Beyond the Stammer: Understanding the Person Behind the Pause
By Yusra Bassam Al Lawati, Speech and Language Therapist, Clinical Instructor
Have you ever known exactly what you wanted to say, but felt your words trapped, as if your voice refused to cooperate? For people who stutter, that moment is far more than a simple pause or repetition. It is often filled with anticipation, a sense of being stuck, or the unsettling feeling of losing control.
For many years, stuttering was understood mainly through what listeners could observe, the blocks, the repetitions, the prolongations. Yet a large study of 430 adults who stutter revealed something much deeper: stuttering is not only about how speech sounds, but also about how speaking feels (Tichenor & Yaruss, 2019). It is an inner experience shaped by emotion, thought, and the reactions of others.
The word stuttering carries different meanings depending on who uses it. For some, it refers to the noticeable behaviours, repeating parts of words, stretching sounds, or becoming stuck before a word emerges. For others, it represents a broader condition or label that becomes intertwined with a person’s identity. And for many people who stutter, it is a shared lived experience that influences how they see themselves and how the world sees them. These varied interpretations remind us that stuttering is not merely a speech pattern; it is a complex human experience understood differently by speakers, listeners, and professionals.
Before society can change the way it talks about stuttering, we must first challenge the misconceptions that shape these conversations. Across the world, including within our own community, stuttering is often misunderstood and unfairly judged. The language we use and the assumptions we make can unintentionally exclude or marginalize people who stutter. It is time to recognize stuttering for what it truly is: a difference in communication, not a defect.
One common misconception is the belief that stuttering is caused by nervousness. While someone who stutters may understandably feel anxious about speaking, especially in cultures that value fast, fluent speech, anxiety is not the cause of stuttering. In fact, nervousness is often a reaction to stuttering, not the reason behind it.
Another harmful assumption is that stuttering reflects low intelligence. Speech difficulty has no connection to cognitive ability. People who stutter know precisely what they want to say; their thoughts are clear, but their words may follow a different path to the surface. Equating fluency with intelligence obscures the creativity, insight, and potential of individuals who communicate differently.
There is also a misconception that stuttering is caused by trauma. Research shows that stuttering is a neurodevelopmental condition related to how the brain plans and coordinates speech (Stewart, 2022). Genetics and family patterns may contribute, but most importantly, stuttering is nobody’s fault.
As our understanding evolves, it becomes increasingly important to recognize stuttering as part of human diversity. Just as we appreciate different languages, accents, and communication styles, we should also embrace stuttering as a natural variation. In many societies, including ours, there is intense pressure to speak “perfectly.” But perfection should never be the requirement for being heard. When we begin viewing stuttering as a difference rather than a defect, we open doors to greater inclusion, confidence, and authenticity. People who stutter should never feel compelled to hide their voices; they deserve to speak proudly, knowing their pauses and repetitions do not diminish their worth.
Our words shape the world around us. When we describe stuttering with respect, empathy, and understanding, we move closer to a community that listens not only to fluency, but to meaning. As I close, I want to celebrate all neurodivergent individuals, especially those who stutter. Every year on October 22, the world observes International Stuttering Awareness Day, a reminder that every voice deserves to be heard, exactly as it is.
