What causes stuttering?

Do you know someone who stutters?

Do you stutter?

Ever wonder what causes stuttering?

Some people, when they're under stress, tense their vocal cords. Young children can sometimes tense them so much that the vocal cords lock up. When this happens they can't speak because no air can come out. So they begin to struggle to release the lock. This struggle quickly becomes a habit, and THAT is what the world sees, hears, and calls stuttering.

To deal with this problem, breathe in through the mouth, let some air out very calmly, and then slow the first word of the sentence: "I..., am happy to be here."

Stuttering is very common. Approximately one percent of the population across the world stutters. Because it's genetically based, stuttering runs in families. However, it also requires early childhood stress to manifest itself - a new sibling, a new school, or some other source of childhood anxiety. Stuttering usually begins between the ages of four and seven. Fortunately, it can now be effectively treated.

For more information, please feel free to e-mail me. If you include a phone number, I'll call you back. Or go to Stuttering.com for information about treatment.