Stuttering

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Children and stuttering; Speech disfluency; Stammering

There is no one best treatment for stuttering. Most early cases are short-term and resolve on their own.

Speech therapy may be helpful if:

• Stuttering has lasted more than 3 - 6 months, or the "blocked" speech lasts several seconds
• The child appears to be struggling when stuttering, or is embarrassed
• There is a family history of stuttering

Speech therapy can help make the speech more fluent or smooth, and can help the child feel better about the stuttering.

Parents are encouraged to:

• Avoid expressing too much concern about the stuttering, which can actually make matters worse by making the child more self-conscious
• Avoid stressful social situations whenever possible
• Listen patiently to the child, make eye contact, don't interrupt, and show love and acceptance. Avoid finishing sentences for them.
• Set aside time for talking
• Talk openly about stuttering when the child brings it up, letting them know you understand their frustration
• Talk with the speech therapist about when to gently correct the stuttering

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Drug therapy has NOT been shown to be helpful for stuttering.

It is not clear whether electronic devices help with stuttering.

Self-help groups are often helpful for both the child and family.

In most children who stutter, the phase passes and speech returns to normal within 3 or 4 years. Stuttering that begins after a child is 8 - 10 years old is more likely to last into adulthood.

Possible complications of stuttering include social problems caused by the fear of ridicule, which may make a child avoid speaking entirely.

Call your provider if:

• Stuttering is interfering with your child's school work or emotional development
• The child seems anxious or embarrassed about speaking
• The symptoms last for more than 3 - 6 months

Review Date: 05/13/2010
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).