Introduction: What is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder that involves repeating sounds, syllables, or words; prolonging sounds; or experiencing speech interruptions called blocks. A child who stutters knows what they want to say but struggles to produce a smooth flow of speech. These disfluencies may be accompanied by physical signs like rapid eye blinking or lip tremors. While some children eventually grow out of stuttering, it is essential to identify signs that your child is experiencing speech disfluency and determine if it is a cause for concern.
Types and Causes of Stuttering
In general, there are three types of stuttering that we know of.
- Developmental Stuttering: stuttering that occurs in young children due to various reasons
- Neurogenic Stuttering: stuttering that occurs after a patient has suffered brain damage
- Psychogenic Stuttering: stuttering that occurs as a result of psychological trauma
This blog post will focus on the first type, developmental stuttering, as it is the most common form of stuttering in children. Some clinicians believe that developmental stuttering occurs when children’s speech and language abilities are unable to meet verbal demands. Recent research has also found that genetic factors contribute to this form of stuttering, suggesting that it might run in families.
Developmental Stuttering
Developmental stuttering is also known as the Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder. It usually occurs in young children between the age of 3 to 8 years old, and approximately 5 to 10 percent of children stutter in their lifetime, lasting from a few weeks to a few years.
What are the signs that your child is stuttering?
If your child has difficulty in producing speech or has the tendency to repeat words or syllables, they might be stuttering. However, it is not always easy to differentiate disfluency that is part of normal language development from stuttering. Here are some helpful guidelines to make this process more efficient for parents.
Normal Disfluency
Some signs of normal disfluency in children include:
- Occasionally repeating syllables or words once or twice, such as “li-li-like this.”
- Pausing or using fillers like “uh,” “er,” or “um.”
- The disfluencies come and go.
- The disfluencies are most common between 1.5 and 5 years of age.
Normal disfluencies are usually a sign that the child is developing and experimenting with language in new ways. If disfluencies disappear for a while and then return, it’s often just part of another phase in their language learning journey.
Mild Stuttering
On the other hand, some signs of mild stuttering in children may include:
- Repeating sounds more than twice, such as “li-li-li-li-like this.”
- Showing signs of tension or struggle in their facial muscles, especially around the mouth.
- Voice pitch rising during repetitions.
- Occasionally experiencing a “speech block,” where no sound or airflow occurs for a few seconds.
- The disfluencies can come and go but tend to occur more frequently over time.
Severe Stuttering
Finally, here are some signs that a child might be facing severe stuttering:
- If the child stutters in about 1 in every 10 words they speak.
- Showing significant effort or tension while speaking.
- Substituting words or adding sounds to begin talking to avoid stuttering, e.g.:
- Substituting words: Instead of saying, “I want to go to the park,” the child might say, “I want to go to the playground,” because they anticipate stuttering on the word “park.”
- Adding sounds: The child might say, “Uh-uh-uh I want to go to the park,” using fillers like “uh” to ease into their speech.
- Substituting words: Instead of saying, “I want to go to the park,” the child might say, “I want to go to the playground,” because they anticipate stuttering on the word “park.”
- Sound prolonging of consonants and vowels, e.g.:
- Consonant prolongation: “Ssssam went to the store.”
- Vowel prolongation: “I waaaant a cookie.”
- Consonant prolongation: “Ssssam went to the store.”
- Speech blocks may occur often.
- The disfluencies are likely noticeable in most speaking situations.
If you find that your child’s stuttering problem is causing them anxiety and significant interference in the key aspects of their life, such as effective communication, social participation, academic or occupational performance, or their quality of life in general, do feel free to reach out to a speech therapist.
What can you do to support your child who stutters?
Young children may benefit from early intervention to prevent developmental stuttering from becoming a persistent lifelong problem. Here are some tips that you can employ to support your child’s development of fluent speech:
- Create a calm and supportive home environment with plenty of opportunities for your child to speak. Dedicate time to meaningful conversations, especially when they’re eager to share.
- Pay close attention to what your child is saying without interrupting or focusing on how they say it. Let them feel heard and valued.
- Use a slower, more relaxed speaking style to ease any pressure your child might feel while talking.
- Be patient when your child speaks, allowing them to finish their thoughts without completing their sentences. Encourage them to communicate confidently, even if stuttering happens.
The most common treatment for stuttering is speech therapy, where a speech therapist may work on skills such as improving your child’s speech fluency, developing effective communication, and promoting active participation in school, work, and social activities.
Conclusion
If your child stutters, it’s natural to feel concerned, but understanding the signs and providing a supportive environment can make a significant difference. While many children outgrow developmental stuttering, others may benefit from early intervention and professional support to prevent long-term challenges. By fostering a patient, calm, and encouraging atmosphere, you can help your child build confidence and develop fluent speech at their own pace. Remember, reaching out to a speech therapist when necessary can provide your child with the resources they need to thrive in their communication and daily life.
References
Guitar, B., Conture, E. G. (n.d.). If You Think Your Child Is Stuttering. The Stuttering Foundation.
https://www.stutteringhelp.org/if-you-think-your-child-stuttering?gclid=CjwKCAjwtfqKBhBoEiwAZuesiJUEaijG9mNcP0TjvkS3GzahWuTwbB0p1U4yfHYp6-0_MD_c3VizvxoCEo4QAvD_BwE
Psych DB. (2021, March 29). Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering).
https://www.psychdb.com/child/communication/childhood-onset-fluency-disorder
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Stuttering. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/stuttering
