Stammering, in the Primary Mental Stage, takes on a distinct Mental form as differentiated from the Mental-Physical form and becomes therefore more difficult to eradicate.  If allowed to continue, this form of Stammering (like Stuttering) passes into the Chronic Mental Stage, in which case the Stammerer usually exhibits pronounced signs of Thought Lapse and finds himself a Chronic or Constant Stammerer, often unable to utter a sound-and further at times unable to think of what he wishes to say.

The progress of both Stuttering and Stammering from one stage to another is very certain.  These speech disorders do not differ materially from other human afflictions in this respect—­they do not remain constant.  There is an axiom in Nature, that “Nothing is static,” which, being interpreted, means, that nothing stands still.  And this applies with full force to the stutterer or stammerer.  If no steps are taken to remedy the malady, he may be very sure that the disorder is getting worse—­not standing still or remaining the same.

CHAPTER VI

Can stammering and stuttering be outgrown?

Probably the most harmful and oft-repeated bit of advice ever given to a stammerer or stutterer is that which says, “Oh, don’t bother about it—­you will soon outgrow the trouble!” It is the most harmful because it is palpably untrue.  It is so oft-repeated because the person giving the advice knows nothing whatever about the cause of stammering and just as little about its progress or treatment.

The fact that we hear of no cases of stuttering or stammering which have been outgrown does not seem to alter the popular and totally unfounded belief that stammering and stuttering can be readily outgrown.

If the reader has not read the chapter on the causes of stuttering and stammering and the two preceding chapters on the Intermittent Tendency and the Progressive Character of these speech disorders, then these chapters should be read carefully before going further with this one, because it is essential to know the cause of the trouble before it is possible to answer intelligently the question, “Can Stammering be Outgrown?”

To any one who understands the nature of the difficulty and the progress it is liable to make, the question is almost as absurd as asking whether or not the desire to sleep can be outgrown by staying awake.  But aside from its scientific aspect—­aside from the absurdity of the question—­let us examine the facts as revealed by actual records of cases.  Let us dispense with all theory on the subject and take experience gained in a wide range of cases as the correct guide in finding the answer.