An intrinsic characteristic of stammering is that its severity fluctuates over time. These fluctuations occur in a cyclical manner, leading commonly to experiences of remission and relapse. Periods of remission may last for just a single day or they may last several months or years. Indeed, 80% of children who stammer go into permanent remission, inasmuch as their symptoms never return.

Many people who stammer experience several periods of remission throughout their lives. The intensity of which may be partial or (apparently) total.

Although many experiences of remission appear to occur quite spontaneously, without there being any obvious cause, remission is also common during therapy, and indeed, one would expect that successful therapy would result in (at least partial) remission. However, following an initial remission, an equally common outcome of therapy is relapse and it is not uncommon, following therapies of all kinds for clients to relapse right back to a similar level of severity that they experienced before therapy began.

Because of this tendency to relapse after therapy, it is vital that people who stutter who are undergoing therapy (of any kind) should have a clear understanding of the nature of remission and relapse. It is only through understanding this phenomenon that one is able to be properly prepared to deal with it if, and when it occurs. We have prepared the following slideshow to provide you with this information.