One of the most frequent questions we receive from parents, teachers, and young people themselves is: “What causes stammering?”
Unfortunately, the answer remains: we are still not sure.
Stammering is a complex condition thought to arise from a unique combination of factors neurological, genetic and environmental.
It typically begins during early speech development and by adolescence four times as many boys as girls will stammer.
The impact of stammering far extends speech with many children and young people experiencing anxiety, social isolation, bullying and low self-esteem.
We must actively challenge the misconceptions around stammering, such as anxiety causes stammering.
Seeking accurate information and educating ourselves are essential first steps in delivering effective support.
The School Environment
An estimated 40%-60% of children who stammer experience teasing or bullying related to their speech. This social pressure can lead to withdrawal, avoidance of school activities, and a significant decline in self-esteem.
Awareness and understanding are the keys to inclusion. When schools approach students with accurate knowledge and an open mind, they create a supportive, inclusive environment where all students can flourish—not just those who stammer.
Practical strategies for teachers
Creating an inclusive environment often lies in the subtle adjustments of daily interaction. When communicating with a student who stammers, please consider the following evidence-based strategies:
- Resist the urge to finish the child’s sentences or guess the words they are stuck on. This can be frustrating and undermines their autonomy. Instead, maintain eye contact, smile, and use non-verbal cues like nodding or saying, “I’m still listening,” to show engagement
- Focus your feedback on what the student said, not how they said it. Comment on the brilliance of their idea or the logic of their argument
- Well-meaning advice such as “slow down,” “relax,” or “take a deep breath” should be avoided. They often increase self-consciousness and can exacerbate the stammer
- Ask the student directly and explore alternative ways for them to participate in everyday tasks, such as raising a hand to signal readiness or using a tick sheet for the register, ensuring they can contribute without the pressure of oral reading.
Building a culture of kindness in the classroom
Many children and young people genuinely want to learn more about how they can support their friends who stammer.
Every child is different – some will feel comfortable in being open about their stammering with their peers, and others may prefer not to.
The most effective approach is to have open conversations with individual students about what helps them before speaking to the wider class. Below are some of the ways classmates can support a student who stammers:
- Encourage classmates to maintain eye contact and give their friend time to speak without rushing them
- In group discussions, ensure clear turns are taken so that interruptions are minimized
- Encourage classmates to ask questions and talk openly about stammering, provided that the student is comfortable with this
- Respect a student’s decision to be more reserved in certain situations. Not every child wants to speak in front of the whole class, and that is okay
- If comfortable, encourage classmates to speak up if they witness insensitive behaviour. A simple “Let them finish” can make a world of difference
Accessing speech and language therapy
There are several routes through which you can access speech and language therapy for your child.
It can feel a bit daunting trying to work out how to access the right support for you, so we encourage you to get in touch with your child’s school, or us via the Stammering Support Hub if you’d like some guidance with this.
Getting support
Action for Stammering Children supports schools and parents in two ways:
The Stammer Awareness Toolkit: Designed with busy teachers in mind, the four e-learning modules feature interactive materials, practical strategies, insights from young people who stammer and access to ready-to-use printable resources. Fully funded by Action for Stammering Children, the Toolkit aims to support education staff to develop supportive and inclusive classroom environments for students who stammer.
Stammering Support Hub: Designed to cater to the unique needs of young people who stammer, their families and the professional communities who support them. Through 24/7 online support, and a Support Hub Advisor on hand each weekday to answer questions, we provide clear and accessible information on a range of topics.
A future where every voice counts
Supporting children who stammer is about removing barriers to participation. It is also about our own ability and willingness to truly listen to and understand one another.
When schools commit to inclusive education, they do more than simply accommodate a speech difference.
They cultivate a culture of empathy that benefits every student. A child who learns to navigate a supportive classroom today grows into an adult who advocates for inclusivity tomorrow.
