Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects the normal flow of speech. This condition presents as repetitions, prolongations in sounds, syllables, or words, and blocks (when no sound comes out for a period of time). Children may also present with physical symptoms such as blinking or head or body movements when trying to talk. There are two common forms of stuttering include:
1) Developmental
- The most common form of stuttering.
- Usually appears between the ages of 2 to 4.
- Occurs when there is a gap between a child’s speech and language abilities and their verbal demands.
2) Neurogenic
- An acquired form of stuttering that occurs after a stroke, head trauma, or other type of brain injury.
When should I seek assistance with stuttering?
Most cases of developmental stuttering will resolve over time, however, we recommend booking your child in for an assessment if your child has been exhibiting symptoms for more than 6-12 months and/or their stuttering has increased in severity, or is causing emotional discomfort. Stuttering can run in families so if your child has a stutter, in addition to there being a family history of persistent developmental stuttering (i.e., stuttering into adulthood), this is also a recommended condition under which to seek an assessment.
Our Speech Pathologists are here to help
Patches’ team of Speech Pathologists are highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of stuttering and other speech disorders. Our Speech Pathologists can conduct an assessment of your child, and develop evidence-based intervention programs that assist children and their caregivers through their communication journey.
To learn more about our Speech Pathology services, please click here.