When Should You Worry About a Child Stuttering?

It can be stressful when your toddler begins to stutter. However, it is important to remember that children’s parents do not cause stuttering, nor is it a sign of brain injury or reduced intelligence.

Stuttering is very common. In the United States, about 5-10% of children stutter at some point between the ages of two and six, just as children are learning speech and language skills, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

What Causes Stuttering?

Stuttering, sometimes referred to as stammering, is a form of speech disorder called dysfluency. Children who stutter know precisely what they want to say but struggle to produce fluent speech. When a child stutters, this might make them:

• Repeat parts of words (“I w-w-w-want a drink.”)
• Stretch a sound out for a long time (“Sssssssssam is nice.”), or
• Have a hard time getting a word out (“I want a (pause) cookie.”)

Stuttering is more common among boys and can run in families. Many children outgrow stuttering by age five, but it can persist as a lifelong communication disorder in some children. Although the exact cause of stuttering is still unknown, it most likely occurs due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, language development, environment, brain structure and function—how the brain’s messages interact with the muscles and body parts needed for speaking.

When To Get Help?

Talk with your pediatrician or a speech-language therapist if your child is stuttering at five years old and exhibits any of the following signs and symptoms:

• tries to avoid situations that require talking
• changes a word for fear of stuttering
• has facial or body movements along with the stuttering
• repeats whole words and phrases often and consistently
• repeats sounds and syllables more often
• has speech that sounds very strained

There are various approaches to help children with stuttering. Seeking early treatment (before entering elementary school) is essential to reduce the chances that your child will keep stuttering. Treatment may include using direct or indirect strategies:

• Indirect treatment: Involves speech-language pathologists assisting parents in adjusting their communication styles. Indirect strategies like slowing down your own speech and asking fewer questions help make it easier for your child to talk.
• Direct treatment: In direct treatment, speech-language pathologists work directly with children individually or in small groups to help them change how they speak. They provide specific speech strategies to help ease into words and reduce tension during stuttering events. Additionally, direct treatment helps children distinguish between smooth (fluent) and bumpy (stuttered) speech.

The treatment team usually includes you, your child, other family members and your child’s teacher. Consulting a speech-language pathologist can provide guidance on how to respond when your child stutters and help improve your child’s feelings about communication.

In Conclusion

Stuttering can be stressful for both children and parents. The most effective approach to managing stuttering is to be patient and supportive rather than focusing on the disorder. Joining local support groups can also help children and adults talk with others who stutter and learn about other helpful resources.