Donna, I have a question for you

[PamE]

Ds2 (4yo) has recently started stuttering and dh and I aren't sure what we should do. It started after he'd been attending preschool for about two months. Could it be just a phase? We thought maybe he might be unconsciously mimicking a friend at school, but don't want to just wait around if all stuttering needs to be checked out.

[SpeechMom]

I had an allegy attack yesterday, and I'm still a little woozie, but let's see what I can remember. We don't generally diagnose a child under the age of 5 as a person who stutters because dysfluencies are so common due to the rapid pace of language acquisition in that age range. Also certain types of dysfluencies are more indicative of stuttering than others. Are you hearing mostly phrase repetitions, sound/syllable repetitions, or whole word repetitions? Are there any blocks (instances where he wants to say something, but can't)? Any revisions (realizes he's about to stutter on a word, so he revises what he's saying mid sentence to avoid the word)? Any concomitant behaviors (arm movements, facial ticks) during a dysfluent period? Is he more dysfluent in certain situations than others (high stress, social situatuins)? What percentage of his speech is dysfluent? If you do take him for an eval, she should take a language sample and be able to answer all these questions for you with percentages. It's tempting to do a sloppy job with stuttering evals because they are so tedious and time consuming.

[AnnW]

Not a professional, but my father has/had a horrible stutter his whole life. I did for a while. (There is lots of theory it's because he was left handed and teachers tried to make him right handed.) Anyway, just from living with someone, DON'T try to correct him, help him or rush him. Let him say whatever he is saying at his own pace.

[Amy]

My old neighbor's child went through it in his pre-school days also. For him it was a faze that lasted about 6 months and would do it more when he was anxious or overly eager to say something.

[littlesista06]

My old neighbor's child went through it in his pre-school days also. For him it was a faze that lasted about 6 months and would do it more when he was anxious or overly eager to say something.

I have a boy in my 4 yr. old class that does this.

[RCT]

I have a really good friend that still suffers from stuttering when she gets really excited...like her brain goes faster than her mouth can form the words....we never speak of it, but I have noticed its only when she is really excited...

[PamE]

Sometimes he stumbles over an entire word, repeating it several times and it seems to be most frequent at the beginning of sentences. (Can, can, can I go to...) Sometimes it's over certain sounds (G-g-g-grandma). It doesn't seem to happen with whole phrases. I haven't noticed blocks where he wants to say something but can't and haven't noticed revisions, either. No arm movements, facial tics, etc. and he does have a harder time getting things out when he's excited or nervous. Our Special Ed director is a speech pathologist who worked with ds1 for years. If I take him in for an eval it will probably be with her.

We're trying to be patient (I'm not always the best at that! :blush: ) and just let him go at his own pace when he's talking. I try to get down at his level, too, in hopes to let him know I'm really listening. Dh stuttered a bit as a child and I hate the way his dad dealt with it. We're hoping it's just a phase that will pass quickly.

Hey, is stuttering hereditary? I just remembered that my 1/2 brother stutters as well. Another question... what is the difference between stuttering and stammering, or are they the same thing?

Thanks for all of your advice, I really appreciate it.

[AnnW]

My dad doesn't have any kind of tics or body movements. My god brother stutters and he does a little eye roll with his. Both of them just stutter on the first parts of words. My dad stutters on the letters L and M. And my maiden name started with an L..poor guy! when i was getting married he didn't want to say 'her mother and i' cause he was afraid he would stutter (it's the only time i have ever noticed him being self conscious about it) so he said Jean and I. It is interesting, I have seen him testify in court several times and he never stutters then.

[Diane]

My nephew stuttered when he was about 2/3 years old. When they took him in they said it was probably because of anxiety, nervousness. He had no arm movements or facial ticks either... and he did eventually outgrow it. They were told not to correct/rush him or to make a big deal about it because that would only make him more anxious/nervous... and self conscious.

[SpeechMom]

We're trying to be patient (I'm not always the best at that! :blush: ) and just let him go at his own pace when he's talking. I try to get down at his level, too, in hopes to let him know I'm really listening.


How does he feel about it? Is he aware of it? Embarrassed? Parent attitude is very important, so it's great that you're trying so hard to let him work through it.


Hey, is stuttering hereditary? I just remembered that my 1/2 brother stutters as well.


Definately maybe. :) Since we don't know what causes stuttering, we can't say that it's genetic. Here's ASHA's stance:
The exact cause of stuttering remains to be determined. Recent studies suggest that genetic factors play a role in the disorder. It is thought that many, if not most, individuals who stutter inherit traits that predispose them to develop stuttering. The exact nature of these traits is presently unclear.


Another question... what is the difference between stuttering and stammering, or are they the same thing?


Stammering is a term that's not used much anymore. Not sure what the original definition was, but it's kind of like disfluency and dysfluency. It can be argued that they have different meanings, but are mostly used interchangeably. I think.

[MaryL]

I see alot of short term type stuttering (that kids outgrow) in Kindergarten. I think kids want to say so much...and their brain works faster than their mouth can...Then the mouth has to play catch up.

Now...Donna...my question. I'm not really worried about this, but more curious. My ds (he's 10) sometimes says something...and then whispers whatever he said again. For example, he'll tell me something like, "I think the best part of the movie was the ghost coming in the door"...and then he'll sort of whisper, "in the door." It's so strange...and most people don't notice it. I must say it doesn't happen all of the time. But occasionally (not even daily, I guess), and it's been going on for over a year (maybe two). Again...he's a fast talker...and he LOVES to talk. I've kind of attributed it to the same philosophy I have about the Kindergarten "stutterer"...brain is fast...mouth can't keep up.

Have you ever heard of this?? Just curious.

[SpeechMom]

Now...Donna...my question. I'm not really worried about this, but more curious. My ds (he's 10) sometimes says something...and then whispers whatever he said again. For example, he'll tell me something like, "I think the best part of the movie was the ghost coming in the door"...and then he'll sort of whisper, "in the door." It's so strange...and most people don't notice it. I must say it doesn't happen all of the time. But occasionally (not even daily, I guess), and it's been going on for over a year (maybe two). Again...he's a fast talker...and he LOVES to talk. I've kind of attributed it to the same philosophy I have about the Kindergarten "stutterer"...brain is fast...mouth can't keep up.

Have you ever heard of this?? Just curious.

I think I remember my oldest ds doing that. Seems like he was doing it when he was saying something he wasn't sure how someone was going to react to. Kind of like a nervous habit.

[MaryL]

I think I remember my oldest ds doing that. Seems like he was doing it when he was saying something he wasn't sure how someone was going to react to. Kind of like a nervous habit.

Ooohh...I never thought of it as a nervous habit. That's possible. Hmm...that's food for thought.

Thanks!!

[PamE]

Ds's stuttering has gotten progressively worse since I posted this. :( There was a short period of time where it improved and we realize now that it was during a time when he was out sick from school. Dh and I made the decision to pull him out of preschool for a few weeks to see if we noticed a difference. This is the first week and he's greatly improved, so we've decided to pull him out for the remainder of the year. He missed the school cut-off date so he'll be attending preschool again next year anyway.

Unless he has a 100% improvement in the next month or so we're planning on having him evaluated by the school's Early Intervention program. He's started getting facial tics with his stuttering and he's regressing in his speech patterns and using one-word utterances. :(

One of the really odd things is that he hasn't asked about school once this week, where before he would ask daily if he could go. Makes me wonder if it's not all stress related. :(

[Melody]

Ds's stuttering has gotten progressively worse since I posted this. :( There was a short period of time where it improved and we realize now that it was during a time when he was out sick from school. Dh and I made the decision to pull him out of preschool for a few weeks to see if we noticed a difference. This is the first week and he's greatly improved, so we've decided to pull him out for the remainder of the year. He missed the school cut-off date so he'll be attending preschool again next year anyway.

Unless he has a 100% improvement in the next month or so we're planning on having him evaluated by the school's Early Intervention program. He's started getting facial tics with his stuttering and he's regressing in his speech patterns and using one-word utterances. :(

One of the really odd things is that he hasn't asked about school once this week, where before he would ask daily if he could go. Makes me wonder if it's not all stress related. :(

I hope you find out what's going on and find a way to help him Pam.

[Diane]

Ds's stuttering has gotten progressively worse since I posted this. :( There was a short period of time where it improved and we realize now that it was during a time when he was out sick from school. Dh and I made the decision to pull him out of preschool for a few weeks to see if we noticed a difference. This is the first week and he's greatly improved, so we've decided to pull him out for the remainder of the year. He missed the school cut-off date so he'll be attending preschool again next year anyway.

Unless he has a 100% improvement in the next month or so we're planning on having him evaluated by the school's Early Intervention program. He's started getting facial tics with his stuttering and he's regressing in his speech patterns and using one-word utterances. :(

One of the really odd things is that he hasn't asked about school once this week, where before he would ask daily if he could go. Makes me wonder if it's not all stress related. :(


I'm so glad to hear that he's improving... :)
Years and years... and years ago when my nephew was about 2-1/2, 3 years old (he's 30 now :) ) he started stuttering. My sister was concerned and brought him. They came to the conclusion it was nerves/stress... being scared/afraid. She noticed that each/every time her FIL came around, his stuttering would get worse. FIL would sit in their recliner and continually move the foot rest up and down knowing that it scared dn, but HE thought it was funny to see/watch dn freak out. Certain other things would also trigger it, sometimes even the smallest of things. When those were eliminated from his life he slowly got better until he got to the point where he was no longer doing it.

I hope you continue to see improvement. Please keep us updated!!!

[vea29]

I have a really good friend that still suffers from stuttering when she gets really excited...like her brain goes faster than her mouth can form the words....we never speak of it, but I have noticed its only when she is really excited...
I've seen many children do this....I had one that was really really bad and getting fustrated....but once we got her to slow down a bit it improved in no time.