A person may experience moments of dysfluency in their speech. This can be defined as stuttering. These interruptions can disrupt a child’s speech rhythm. This can interrupt their fluency and their ability to communicate. A child’s stuttering can also show in their speed, pitch, volume, and patterns of emphasis. It can also affect their pronunciation, facial expression, and posture.
Stuttering in a child’s speech typically starts at age 2-3. This is when their vocabulary grows. They start talking in longer, complex sentences.
It is different from many other speech and language disorders at that age. It can start (overnight in some cases) after a period of normal speech and language growth.
Stuttering may decrease. It may stay cyclic or change in appearance. It can become more severe soon after it starts. Some children may recover from stuttering on their own, but we don’t know the exact rate or time of recovery. Some children may show signs of effort and struggle while talking.
Some children may recover from stuttering without treatment. This usually happens in the first 6-12 months after onset, but we can’t always tell if a particular child will improve without support.
It is important to see a speech pathologist soon after you notice a child’s stuttering. The speech pathologist will do an assessment and give you advice tailored to you.
It’s best to start treatment soon after stuttering starts in a preschooler. They should finish before they start school. The aim of treatment before age 5 is to stop
stuttering. The aim after age 5 is usually to lessen or control stuttering.