Stuttering
Why is my child stuttering?
Childhood stuttering has been found to be related to brain activity that supports speech production. There is no direct cause for a stutter, however, it is known to run in families. Although stuttering is not caused by anxiety or stress, it can make stuttering more apparent.
How do I know if my child is stuttering?
Stutters can appear differently in different children. Often, as stuttering develops, children show signs of increased effort and struggle when trying to speak. Stutters can include;
- Repeating syllables such as “I…I…I…. want a drink”
- Repeating words such as “Where… where… where… is my drink?
- Holding their lips or tongue in one position for a while. Your child may stop talking as they attempt to start a word or sentence such as “………… can I have a drink”
- Prolonged sounds such as “wwwwwwhere is my drink”
How can I help my child to stop stuttering?
Early intervention is key in reducing stutter's impact on a child’s life. Receiving therapy by a Speech Pathologist before age 6 has been found to have the best results, however, you should contact a Speech Pathologist as soon as you notice your child is stuttering.