What is the difference between stammering and stuttering?

8 July 2026

Dossier: Symptoms of Stuttering

Whether it involves audible repetitions, silent blockages, or covert stuttering: every form shares the exact same physical cause. Read the full article below or browse our complete overview of stuttering symptoms.

Stuttering manifests itself in various forms and intensities; no two people stutter in the same way, and the impact of stuttering varies from person to person. There are numerous examples of people who have achieved significant successes despite their stuttering, such as Joe Biden, the US president, who holds the most prestigious position in the world.

'Typical' forms of stuttering

At the Del Ferro Institute, we distinguish eight different forms of stuttering. The most recognisable forms for outsiders include blocking or repeating letters, words and phrases, lengthening letters and making grimaces.

Repeating or blocking on letters, words and phrases often occurs with the so-called ‘hard’ letters, such as ‘d’, ‘k’ and ‘b’. These letters may be repeated several times as a form of stuttering, or a complete block may occur. Sometimes parts of a sentence are repeated as a way of pronouncing the word in question, for example, “my name is B-b-b…, my name is B- b- b-…, my name is B- b- b- Bernard.” This type of stuttering is also known as stammering.

Lengthening of letters occurs for ‘soft’ letters such as ‘s’ and ‘f’, where the letter is stretched before the rest of the word follows. No blockage usually occurs with these letters.

Another form of stuttering that is visible to the outside world, but not audible, involves making grimaces. While stuttering, a person may show certain facial expressions or body movements, such as pulling their head, shaking or making other movements in an attempt to pronounce the word or letter. Sometimes this involves jumping, tapping or hitting objects as a way to help get the word out.

Invisible stutter forms

Besides the well-known forms of stuttering, there are also less visible forms of stuttering. These are often hardly noticed by others. It includes situations where someone chooses to remain silent despite wanting to say something, or when they use tricks and synonyms to avoid stuttering.

Many who stutter have sometimes decided not to speak for fear that stuttering will occur. For example, a teacher asks a question in class, and although the person knows the answer, they choose to remain silent because they feel they cannot speak fluently. It is also common for someone to point at a menu or order the same as someone else to avoid speaking.

Using tricks and synonyms is also a common strategy. People choose to say something other than what they actually want to express, or they order something else to get around difficult words. These are forms of stuttering that remain invisible to many.

Other stutter forms

The last three forms of stuttering include speaking while inhaling, talking on the last bit of air, and inserting unnatural pauses in sentences.

Stuttering can be compared to the reaction to being startled. When startled, the diaphragm lowers and the vocal cords open, making it physically impossible to speak while breathing in. Nevertheless, many people who stutter try to speak in this very way, despite the fact that they have been unable to do so for years.

When someone stutters severely and cannot get the words out, it seems impossible to speak. But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, it is still possible to speak, only then there is no air left in the lungs to power the words. Speech then comes out very forced on the last vestige of air.

The third form involves speaking with inappropriate pauses in the sentence, such as: “My name is…Bernard and I work at the fire…-department.” This involves pauses that do not feel natural within the context of the sentence.

Difference between stammering and stuttering

Stammering is considered a specific form of stuttering, namely blocking or repeating letters. This makes it one of the forms of stuttering and also the most recognisable.

Written by Ingrid Del Ferro

“Ingrid Del Ferro is the director of the Del Ferro Institute ad an international authority in the field of stuttering therapy. For decades, she has helped children permanently overcome stuttering, empowering them to express themselves completely and speak without limits. Through her unique and patient approach, she ensures that the physical blockage of the diaphragm is effectively broken. This empowers children to fully regain control over their speech, ensuring stuttering no longer stands in the way of a carefree school experience and their self-confidence. Read More About Ingrid Here >

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Stuttering Therapy for Children

6 to 12 Years

Help your child permanently overcome stuttering and speech anxiety by training the problem at its core: the diaphragm. Instead of your child having to fight against words, we eliminate the physical blockage.

This restores your child’s control to speak with absolute fluency and confidence in any situation—from a warm conversation at the dinner table to a presentation in front of a full classroom. Take the first step toward a stutter-free life for your child today.

Why Are Thousands of People Able to Overcome Stuttering?

Most people who stutter receive the same advice: you have to learn to live with it. At Del Ferro, we have taken a very different approach for nearly 50 years.

What if the solution doesn’t start with accepting stuttering, but with addressing what physically happens during speech?

The Del Ferro Method offers a targeted solution for stuttering that remains overlooked in traditional speech therapy.

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