How does stuttering present in children?

Many kindergarten‑aged children stutter from time to time when they are excited or distracted, or when the words do not come quickly enough. It is only considered stuttering as a speech disorder when speech becomes uncontrollably disrupted and the child cannot finish a word despite concentration and effort.

Speech therapists identify three core symptoms of childhood stuttering:

• Involuntary repetitions of syllables (Ma‑ma‑ma‑maus)

• Uncontrolled prolongation of sounds (Mmmmmmmaus)

• Speech blocks in which the articulatory movement completely stops (- - - - -maus)

These symptoms are often accompanied by additional physical signs as a reaction to the loss of control when speaking:

• A raised voice or whispering

• Facial grimacing or visible effort when speaking

• Strong movements of the arms and hands while speaking

• Avoidance strategies such as rephrasing words, abandoning a sentence, or completely avoiding situations where speaking is required

• Many parents only notice something is wrong because of these accompanying signs.

What causes stuttering in children?

Why does my child stutter? The belief that stuttering is caused by trauma, a lack of language support or other parental failings is fairly common but unfounded. Experts assume that stuttering is innate and not caused by upbringing or life experiences.

Facts and figures about stuttering

• Studies indicate that around 5% of all children stutter – in most cases the speech disorder is temporary and occurs in the preschool and early primary school years

• Boys stutter more often than girls

• In 80–85% of affected children the stuttering stops on its own at some point; the remaining 15–20% stutter for life

• Stuttering typically begins between the ages of two and five

• The severity of stuttering varies among children and can range from mild repetitions to severe blocks with marked accompanying symptoms

• Stuttering often occurs depending on the situation, for example when children are excited or in an unfamiliar environment

• Stuttering cannot be prevented or predicted, but it can be managed effectively with individually tailored speech therapy

My child stutters – how can I support them?

• Do not ignore: Most children are well aware of their speech difficulties and of feeling 'different'. Parents who keep the problem quiet and hope it will go away often increase their child's insecurity. Better: address the stuttering openly and with understanding, and inform carers, friends and teachers.

• Boost self-confidence: For children who stutter, speaking and telling stories becomes a challenge. Parents should encourage their children by listening attentively, responding to what is said and focusing more on the content than on the form. "You are fine the way you are" is the most important message to the child.

• Time to speak: If given enough time and calm, children who stutter will finish their sentences – and this is an important success. Parents should be very patient and should never complete their child's sentences.

• Speech therapy: The earlier a child begins speech therapy, the better the chances of gaining long-term control over stuttering. Parents should be involved in the therapy to learn how best to manage their child's stuttering. There are various therapeutic approaches that paediatricians as well as speech therapists can advise on.

Image credits

Young mother does pronunciation exercises with daughter © fizkes - stock.adobe.com

Little girl playfully practices oral motor skills at home © Julija -stock.adobe.com

Little boy at a speech therapy session © kasto - stock.adobe.com

Speech therapist and little girl train motor speech skills © Julija -stock.adobe.com