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I Think My Child is Stuttering. Now what?

by Megan Zielinski, Speech-Language Pathologist, MA, CCC-SLP
September 6, 2024

It's important to note that some disfluency is normal – developmental stuttering most commonly develops in preschool-age children (between 2-5 years of age) as language skills grow exponentially.

Before we dive in, let's review some important definitions of fluency and stuttering. Understanding these terms can help you determine whether intervention is necessary.

What is Fluency and Stuttering?

Fluency is a continuum that refers to an individual’s ability to smoothly and easily transition between sounds, syllables, and words. Fluency encompasses various aspects of speech such as rhythm (prosody), pace (speaking rate), intonation, and effort.

Stuttering is characterized by a high frequency/duration of involuntary stoppages in the flow of speech. Core behaviors of stuttering include:

  • Repetitions of a sound, syllable, or single-syllable words
    • e.g., “I-I-I-I-I want macaroni, please.”
  • Prolongation of a sound
    • e.g., “I want mmmmmacaroni, please.”
  • Block of airflow or block in the voicing of speech
    • e.g., “I want ….macaroni, please.”

Secondary characteristics may develop as an attempt to compensate for disfluent speech. Secondary characteristics may present as avoidance behaviors (e.g., choosing words that will not be stuttered, speaking avoidance), or escape behaviors (e.g., looking away, facial grimace, tapping or rocking of the body, excess tension, head movements, etc.) Some individuals who stutter may also experience negative emotions associated with disfluencies such as fear, shame, or embarrassment.

"Approximately 5% of preschool-aged children stutter. Of those children, approximately 2.5% will continue to stutter as they age."

Is Stuttering Common?

Developmental stuttering is most commonly developed in preschool-age children (between 2-5 years of age) as language skills are growing exponentially. Approximately 5% of preschool-aged children stutter. Of those children, approximately 2.5% will continue to stutter as they age. Approximately 1% of adults stutter.

Who's at Risk?

Although there is no known cause of stuttering, certain factors are known to put an individual at a higher risk, including:

  • Genetics/heredity
    • Having a family member who stuttered increases risk.
  • Gender
    • In preschool-age children, stuttering is relatively equally common between males and females; however, males are more likely to experience stuttering that persists after that timeframe.
  • Traumatic events
    • Trauma such as divorce, moving, abuse, etc. can result in an onset of developmental stuttering or an increase in disfluencies.

"If you’re concerned about your child’s fluency, seek professional guidance from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Providing treatment early can prevent the stutter from developing into a more serious condition later."

Is There a Cure for Stuttering?

Unfortunately, no, not yet. Be wary of scams that claim to “cure” stuttering. While there is no cure, there are certain factors that are known to have more positive outcomes, including:

  • Having family members who have recovered from stuttering
  • Early age of onset
    • Before age 3
  • Recovery within 18 months of onset
  • Strong language and communication skills
  • Early intervention
    • The “wait and see” approach can be detrimental to future success. If you’re concerned about your child’s fluency, seek professional guidance from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Providing treatment early can prevent the stutter from developing into a more serious condition later.

Tips for Parents with Young Children Who Stutter

  • Assure your child that you are listening closely to what they say, no matter how long it takes.
    • Use positive body language and facial expressions to show your interest.
  • Allow for adequate response time during a conversation.
    • The less pressure a child feels to respond quickly, the better he/she will feel.
  • Ask fewer questions.
  • Decrease communicative demands.
  • Be mindful of the environment.
    • A stressful, chaotic, and fast-paced environment may result in increased disfluencies.
    • Find time to escape everyday stresses and responsibilities by taking time out of a busy day to attend to and converse with your child.
    • Model a slower rate of speech.
  • Do not finish your child’s sentences for them or interrupt them when they are speaking.
  • Avoid phrases such as “slow down,” “take a breath,” or “stop and start again,” which are generally not helpful and may increase anxiety surrounding stuttered speech.
  • Build their confidence in communication and self-esteem!
    • Try focusing on who they are and what they’re communicating, as opposed to how they’re communicating it.
  • If your child is aware of their stuttering, it may be beneficial to connect them with others who stutter through support groups to feel less alone and discuss emotions and experiences.

When to Seek Help

If you have concerns related to your child’s ability to speak fluently at any age or stage, get connected with an SLP as soon as possible. An SLP will conduct an evaluation that could include parent/child interviews, conduction of a language sample during play or other tasks, a reading sample (if able), etc. If additional services are warranted, therapy may include:

  • Providing a safe space to learn more about stuttering and discussing strategies for managing disfluencies
  • Learning and practicing fluency-enhancing strategies and stuttering-modification techniques
  • Building self-advocacy and awareness of being a person who stutters, but is not defined by stuttering

Please contact The Center if you have concerns about your child’s speech and language skills. Early intervention can prevent issues from developing into a more serious condition later.

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