stammer

An A to Z glossary of disabilities

People who stammer have difficulty ‘getting words out’, they may repeat syllables, extend the sounds of words or be unable to say the word. Those who stammer/stutter usually have problems at the start of sentences.

There are two forms of stammers. Developmental stammering, the most common type, starts during childhood when a youngster is learning to speak. Acquired/ late-onset stammering develops later in life after a stroke, head injury or a progressive neurological disease.