HealthInfo Canterbury
Stuttering in children
Stuttering, or stammering, is an interruption to the flow of your speech that you can't control. It can happen in different ways, such as:
- repeating sounds ("W w w where is my book?")
- repeating words ("Give give give it to me")
- prolongations, or stretching sounds ("That ffffffffish is swimming")
- blocks, or pauses ("I – I like ice cream").
We don't know exactly what causes stuttering, but we think it is caused by difficulties in the part of the brain that produces speech. It may also be partly genetic, as stuttering often runs in families.
Around 5 to 10% of preschool children will stutter. Stuttering usually develops when children are aged between 2 and 4. But every child goes through a period of what is called "normal non-fluency" that can be mistaken for stuttering.
In normal non-fluency, children who are learning to talk and starting to combine words into short sentences repeat whole words, for example "and and..." or "because because..." While this can be worrying, it's not the same as stuttering.
Generally, if there is a family history of stuttering, or if the non-fluency continues for more than three months, seek the advice of a speech-language therapist.
Diagnosing stuttering in children
Only a qualified speech-language therapist or paediatrician can diagnose stuttering. There is no simple test your doctor can use.
Treating stuttering in children
Some children recover naturally from stuttering. Several treatment approaches are available for those who don't, and your speech-language therapist will choose the best one to meet your child's needs.
Helping your child with stuttering
There are several things you can do to help your child communicate clearly:
- Focus on what your child is saying, not on how they are saying it.
- Unless your speech-language therapist specifically asks you to, don't tell your child to stop, slow down or take a breath, or make any similar comments. This can bring unnecessary attention to the stuttering.
- Give your child time to speak.
- Don't interrupt your child.
- Don't speak for your child, or let other children speak for them.
- If your child expresses frustration, for example "Mummy, I can't get my words out!", acknowledge their frustration but don't tell them what to say or how to say it.
- Learn more about stuttering by visiting the START (Stuttering Treatment and Research Trust) website.
Getting more help for stuttering in children
- Make sure your child sees a qualified speech-language therapist. If your child is aged under 5 you can refer them to the Ministry of Education's Early Intervention Service. If your child is over 5 your school will have to refer them to the Ministry of Education's Communication Service. There may be a waiting list and not all children may be eligible.
You can contact the ministry's Christchurch office by phone on (03) 378‑7300.
You may wish to pay to see a private speech-language therapist. You can search for a therapist on the Speech-language Therapists' Association website.
- Contact START. START aims to increase awareness of stuttering, and to accurately assess and provide best-practice treatment for children, young people and adults who stutter. It's based in Auckland, but offers consultations by telephone and Skype.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering – What is stammering?
Information about the characteristics of stammering (stuttering).
- Stuttering Foundation
Information and resources for children, teenagers and adults. It includes a page of free e-books you can download.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2021.
Review key: HISCD-79694
