| The myths |
The facts |
| Stuttering is an emotional problem caused by anxiety | Although the cause of stuttering is unknown, it is not an emotional disorder or the result of anxiety. Many people who stutter have a genetic predisposition to stuttering. In other words it is a physical problem. |
| Stuttering is caused by copying the stuttered speech of other family members or friends | Stuttering tends to run in families so it is usual to find more than one member of a family who stutters. However, the link is genetic rather than through imitation of someone else’s speech. Children do not ‘learn’ to stutter by copying other children’s speech. |
| Stuttering is caused by the way parents interact with their children | Parents are the best people to help their children recover from stuttering. Stuttering does not develop from poor parenting practices. |
| People who stutter are nervous and shy | Some people who stutter are shy – but not more often than other people. They are also friendly outgoing and talkative, just like everyone else. |
| Stuttering is a normal part of children’s development | Stuttering is a speech disorder. It may start gradually or suddenly. It almost always starts before 5 years of age. |
| Children will grow out of stuttering as they grow older | Some children do stop stuttering without ever needing therapy from a clinic. However many children will continue to stutter and will require professional help. At present there are no reliable indicators to predict which children will recover without help. Consultation with a speech pathologist is required. |
| People who stutter are less intelligent than those who don’t stutter | There is no connection between the cause of stuttering and intelligence. A person who stutters only has difficulty talking. They can think and act quickly. |
| Treatment for stuttering can be complicated and stuttering can not be cured | It is true that there is no ‘magic pill’ that will eliminate stuttering. However stuttering can be treated very effectively for preschool children. |
| Children should not commence therapy for stuttering until they are at school | The best results in therapy have been achieved by preschool children. |
| Therapy for stuttering can be stopped as soon as a child speaks fluently | Therapy for stuttering must be withdrawn gradually. This ensures that relapse into stuttering does not occur. |
