Childhood Stuttering: What to Do If you Think Your Child is at Risk

Over three million Americans stutter and the condition can sometimes cause the person who stutters to feel frustrated or embarrassed while trying to communicate. This disorder is marked by repetitions ("W-w-w-where are we going?), prolongations of speech sounds ("Mmmmmilk"), or abnormal stopping during oral communication. The person may have their mouth in the position to speak, but does not produce any sound. After a pause, the person may make a sound, sometimes preceded by a series of interjections, such as "um" or "like."

About 20% of all children go through a phase where they exhibit signs of stuttering, with 75% recovering by late childhood. According to The Stuttering Foundation, this means that only about 1% of children require treatment for chronic stuttering.

There are several factors that are examined when determining the need for treatment for stuttering in children. None of these factors can tell how long a child will have a problem with stuttering, but a Speech and Language Pathologist can look at these factors to obtain an idea of whether or not the stuttering is likely to continue and needs treatment. Those factors include having a separate speech or developmental delay, a family history which includes stuttering, stuttering which has lasted longer than six months, and neurophysiology. Research has shown that people who stutter process language and speech in different areas of the brain than people who do not stutter. Another item the SLP may consider is how much fear and concern there is in the family and the child about the stuttering. As with any concern, early intervention is key. The Stuttering Foundation has a PDF file named, "If You Think Your Child is Stuttering" which can be downloaded here. Many speech clinics require a referral from a family physician for an evaluation. If your child is already enrolled in a public school, he or she may qualify for a speech evaluation through the special education department. Contact the principal at your child's school for more information or your family doctor.

When receiving speech therapy for stuttering, the SLP may work with the child on behavioral treatments which will improve the fluency of speech. Ways to control and self-monitor the speed of oral communication are taught. Speaking more slowly and with less physical tension can help improve disfluencies.

There are ways that people can improve communication with people who stutter. If someone who stutters feels that the person they are talking with is annoyed, impatient, uncomfortable, or frustrated it may make it more difficult for them to speak. Avoid filling in their words and sentences and give the child the time he or she needs to say what they are trying to say. Many children who stutter become frustrated and often feel more relaxed with reassurance that it's fine to get stuck on words.

Sources:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The Stuttering Foundation