Last updated: August 2026.
Reviewed by the Mable Therapy clinical team.
Stammering is a relatively common speech disorder, which is neurological in nature and creates moments of dysfluency such as: repeating words, stretching sounds or not being able to produce some sounds or words at all.
Research suggests that approximately 1 in 12 young children go through a phase of stammering at some point according to the NHS. Likewise, it is thought that stammering affects around 1 in 50 adults.
Is a stutter different to a stammer?
The terms ‘stammer’ and ‘stutter’ are synonymous. Simply put, they both refer to the moments of dysfluency in a person’s speech and are often used interchangeably. In the UK, ‘stammer’ is the most common term used.
What is the difference between an 'acquired' and 'developmental' stammer?
More often than not, these types of dysfluencies emerge later in life and are less common. They are often the result of disease or injury to the brain and/or spinal cord. Some causes include: stroke, tumours, meningitis and Parkinsons. They can also be related to drugs, medicine and emotional trauma.
Most people recall that their stammer or stutter started when they were young children, usually around the ages of 2-5 years. Developmentally, this is the period children often experience a burst in language skills as they’re learning lots of new vocabulary. This burst can create a mismatch between the child’s language and motor planning skills. As children mature, their motor speech skills increase and as a result the stammering and stuttering behaviours usually reduce.
Don’t worry! There are some families who will require additional input from a specialist speech and language therapist to help their child with periods of dysfluency. With the right support and strategies in place, these children will become happy, confident and effective communicators.
The long-term prognosis of a stammer can be difficult to identify. Although there are several factors which can increase a person’s likelihood of having dysfluent speech, the severity and long term outcome can be difficult to predict.
Some dysfluent behaviours are classed as being ‘typical’ which means that the dysfluencies are less likely to continue into adulthood. For example:
On the flip-side, there are some indicators of persistent dysfluency, which a speech therapist would consider during a child’s first session:
If you find yourself answering, yes, yes, yes to the above, then please do contact a speech and language therapist. Even if you’re unsure, a chat with a speech and language therapist may help answer any queries or concerns you have. A speech and language therapist will also take into consideration the sex of your child as well as how old they were when they first began to stammer. This is because girls are more likely to ‘outgrow’ dysfluencies, and dysfluencies which start before 3 and half years are also more likely to resolve naturally.
Depending on your child’s age, presentation and awareness, the therapist may suggest more indirect work, focusing on supporting parents and providing them with strategies and techniques to support their child’s talking. Alternatively, direct work may be appropriate and again, depending on the child, this could be 1:1 or group work.
Remember, no one has fluent speech 100% of the time, and this expectation is not achievable. Ultimately, children with stammers should be supported to feel comfortable and confident. They should know that there is nothing ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ about having a stammer.
Learn More About Mable Therapy
At Mable Therapy, our team of specialist Speech and Language therapists support children and young people who stammer. We know that each child's experience is unique, and therefore tailor each session to the individual needs of the child, as well as the things they love - and can support with speech fluency, and confidence/self-esteem alike.
To find out more about Mable Therapy, and the services we offer, head over to our website here.