What Is Stuttering?

Stuttering is a speech disorder where the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Because this is unexpected to the speaker and they can sometimes be made fun of or even bullied because of it, stuttering can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, or fear of speaking.

By the Numbers

• More than 70 million people worldwide stutter, about 1 percent of the population
• In the United States, there are more than three million Americans who stutter
• Four times as many males as females stutter

Facts vs. Fiction

Perhaps the best way to learn about stuttering, is to hear from people who stutter themselves. The video above – presented by individuals who participate in group therapy at the Center for Stuttering Therapy – explains some facts and fiction about stuttering.