What is Stuttering?
Stuttering occurs when a person knows what they want to say but experiences disruptions in their speech fluency. These disruptions may include one or more of the following:
- Repeated Movements: Repeating sounds, words, or phrases (e.g., “I-I-I want…”).
- Fixed Postures: where the mouth, lips or jaw stop moving during speech. This can look like stretching out sounds (e.g., “Caaaaaaan I have….?”) or ‘freezing’ with no sound coming out (also known as ‘blocking’)
- Additional Behaviours: such as inserting extra words that don’t add meaning (e.g. um, um, um, oh well, oh well…) or non-verbal movements/non-speech sounds (e.g. blinking, grimacing, grunts, changes in pitch/volume, facial/head/body movements or breath holding)
Key Facts About Stuttering
- Causes: While the exact cause is unknown, stuttering is thought to be a physical disorder linked to brain activity. It is not psychological and has no connection to intelligence.
- While it might seem more prominent when your child is excited, nervous or tired, these are not thought to be the underlying causes of stuttering.
- Family Ties: Stuttering often runs in families, with many individuals reporting a relative who stutters.
- Prevalence: About 10% of children start stuttering between ages 2 and 5, when they begin forming sentences.
- Patterns: Stuttering can emerge gradually or suddenly and may vary in severity.
- Recovery: While some children recover naturally, most won’t “grow out” of stuttering, especially boys, who are four times more likely than girls to stutter by age five.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Because predicting natural recovery is difficult, early intervention is crucial. The earlier a child receives support, the better their outcomes are likely to be.
The Impact of Stuttering on Children
Stuttering can affect a child’s social interactions, self-esteem, and willingness to communicate. Research highlights that children who stutter:
- Are often aware of their stutter, which may lead to self-consciousness.
- May face teasing, mocking, or being ignored by peers.
- Could avoid speaking or engaging in play with others.
- Might struggle to convey their thoughts clearly.
Intervention Options
The good news is that there are effective interventions available. The main program used to treat stuttering in Australia is the Lidcombe Program, as it is backed by large amounts of research. This program has been designed specifically for children that are younger than six, although it has been shown to be effective with school-aged children. It involves parents working with their child at home, guided by a speech pathologist, and has two distinct stages:
- Stage 1: Where the stuttering is stopped or decreased.
- Stage 2: Where the therapy gains are maintained.
When to Seek Help
If your child begins to stutter, don’t wait—schedule a speech pathology assessment as soon as possible. Early intervention leads to the best results.
Where to Find Help
Speech pathologists are trained to assess and treat stuttering. In addition to private practices, like Chatterbox, you can find them in community health centres and hospitals. Contact your local Chatterbox clinic to learn more today. (Link to the clinic details tab of the website) Alternatively you can find out more about our assessment process here: (Link to the assessment tab of the website)
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
- The Australian Stuttering Research Centre: University of Technology Sydney,
Ph: (02) 9514 5314 https://www.uts.edu.au/research/australian-stuttering-research-centre
- The Stuttering Unit: Bankstown Hospital,
Ph: (02) 9780 2788 https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/bankstown/stuttering/default.htm
- Communication Disorders Treatment & Research Clinic: University of Sydney,
Ph: (02) 9351 9539 https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/schools/sydney-school-of-health-sciences/discipline-of-speech-pathology/speech-clinic.html
How to Support a Child Who Stutters?
Supporting your child at home can make a big difference. Here are some helpful tips:
- Focus on the Message: Communicate with your child as you would with any child. Focus on what your child says, not how they say it.
- Be Patient: Let them finish their thoughts without rushing or interrupting.
- Maintain Eye Contact: Show you’re listening and engaged.
- How to Respond: Unless you are doing homework, do not draw attention to any stutters your child produces. When they do stutter, encourage them to slow down, and then repeat their sentence back smoothly e.g. Child: “It’s…it’s…it’s a fish”. Parent: “Yes, it is a fish”
- Address Teasing: Ensure your child feels safe and supported by addressing any teasing or mocking.
By creating a positive and understanding environment, you can help your child navigate stuttering with confidence and ease. Early intervention, combined with your support, can make all the difference.