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Stuttering (or stammering, as it is also called) is a speech disorder where speech is interrupted or punctuated by repeating and extended sounds or silence that can cause embarrassment. However, many people who stutter seek help not just because of personal embarrassment but also because some people have difficulty understanding a person who stammers. This can impact personal relationships, education and professional opportunities.

There are no quick ways to treat stuttering. There is a variety of therapies, electronic devices and drug solutions that have been used to help people who stutter. Which one is the right solution depends on the age of the person who stutters, the cause of their stutter and other individual needs.

Speech therapy is one of the most common treatments for stuttering. However, finding the right speech pathologist depends on the length of time you’re willing to stay in therapy, how much the therapy will cost and what your personal goals are for therapy. Speech therapy can help to reduce the instances of stuttering, the embarrassment caused by stuttering and boost the speaking ability and confidence of a stutterer.

One method that may be used in conjunction with speech therapy is the use of electronic devices to alter the auditory feedback of stutterers.

Finally, there are many pharmaceutical solutions that can be used to treat stuttering, including antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. People who stutter may be interested to know more. They can find stuttering support groups online or at a local speech pathology facility.

If you are interested in more advanced techniques to treat stuttering, you may be interested in careers in speech pathology. More than 68 million people throughout the world stutter and many would like to find a way to communicate better with loved ones and colleagues.