Stammering can also be known as ‘stuttering’ or ‘dysfluency’. Stammering is a common childhood difficulty and is where there is a disruption in the flow of speech. Children typically stammer between the ages of 2-6 years and 10% of children will stammer in early childhood. However, only 1% of children will continue to stammer as they get older.
Stammering may include:
- Increased use of hesitations or pauses
- Increased use of filler words such ‘err’ and ‘umm’
- Repetition of whole words, syllables or sounds e.g. It’s a It’s a It’s a lorry, I saw a bu bu bu butterfly, I want to p p play.
- Stretching out of beginning sounds (prolongations) e.g. hey its mmmmine.
- Blocking, where the words or sound don’t seem to come out at all.
- Sometimes there may be extra tension or movement such as physical tension in the head or neck or a child tapping their foot.
When to refer to Speech and Language Therapy:
- If a child of any age has stammered for more than six to 12 months.
- If a child has begun stammering suddenly over the age of six years.
- If a child is stammering and there is a family history of stammering.
- If a child is becoming upset or frustrated by their stammer.
Top Tips for supporting children and young people who stammer
Do these things
- Give your child plenty of time to speak
- Give your child your full attention when speaking
- Give your child your full attention when speaking Keep your speech rate slower
- Keep your sentences short and simple
- Keep relaxed and calm
- Be sympathetic. Children can sometimes feel under less pressure once they know someone understands
- Encourage good turn-taking in conversation, encourage brothers and sisters to wait their turn to talk.
Do not do these things
- Ask lots of questions
- Correct their speech or tell them to go slower
- Interrupt them or finish sentences for them
Additional ideas
- Try keeping a diary and recording when your child stammer increases or decreases. You may spot a pattern such as stammering more at bedtime, or in the holidays
- Have a quiet time after school (a drink, look at a book or watch TV). This quiet time should last about 5-10 minutes.#
- You may have noticed your child stammers less when doing some activities. For example, playing by themselves or when singing. Build these activities into your daily routine