The Bucket Analogy: What Causes Stuttering?

 I often get the question "what causes stuttering?" The current thinking is that stuttering is a multi-factorial disorder in which a number of different factors all contribute. My favorite way to describe this concept is use the bucket analogy developed by the Stuttering Center of Western Pennsylvania.

There are a number of risk factors which all contribute to the development of stuttering. No one factor causes stuttering. They do all, however, put water in the bucket. Risk factors that put water in the bucket include:

• genetics (approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who stutters)  
• gender (persistent stuttering affects four times as many males as females) 
• time post onset (how long has the child been stuttering)
• personality characteristics, such as perfectionism or a high degree of sensitivity
• the state of a child's language system; for example, a child with a fragile speech and language system, or a child with a highly developed speech and language system combined with less developed motor system
• family dynamics, including high expectations, competition for talk time, and fast-paced, unpredictable lifestyles
• communication style, for example, rapid rate of speech and interruptions
• situational stressors, such as a birth or a death in the family, a change of residence, or a job loss 

When you have enough water in the bucket, the bucket overflows.  Stuttering occurs.

Over to You  

If you have a child who stutters, can you identify the risk factors that put water in your child's bucket?