Is Stuttering caused by Anxiety ?

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as a worry or fear that can be mild or severe. Everyone can feel anxious in situations such as giving presentations, an oral exam or going for an interview. These anxious feelings are normal. Anxiety is not always ‘bad’. It can make us feel uncomfortable but it is also a really important function - we should feel anxious when we have an exam coming up as anxiety motivates us to study. Anxiety motivates us to prepare and take action. It is sometimes confused with excitement. Anxiety becomes difficult when it stops allowing you to do the things you enjoy in life and affects you everyday.

In the past, stuttering was thought to be due to psychological factors such as anxiety. We now know the cause of stuttering is not due to anxiety. Rather, it is regarded as having a neurological cause - differences have been found in areas of the brain involved in talking for those who stutter compared with those who do not stutter. In addition, stuttering has a genetic or hereditary component and tends to run in families. 

Do I stutter because I am an anxious? Am I anxious because I stutter?

Research has shown us that pre-school children who stutter show no difference in shyness or anxiety compared with pre-school children who do not stutter. People who stutter are no different to people who do not stutter in terms of their personalities. However, research has shown that as a group people who stutter present with higher levels of anxiety and are more likely to present with social anxiety disorder compared with people who do not stutter. The age at which anxiety symptoms begin to appear is not yet clear, however some studies have suggested that higher anxiety is shown in stuttering children from the age of 7 years and increases over time.  

Indeed, it is not surprising that stuttering is associated with increased levels of anxiety. The experience of stuttering is often difficult and people who stutter describe having a variety of negative emotional reactions to their talking including feelings of embarrassment and shame. They can also experience negative reactions to their stuttering from others.  We know that children who stutter are more likely to be bullied and to be viewed negatively by their peers and adults describe stigma and discrimination both socially and in their place of work. The anxiety demonstrated by people who stutter is regarded as being the result of living with stuttering and is not the cause of stuttering.  You don’t stutter because you are an anxious person.

How does anxiety or nervousness impact stuttering? 

Although people vary, we know that when someone is feeling anxious or nervous, they tend to stutter more. You might be feeling anxious about stuttering in front of others or concerned about how your listener will react, or what they will think if they hear you stutter. When we feel anxious or nervous, it is usually because we are expecting the worst to happen. You might be saying things to yourself like “I won’t be able to say my name” or “They’ll think there’s something wrong with me” This may lead you to tense your muscles, may distract you from focusing on what you want to say as you try hard either to be fluent or to hide your stuttering.  This can all lead to more stuttering. You may feel like you have suddenly started stammering.  It is important to remember that while you may stutter more when you are feeling anxious or nervous, these feelings are not the cause of stuttering.  

How can Speech and Language Therapy help with Stuttering? 

We know that learning more about your stuttering and what influences it can reduce your anxiety about it.  Speech and Language Therapy can be effective in reducing the impact that stuttering is having on your day to day life.  You can develop your confidence to communicate, learn how to respond differently to your thoughts and feelings about stuttering and to learn strategies to make talking easier and more comfortable. 

Stuttering does not have to hold you back. 

We are Clinical Specialists in Stuttering and are very happy provide you with more information regarding our reasonably priced fees via email.

Why have I suddenly started stuttering?

Many people contact us to tell us that they have suddenly started stuttering. It may be that they stuttered as a child but the stutter either resolved or it was not having an impact on their lives. Rather than starting to stutter suddenly, their earlier stuttering may have come back unexpectedly.

It may be that you are feeling stressed or anxious – that you are having changes in your life such as interviews for a new job, going on dates with new people, or making a wedding speech. These situations may lead you to tense your muscles and lead to more stuttering, or that you are noticing the stutter more than before, in the preparation to these important events.  

It may be that work situations have changed – since the Pandemic, many people are working from home using video conferencing which may have been something you previously avoided. People report seeing themselves on videoconferencing has made them stutter more and to become more aware of the stutter.  

For a few people, stuttering does suddenly start in adulthood as a result of a neurological event, such as a stroke, and is called a neurogenic stammer. Stuttering may also start as a result of an emotional trauma, commonly known as psychogenic stuttering.  

Should you start to stutter suddenly in adulthood, following assessment we may need to make an onward referral to rule out a neurological diagnosis or to seek additional psychological support.

Speech Therapy can support you in increasing your confidence, reducing your stress and anxiety around stuttering and developing strategies to make talking easier. Click on the contact us button to arrange a free consultation or email us for more information.

What is interiorised or covert stuttering?

Interiorised stuttering is also known as covert stuttering. Someone with an interiorised or covert stutter typically presents as ‘fluent’ to others - this is because they place a great deal of effort into concealing or hiding their stutter from others. They do this by avoiding words, sounds, certain situations, or people so that they do not stutter. An analogy is being like a swan - to others you appear to be gliding through the water, but non-one can see the effort of paddling that goes on below the surface. Avoidance skills can be so well practiced that you may seem to others that you have no stutter at all. Although the stutter may be considered as mild in terms of the amount of outward stuttering in your speech, or as less of a problem as someone that stutters more frequently, we view it as a different type of challenge or as having a different impact on someone’s day to day life. 

 Although your avoidance may have reduced the stuttering, the fear of stuttering remains. You may have the fear of being recognized as ‘a stutterer’ and feel immense pressure not to stutter and to keep your stuttering a secret from otters. When you do stutter, you may feel ashamed, upset or embarrassed. You may have managed until now to keep your stuttering hidden but you feel you are no longer able to cope or to conceal it from others.  It may be affecting you in your work environment and in your relationship with others. 

Speech and Language Therapy can support you in understanding covert stuttering, reducing your avoidance, reducing your negative feelings about stuttering and being a person who stutters to make talking easier and enable you to confidently say all you want to say when you want to say it.  We are Clinical Specialists in Stammering. Feel free to book a free consultation or email us for further information.

Should I tell my job interviewer that I stutter?

We see many people embracing change and applying for new jobs. They are often thinking about the impact the stutter might have on the interview. Its important to remember that you have been invited to interview because they have been impressed by your CV or application – you have met all the essential criteria.

Its also important to remember communication skills are not just about fluency – employers are looking for an ability to listen, problem-solve, be positive, work in a team and be flexible. They will often ask for examples of these skills within the interview questions. Many people who stutter are exceptional communicators – try to focus on your strengths.

There are also some practice interview events for people who stutter such as 50 Million voices

https://www.50millionvoices.org/

 Should I tell my interviewer prior to the interview that I stutter?

You may have thoughts regarding whether you should tell your employer whether you stutter. By telling the employer beforehand, this might reduce the pressure you feel in the interview. This is called self-advertising. We can discuss the pros and cons of this in your therapy session. You can additionally ask the employer for adjustments such as extra time. There is more information regarding this on Stammering Law

https://www.stammeringlaw.org.uk/employment/recruitment-promotion/should-i-tell-employer-i-stammer/

 What jobs can I do with a stutter?

You are not limited by the stutter. You can do any job. We treat people that are working successfully as teachers, psychologists, actors, radio presenters and many more professions that require public speaking.

 If you are not offered a job, it is useful to request feedback from your employers. Some people who stutter may assume it is because of the stutter that they are not offered the job. However, there is a set marking criteria that interviewers use and they can give you the ideal answers to support you in future interviews. This may help increase your confidence as most interviewers are keen to give positive feedback.

Speech Therapy can support you in preparation for an important job interview – to increase your confidence so that you are able to relax and perform your very best.

Here is some additional advice for interviews or employment:

 Insider secrets from a human resources professional who stutters

https://westutter.org/wp-content/uploads/ace_your_next_job_interview_july2019.pdf

 Reasonable adjustments for people who stutter

https://stamma.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/19%20Reasonable%20Adjustments%20at%20work.pdf

 Resources for employers

https://stamma.org/resources/professionals/employers