessive muscle tension in the face, neck, back or stomach. Distortion of the face can occur with grimacing, frowning, etc. There may be unusual movements of the head or limbs. There are as many different patterns of dysfluent behaviour as there are people who stutter.

Stuttering, especially in adults, can be accompanied by emotional embarrassment, distress and frustration. People who stutter often avoid speaking situations, because of the associated fears and distress, e.g. talking on the telephone. People who stutter may avoid choosing a vocation in which they believe their stuttering will become obvious or be a handicap.

Stuttering usually starts in childhood between the ages of two and five. About 5 per cent of children under five years will experience dysfluent speech while learning to talk and about a quarter of them develop chronic stuttering. Stuttering is more common in boys than in girls. The ratio is about 3-4:1.

Stuttering varies in degree of severity and according to the situation. It is episodic. For example, a child may be fluent for days or weeks at a time then dysfluency can reappear. Adults commonly report “good” days and “bad” days.

People who stutter generally don’t stutter when they sing, whisper, speak in chorus or when they can’t hear their own voice. There is no explanation for this but it does indicate that there may be nothing wrong with the speech mechanism and that stuttering is dependent on situations.