What Is Stuttering In Children?

  • Zena M. Ali M.B.Ch.B - University of Al Mustansyiriah college of medicine, Iraq
  • Sungbeen Lee BSc Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Toronto

Get health & wellness advice into your inbox

Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers. If you do not agree to these placements, please do not provide the information.

Best Milk Alternative

Most of us probably have had a friend or a relative with some sort of speech problem. They may pronounce a certain word or letter in an unusual way, bringing them some sort of unwanted attention. In this article, we will talk about stuttering, a form of speech disorder, and we will explore how it differs from other forms of speech defects and what can be done to manage it. If you are like me, and there’s someone you want to help through with this problem, this article can offer a headstart on this topic.

Introduction

What is stuttering and how it differ from normal disfluencies

Stuttering, also called stammering, is a speech problem where a person repeats sounds, syllables, or words, stretches out sounds, or experiences pauses known as blocks. Someone who stutters knows exactly what they want to say but struggles to speak smoothly. Stuttering can make talking to others hard, often impacting a person's daily life and relationships.4 Although in most cases it resolves with time, it’s important to identify and manage it early to avoid these undesirable outcomes.

Stuttering vs other disfluencies 

It is important to differentiate stuttering from normal disfluencies that may be seen in children as they start to learn how to talk, these may look like Interjection, which means adding a sound or a word like “Um. Repeating a whole word or a whole phrase, grammatical errors or forgetting to finish a sentence are examples of normal errors that happen because the language centre is still learning.3

On the other hand, stuttering looks a bit similar but is not the same. Sentences may have a repetition of one syllable or one letter of a word like “H-h-h-h- hello” or a prolonged sound like “n-n-n-nice “ or sometimes there's a pause in the middle of the sentence like “I want ( pause ) cake”.These interruptions in speech can come with physical signs like quick eye blinks or trembling lips.3

Situations that may worsen stuttering in a child 

Emotions and attitudes can influence stuttering. For instance, feelings of frustration or tension can lead to more speech disruptions. Additionally, they might stutter more if they are teased or if their speech is highlighted by others.3

Moreover, young children are more likely to stutter when they have a lot to say, are excited, are talking about something important to them, or want to ask a question. It may worsen if a child feels self-conscious about their speech and tries hard to stop the stuttering.1

Other situations that may also pressure the child to stutter, such as:1

  • Talking to an authority figure like a teacher
  • Speaking in front of the class
  • Reading out loud
  • Talking on the phone
  • Saying their name during school roll call

Why is it important to be aware of stuttering in children

Stuttering is most common in kids aged 2 to 6 when they are learning to speak. About 5 to 10 per cent of children will experience stuttering at some point, which can last from a few weeks to several years. Additionally, boys are 2 to 3 times more likely to stutter than girls, and this gap widens with age, with boys continuing to stutter at a rate three to four times higher than girls. Most kids outgrow stuttering, with about 75 per cent recovering. However, for the remaining 25 per cent, stuttering can become a lifelong issue.3

Although the majority of kids will outgrow it naturally, it is beneficial to identify and manage stuttering as soon as possible to prevent it from continuing into adulthood. This is because this could lead to social problems like low self-esteem, limited school performance and participation in social activities, and reduce their chances of certain jobs. This becomes a very high price to pay for a manageable condition.2

What causes stuttering, and when to be alarmed?

Genetic and environmental causes

The exact cause of stuttering is still unknown, but there are possible associations suggested. The two most important ones are family history and brain differences, where it’s common for someone who stutters in childhood to have a kid who also stutters, and stutterers may have differences in how their brains process and learn language and speech.2 Interestingly, in 2010 researchers were able to identify up to four genetic mutations associated with the condition.4

It is widely believed that there are environmental factors that may contribute to the development of stuttering in children, but science says otherwise. In a study that compared families with stutterers and non-stutterers, researchers were unable to prove a link between anxiety levels, parental behaviours and family attitudes towards stuttering with the emergence of the condition,5 so for all the parents feeling guilty, it is not your fault!

Who is at risk of continuing to stutter?

There are some risks, nevertheless, that point to which a child may continue to stutter. For instance, boys are more likely to have it and continue to stutter than girls, those who started at an age older than 3.5 years, and those with family members who continued to stutter in adulthood are at higher risk.3

When to see a professional and how do they test stuttering?

Time to take action!

It’s natural for parents to worry about their kid's stuttering and there are few signs to look out for that warrant visiting a speech therapist early to prevent the progression of stuttering. 

  • If stuttering started later than three and half years
  • If they stutter longer than 6 to 12 months
  • An increase in frequency or intensity of stuttering 
  • Family history of an adult stutterer
  • The child struggles when talking or starts to avoid talking

It is important to keep in mind that actions taken early will help the child manage his speech and prevent forthcoming social and academic complications.3

What’s likely to happen at your first session?

In order to confirm that the child stutters and does not just have a normal dysfluency, an SLP or speech and language pathologist, will take notes on things like when the condition started, how long and severe has the symptoms been, and any family history of similar conditions 

They will also likely look into the type of defect in the child's speech, how they react to themselves when they stutter and if and how they attempt to fix the error in speech. 

The therapist will also seek to know how this condition is affecting the child’s life like playing with other kids or going to school. More importantly, they will chat with the kids to examine how they understand the conversation and express themselves to ensure that there is no overlapping communication problem.3 

Treatment and management

While there is no definite cure for stuttering, there are many ways to manage or train the brain and the vocal articulation system to utter words properly. These lines of management differ in the degree of the condition and the age of the child. 

Therapy for children

Early intervention is critical in helping the child overcome stuttering. In fact, most if not all interventions can be done at home efficiently with recommended evaluations every 3 months to monitor changes in stuttering.

Therapies often teach methods to minimize stuttering, such as speaking slowly, regulating breathing, and gradually increasing speech complexity. Addressing anxiety in speaking situations is also a key component.

Strategies for parents

  • Create a Relaxed Environment: Provide ample opportunities for the child to speak, especially during calm times
  • Attentive Listening: Focus on what the child is saying, not how they are saying it. Avoid interruptions
  • Slow and Relaxed Speech: Speak slowly to reduce the child's time pressures
  • Patience: Wait for the child to finish their words. Avoid completing sentences for them
  • Open Communication: Discuss stuttering openly if the child mentions it, reassuring them that occasional disruptions are okay

Other strategies

Drug Therapy: No drugs are specifically approved for stuttering by the FDA. Some medications for epilepsy, anxiety, or depression have been used but often come with challenging side effects for long-term use.

Tools for Fluency: Electronic devices can aid fluency by replaying a slightly altered version of the user's voice. While they may provide short-term benefits, more research is needed to understand their long-term effectiveness and practicality in everyday life.

Self-Help Groups and Resources: Many find success through a mix of self-study and therapy. Self-help groups offer valuable resources and support, helping individuals manage the challenges of stuttering.4

Conclusion

Stuttering is a speech disorder where individuals struggle with smooth speech, often repeating sounds, syllables, or words, stretching out sounds, or experiencing pauses. Unlike normal speech disruptions that occur as children learn to talk, stuttering can significantly impact daily life and relationships. Identifying and managing stuttering early is crucial to prevent long-term effects.

Early treatment can prevent stuttering from becoming a lifelong issue. It's important for children to be evaluated if they have stuttered for 3 to 6 months, show struggling behaviours, or have a family history of stuttering. Parents can create a supportive environment by speaking slowly, listening attentively, and discussing stuttering openly if the child brings it up. These strategies can help improve speech fluency and build positive communication attitudes.

Awareness of stuttering and its impact is essential, especially since it most commonly affects children aged 2 to 6. While most kids outgrow stuttering, early intervention can prevent it from continuing into adulthood, which can lead to social and academic challenges. Understanding the difference between normal disfluencies and stuttering, recognizing when to seek professional help, and utilizing therapy and support groups can significantly improve outcomes for children who stutter.

References

  1. “Stammering.” Nhs.Uk, 23 Oct. 2017, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stammering/.
  2. Stuttering in Children. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stuttering. Accessed 20 May 2024.
  3. “Stuttering.” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering/. Accessed 20 May 2024.
  4. What Is Stuttering? Diagnosis & Treatment | NIDCD. 6 Mar. 2017, https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/stuttering.
  5. Cox, N. J., et al. “Some Environmental Factors and Hypotheses for Stuttering in Families with Several Stutterers.” Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, vol. 27, no. 4, Dec. 1984, pp. 543–48. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1044/jshr.2704.543.

Get health & wellness advice into your inbox

Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers. If you do not agree to these placements, please do not provide the information.

Best Milk Alternative
[optin-monster-inline slug="yw0fgpzdy6fjeb0bbekx"]
This content is purely informational and isn’t medical guidance. It shouldn’t replace professional medical counsel. Always consult your physician regarding treatment risks and benefits. See our editorial standards for more details.

Get our health newsletter

Get daily health and wellness advice from our medical team.
Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to this website may be placed by us on our servers. If you do not agree do not provide the information.

Zena M. Tabatabaee

M.B.Ch.B - University of Al Mustansyiriah college of medicine, Iraq

Zena Is a Doctor with several years of experience in clinical medicine having worked in a number of hospitals and exposed to a wide variety of cases and patient population, that along with few years of medical education experiences during college.

my.klarity.health presents all health information in line with our terms and conditions. It is essential to understand that the medical information available on our platform is not intended to substitute the relationship between a patient and their physician or doctor, as well as any medical guidance they offer. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any decisions based on the information found on our website.
Klarity is a citizen-centric health data management platform that enables citizens to securely access, control and share their own health data. Klarity Health Library aims to provide clear and evidence-based health and wellness related informative articles. 
Email:
Klarity / Managed Self Ltd
Alum House
5 Alum Chine Road
Westbourne Bournemouth BH4 8DT
VAT Number: 362 5758 74
Company Number: 10696687

Phone Number:

 +44 20 3239 9818