Between the ages of 2 and 5, children are learning new words and longer sentences at a fast pace. Bumps in the flow of speech, like repeating words or saying “um”, are a normal part of talking. Everyone has them.
Stuttering is different. It usually starts between ages 2 and 5, and 5% to 10% of children stutter for a while. About 75% of them grow out of it, often within 6 months to a year. Knowing what to listen for helps you tell the difference.
What to listen for
Typical bumps
Usually relaxed, and they come and go.
Fillers
Little sounds while they think.
“I um want the blue cup.”
Whole-word repeats
Repeating a whole word, once or twice, without strain.
“Can I have juice, juice please?”
Phrase repeats
Starting a phrase over.
“She is, she is my friend.”
Changing course
Starting one way, then switching.
“We went, we drove to Grandma’s.”
Signs of stuttering
Often with effort or tension, and present more often than not.
Sound and syllable repeats
Repeating part of a word, often more than twice.
“I w-w-w-want to go.”
Stretched sounds
Holding a sound for a long time.
“Look at the sssssssnake!”
Blocks
Getting stuck, with no sound coming out for a moment.
“Can we get pizza?”
Short-word repeats with strain
Repeating a one-syllable word several times, with effort.
“Go-go-go-go away!”
Other signs that go with stuttering
- Tension in the face or body when talking, like tight lips or rapid blinking.
- Head nods, eye blinks, or other movements while trying to get a word out.
- Voice rising in pitch during repeats.
- Avoiding certain words, swapping words, or not wanting to talk.
Will my child outgrow it?
Most children do. These things make it more likely that stuttering will continue:
Tick any that apply to your child.
How to help at home
- Pay attention to what your child says, not how they say it.
- Give them time to finish. Don’t rush them, even if they are stuttering.
- Let them finish what they are saying. Don’t finish their words or interrupt them.
- Speak slowly and calmly yourself, and pause for a second before you answer.
- Set aside a few minutes each day for relaxed, one-on-one talking time.
- Keep a patient, accepting attitude, even when talking is hard.
- If your child brings up their stuttering, talk about it openly and kindly.
We evaluate and treat stuttering in children, teens, and adults. Learn about our speech and language therapy.
When to talk to a speech-language pathologist
- Your child has been stuttering for more than a year.
- Stuttering is happening more often, or with more tension or struggle.
- Your child avoids talking, or swaps words to keep from stuttering.
- Any of the risk factors above apply to your child.
You don't need to wait and see. We offer free phone consultations: talk with one of our speech-language pathologists about what you're hearing and whether an assessment makes sense.
Call 617-419-0424 or email hello@tlcspeechtherapy.com.
Sources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Stuttering and Cluttering.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health. Stuttering.
- Stuttering Foundation. Risk Factors; If You Think Your Child Is Stuttering.