Stammering can be worrying for parents to hear. But with the right approach, children who stammer can grow into confident, fluent communicators. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Stammering?
Stammering (also called stuttering) is a speech disorder characterised by disruptions in the flow of speech. These can include:
- Repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words (“b-b-ball”, “I-I-I want”)
- Prolongations of sounds (“sssssnake”)
- Blocks — where the speaker gets “stuck” and no sound comes out
How Common Is Stammering?
Around 5% of children go through a period of stammering, most commonly between the ages of 2 and 5. For the majority — around 75-80% — stammering resolves naturally. However, for around 1% of the population, stammering persists into adulthood.
What Causes Stammering?
Stammering has a strong genetic component — it tends to run in families. It is not caused by anxiety, trauma, or bad parenting. However, emotional factors can influence how much a child stammers and how they feel about it.
What Can Parents Do?
The most important thing parents can do is create a communication-friendly environment at home:
- Give your child plenty of time to finish what they are saying — don’t rush or finish sentences for them
- Maintain natural eye contact and show that you are interested in what they are saying, not how they are saying it
- Reduce time pressure — slow down your own speech slightly
- Avoid drawing attention to the stammer or asking your child to “slow down” or “start again”
When to Seek Help
Seek a referral to a speech and language therapist if: the stammer has persisted for more than 6-12 months; it is getting worse rather than better; your child is showing signs of distress or avoidance; or there is a family history of persistent stammering.
Sosalin Communication Services offers specialist stammering assessment and therapy for children. Contact us to discuss your child’s needs.
Esosa Evbonaye is a paediatric speech and language therapist with specialist training in stammering.