Childhood Stuttering

Stuttering is something that makes a lot of parents worried, but is often times just part of a child's typical development. Not every child will go through a period of stuttering (A never stuttered, but E went through a period of a few months where she could hardly get a sentence out without repeating the first word over and over). The majority of those who stutter will grow out of it after a few months. This "stuttering" is called normal disfluency.

In my experience, the normal disfluencies usually occur during a time of rapid language growth in early preschool years (ages 2-4), as if the child is attempting to use all their newly-learned language but becomes disfluent as they try to organize everything in their brain.

Stuttering is in no way an indication of intelligence, and frequently people who stutter have higher than average language skills. It is simply a neurological phenomenon that affects the output of speech.


Here are some things to consider if one of your children or a child you know begins to stutter:

Type of Stutter: Typical disfluencies are usually initial word repetitions (saying the first word in the phrase over and over before continuing). If the child is stuttering in other ways (prolonging sounds - wwwwwwwe went to the store; "blocking" - looks as if they are trying to say a word, but it seems stuck; syllable repetition - "I want bu-bu-bu-bubble gum"), it is more likely to be a concern.

Family History: If the child has a family member who stutters (and never outgrew the stuttering), they are more likely to struggle with stuttering long term.

Age at Onset and Duration: If the child begins stuttering before age 3.5, they are more likely to outgrow the stuttering (usually within 6 months).

Gender: Girls are more likely than boys to outgrow stuttering. There are also more boys than girls who stutter in the first place.

Other Factors: If the child speaks clearly otherwise and has few speech errors, they will be more likely to outgrow the stuttering. 

Here are some suggestions for responding to a child who stutters (either as a long-term issue or a short-term, normal disfluency):

Reduce the Pace: As much as possible, help the child feel unrushed. Do this by slowing your own rate of speech, allowing enough time for them to talk and complete tasks, and organizing your day so there is less stress on quick performance.

Listen: Show the child you are really listening to the content of their message, not the disfluencies.

Reduce Questions: Reduce the number of questions you ask in succession.

Modeling: Use FHE or other opportunities to model appropriate turn taking with family members in conversation. Teach other children how to be patient and let the child who is struggling with disfluencies finish a thought. This is one of the hardest things for other kids!

Special Time: Set aside time to do something of the child's choice so they feel safe and loved by you. Reduced stress usually decreases stuttering.

For some fantastic information (including parent-friendly pamphlets and articles), check out the Stuttering Foundation website.