Stuttering is a disruption in the normal flow of speech. It may include repetitions of sounds, syllables or words (e.g., “ba-ba-ball”), sound prolongations (stretching out a sound) or silent blocks (pauses where no sound comes out). The exact cause of stuttering is still not fully understood, but research shows it is usually due to a mix of different things. See below for a list of myths and facts about the causes of stuttering.
1. Myth: Nervousness causes stuttering.
➤ Fact: Nervousness does not cause stuttering, but it can make it harder to speak.
2. Myth: Stress and anxiety cause stuttering.
➤Fact: Stress does not cause stuttering, but it does contribute to how we feel and function, potentially affecting the severity or frequency of stuttering.
3. Myth: Bad parenting causes stuttering.
➤Fact: There is no evidence that parenting style causes stuttering. Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental difference.
4. Myth: A single traumatic event can cause stuttering.
➤Fact: There is no evidence that any single traumatic event (e.g., bullying, accidents, getting bitten by an animal) or change (e.g., family move, birth of a sibling, parent divorce) can cause stuttering.
5. Myth: Stuttering is learned from others.
➤Fact: Children do not "pick up" or “catch” stuttering by copying someone else. It is not contagious or learned behaviour.
6. Myth: Stuttering is a habit that can be broken.
➤Fact: Stuttering is not just a bad habit that you can just quit like thumb sucking. It is linked to how the brain processes and produces speech and language.
7. Myth: Switching languages causes stuttering.
➤Fact: Bilingualism does not cause stuttering, though switching languages can add complexity and make it more challenging for early language learners. People who stutter should not stop being bilingual.
8. Myth: Forcing a child to switch hands (handedness) causes stuttering.
➤Fact: There is no solid evidence linking hand-switching (e.g., forcing a child who is left-handed to switch to using their right hand) to the development of stuttering. However, hand-switching is still not recommended for anyone. Forcing a child to switch their natural hand preference can interfere with brain development and lead to learning and motor difficulties, so it’s best to let children use the hand they naturally prefer.
9. Myth: Stuttering is caused by a child being too smart or speaking too early.
➤Fact: High intelligence or early talking does not cause stuttering. Stuttering can happen in children of all language levels.
10. Myth: Children stutter because they are thinking too fast.
➤Fact: Fast thinking does not cause stuttering. While rapid thoughts or complex ideas can make speaking more challenging, stuttering is not caused by how quickly someone thinks. Speaking too fast can make fluent speech more difficult, but instead of telling children to slow down, parents should model a calm, slower speaking pace to support smoother speech.