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People with stammers have told ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live presenter Hayley Hassall their stammering increased during the pandemic.

Calls to a national stammering helpline increased during the pandemic.

The Michael Palin Centre for stammering says an increase in referrals is partly due to increased anxiety and the impact of talking on online platforms, which can put people who stammer on the spot. Between April 2020 and March 2021 the helpline received more than 2200 calls, more than double the amount in the previous year.

Hayley Hassall, who presents on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live weekends from 1am to 5am, has a stammer herself and has been investigating the effect of lockdown on sufferers as part of 5 Live’s Word Matters campaign.