October 22 is International Stammering Awareness Day! In your community, you might call stammering as podowdow (Akan), haamula (Ga), kukorkor/kunorna (Ewe), nlelenle (Nzema), fashewa/rudani (Hausa), kigugumizi (Swahili), or su nsu (Igbo).
Stammering affects approximately 82 million people worldwide. You may know someone who stammers; others might only understand some parts of the disorder.
However, how we act, because we don’t know about stammering, may add to the challenges that people who stammer face. The good news is that, through research, training, and awareness, we can help break down some personal and societal barriers that prevent people who stammer from contributing to society.
What is Stammering?
Stammering is a complex communication disorder in which a person repeats sounds or parts of words, struggles to get words out, and/or prolongs sounds when speaking. No two people who stammer stammer in the same way. Furthermore, people who stammer do not always stammer, as different situations can affect how someone who stammers speaks, adding to the complexity of the disorder.
Stammering may also occur by itself or alongside other conditions such as Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, or Parkinson’s Disease. Stammering is often visualized as an iceberg, with the public only seeing or hearing the sound/word repetition, prolongations, and/or blocks, represented by the iceberg’s surface; however, many people who stammer find the larger, submerged part of the iceberg even more challenging. Yet, this part is usually not visible to others.
Stammering also tends to run in some families, indicating a genetic component. However, current research suggests that stammering is caused by a combination of genetic, neurological, and/or environmental factors. Most children begin to stammer between the ages of 2 and 6. Children cannot learn how to stammer; however, the majority outgrow the disorder, while others continue to stammer into adulthood. As children who stammer grow, so does the submerged part of the iceberg.
The Misperception of Stammering
Because the public only sees the surface part of the iceberg, stammering is often misunderstood by some people. One of the most persistent misconceptions is that stammering is caused by nervousness or a lack of confidence. While stress or anxiety can sometimes worsen the stammer, it is not caused by stress, fear, or emotional instability. As such, telling somebody to “stop stammering” or to complete their sentences for them during conversations is not helpful; rather, it continues a cycle of belittling, stereotyping, stigma, and discrimination.
If people who stammer could just stop stammering, they would have done that. They know what they want to say; just be patient and wait for your turn. Stigma may result in discrimination when people who stammer are overlooked or underestimated in social and professional settings, as what people see/hear is the stammer, rather than all the other essential skills the person brings to the job.
The Impact of Stammering
For many people who stammer, the condition can affect their self-esteem and mental health. The constant struggle to speak more fluently like others can lead to or worsen their anxiety, fear of social situations, and a reluctance to engage in public speaking or even job interviews. In fact, some people who stammer may avoid speaking situations and may even choose careers where they do not have to verbally interact with others.
People who stammer may also face teasing in school, at home, or on social media. This may cause them to withdraw from social opportunities out of fear of being judged by others because of their stammer. People who stammer constantly battle to express themselves like other people, and this can lead to frustration, embarrassment, shame, isolation, and, in some cases, depression. Still, we must know that stammering is not a lack of desire or ability to communicate. People who stammer want to be understood that they are trying, and with the right support, they can be successful in both social and professional environments.
Treatment for Stammering
Because no two people who stammer do so in the same way, a treatment approach that works for one person might not work for another. A professional speech therapist can evaluate and treat stammering. During an assessment, a speech therapist will also consider how stammering affects the person’s quality of life in terms of communication. Fortunately, various treatment options are available to help people manage their stammering, improve their communication skills, and also support their mental health.
Peer and group support is another vital aspect of treatment. Connecting with others who stammer can provide emotional encouragement and help people feel less isolated. Support groups, whether in person or online, may offer a safe space for sharing experiences, learning new strategies, and building a sense of community. The Ghana Stammering Association is one such peer group for adults who stammer and parents of children who stammer. Although there is no cure for stammering, many people who stammer lead fulfilling lives, embracing their stammer while focusing on maximizing their talents and aspirations.
What You Can Do
If you know someone who stammers, or if you meet someone who stammers, there are ways to show your support.
Be Patient and Respectful
The most important thing you can do is give the person who stammers the time to speak in a culturally appropriate way. Interrupting or finishing their sentences not only undermines them but also increases their anxiety. Offer your full attention. Allow them to finish their thoughts at their own pace.
Be Supportive, Not Sympathetic
People who stammer don’t need your pity; it may cause more harm than good. Instead of expressing sympathy, offer encouragement and support. If they express frustration, acknowledge their feelings without offering unsolicited advice or suggesting ways to “fix” the stammer.
Be Mindful in Group Settings
If you’re in a group discussion, be mindful of how others interact with the person who stammers. Encourage a respectful environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Avoid interrupting or finishing sentences for the person who stammers (or anybody else for that matter) and ensure that everyone is given the time they need to express their thoughts.
Educate Yourself and Others
It’s okay to ask people who stammer questions about stammering. Learning more about stammering helps you avoid misperceptions and biases, enabling you to be a more effective ally and advocate. Share what you learn with others, help to spread awareness, and reduce stigma. Be a stammering ally!
Transcend the Stammer
While it might be tempting to address the stammering directly, especially if you notice it, remember that the person who stammers is already aware of it. Acknowledge them as you would anyone else—focus on the message they are trying to communicate, not how they speak. By transcending their stammer, you’ll notice other skills they contribute to making their communities a better place.
Train to be a Speech Therapist in Ghana
If you are interested in working with people who have speech-language or hearing-related disorders, there are speech-language and audiology programs at the College of Health Sciences (University of Ghana, Korle-Bu), the School of Allied Health (University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho), and the Disability and Rehabilitation Studies Department (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi).
About the Authors
Levi Ofoe is an Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of West Georgia, a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and an ally of the Ghana Stammering Association.
Emmanuel Kwaku Addo is a Clinical Fellow in Speech-Language Pathology and a PhD candidate at Binghamton University in Upstate New York. He is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and currently serves as President of the Ghana Stammering Association.
