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Katie Marsden
Bruce Hanson
SLHS 424 Stuttering
30 July 2015

Common Myths about Stuttering

Stuttering is a complex speech disorder that is very often misunderstood. Not only has it
been a long subject of scientific inquiry but has also amassed many myths and superstitions to
explain its origin or cause. Today we now know that stuttering is a worldwide phenomenon
found in all cultures and languages; varying from one person to the next. We also know that the
impact of stuttering can be severe on a persons emotional and functional state. Regardless of
many debunked myths, many still linger on, imbedded in peoples subconscious minds. In order
for the public to better understand the nature of stuttering as a disorder of speech control, it is our
job as an SLP to be proactive in finding ways to spread awareness and end common
misconceptions.
Studies have continually reported that the general public, and even speech pathologists
and teachers, tend to have inaccurate knowledge about stuttering and often hold negative
attitudes toward people who stutter (Ginsberg, 2000). In this paper I will address and disprove

some of the common myths surrounding stuttering and generate some ideas on how SLPs can
better educate the public about stuttering. I will first address common misconceptions that still
reflect in the publics perception and attitude
People who stutter are less intelligent than their non-stuttering peers:
Studies show no link between stuttering and a persons intellectual make-up. The fact
that there are teachers, lawyers, doctors, and many other people who stutter that work
in fields which require an intelligent mind, is proof alone that this is a big

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misconception. We know that stuttering is mostly physiological, could be hereditary,

with environmental and emotional triggering factors (National Stuttering Association,
2014). None of these studies have shown these to have an effect on a stutterers
intelligence. Even evidence to suggest stutterers have a lower school performance
than their peers are not accurate in assuming a positive link to stuttering. Many
findings give better explanation and reasoning to lower test scores, such as findings
about stutterers having poorer central auditory processing and sensory feedback
(Barry Guitar, 2014) which would have an impact on a persons academic
performance.
People who stutter are more shy/nervous/self-conscious than their non-stuttering
peers
As Guitar noted, A persons feelings can be as much a part of the disorder of
stuttering as his speech behaviors (9).
Studies have shown that PWS are no more nervous than their non-stuttering peers by
nature. Studies such as these are backed by neurological studies that prove there is a
physiological phenomenon happening. However more recent studies are finding that
those who stutter might possibly have higher trait anxiety, in general.
1. People who stutter cannot be good communicators
The idea that stutters cannot be great communicators is laughable. There are a number
of famous politicians, actors, and speech motivators that stuttered or continue to
stutter that defy peoples expectations of what people who stutter can do. For
example, we saw in class
2. People who stutter can control their stuttering

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People who are not familiar with stammering have no idea what it is like to have a fullblown adult stammer. They think it is a small interruption of the speech flow, causing the
speaker to feel vaguely inconvenienced and that sometimes it is done deliberately for
effect. Little do they know...
- Ann Irwin, Stammering in young children (Louw, 2014)
Much has been discovered in the last century about stuttering and brain activity.
Its now known that the brain of people who stutter and non-stutterers are structured and
function differently. Even studies as early as the 1920s found that the brain of people
who stutter function differently. New research validates these old claims and reports in
concurance that there is less activity in the left-hemisphere and overactivity in the right
hemisphere during fluent and non-fluent speech. According to The Dana Foundation,
Some neuroimaging data support the idea that people who stuter may have aberrant
connections relative to fluent speakers, primarily in the left hemisphere that involves a
major white-matter tract. Neuroimaging also has shown the reducement of right-brain
overactivation and the switching over to left-brain activation after speech therapy.

3. The cause of stuttering is because of bad parenting

Initial attitudes on the parents of PWS thought that the cause of stuttering stemmed from
critical and perfectionistic parents and their parenting style (69). Family studies have
provided strong evidence to suggest that stuttering is often inherited, and that some
children might be predisposed to stuttering (26). Earlier research done on parents helped
to shape the publics opinion of stuttering. Early research done on parents and their effect
on their children who stutter, done at the University of Iowa in the 1950s, suggested that
parents of children who stutter are more critical and perfectionistic (69).
However more recent studies find mixed results and criticize the Iowa study for not
using control groups which skews the data.

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Good facts! It reads easy. Obviously you need a conclusion but thanks for letting me
read it. You already have the work cited in progress! I always leave it until last
because they are such a drag, nice job for being pro-active about it.

Works Cited

Barry Guitar, P. (2014). Stuttering: An Integrated Approach to Its Nature and Treatment.
Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a Wolters Dluer Business.

Chang, D. S.-E. (2011, August 23). Using Brain Imaging to Unravel the Mysteries of
Stuttering. Retrieved from dana.org:
http://dana.org/Cerebrum/2011/Using_Brain_Imaging_to_Unravel_the_Mysteries_of_Stu
ttering/

Louw, P. (2014, September 24). Coping with Stuttering . Retrieved from

http://copingwithstuttering.blogspot.com/:
http://copingwithstuttering.blogspot.com/2010/02/background-andmisconceptions_07.html

National Stuttering Association. (2014). Common Myths about Stuttering. Retrieved from
westutter.org: http://www.westutter.org/who-we-help/common-myths-about-stuttering/