My child is still stammering

My nine-year-old son is still stammering despite the assurance given to us by our family doctor that his condition will improve as he grows older. Catherine V. Thanks Catherine for your question. “Stammering or stuttering is a speech disorder in which the person repeats or prolongs words, syllables or phrases. The person with a stutter […]

My nine-year-old son is still stammering despite the assurance given to us by our family doctor that his condition will improve as he grows older.

Catherine V.

Thanks Catherine for your question. “Stammering or stuttering is a speech disorder in which the person repeats or prolongs words, syllables or phrases. The person with a stutter (or stammer) may also stop during speech and make no sound for certain syllables. 

People who stutter often find that stress and fatigue make it harder for them to talk flowingly, as well as situations in which they become self-conscious about speaking, such as public speaking or teaching. Most people who stutter find that their problem eases if they are relaxed.”

Stuttering is common when children are learning to speak. However, the majority of kids grow out of this stage of initial stuttering. For some, however, the problem persists and requires some kind of professional help, such as speech therapy. 

Signs and symptoms

1. Problems starting a word, phrase or sentence.

2. Hesitation before certain sounds have to be uttered.

3. Repeating a sound, word or syllable.

4. Certain speech sounds may be prolonged.

5. Speech may come out in spurts.

6. Words with certain sounds are substituted for others (circumlocution).

7. Rapid blinking (when trying to talk).

8. Trembling lips (when trying to talk).

9. Foot may tap (when trying to talk). 

10. Trembling jaw (when trying to talk). 

11. Face and/or upper body tightens up (when trying to talk).

12. Some may appear out of breath when talking.

13. Interjection, such as “uhm” used more frequently before attempting to utter certain sounds.

What causes the condition? 

• Developmental stuttering – As children learn to speak they often stutter, especially early on when their speech and language skills are not developed enough to race along at the same speed as what they want to say.  

• Neurogenic stuttering – When the signals between the brain and speech nerves and muscles are not working properly. This may affect children, but may also affect adults after a stroke or some brain injury. In rare cases neurogenic stuttering results in lesions (abnormal tissue) in the motor speech area of the brain. 

• Psychological factors – It used to be believed that the main reasons for long-term stuttering were psychological. Fortunately, this is not the case anymore. Psychological factors may make stuttering worse for people who stutter, such as stress, embarrassment, etc, but they are not generally seen as underlying long-term factors. In other words, anxiety, low self-esteem, nervousness, and stress therefore do not cause stuttering per se.  

What are the risk factors? 

• Family history – approximately half of all children who have a stutter that persists beyond the developmental stage of language have a close family member who stutters.  

• A child who starts stuttering before three years of age is less likely to be stuttering later on in life. The earlier the stuttering starts the less likely it is to continue long-term. 

• Time since stuttering started – about three-quarters of all young children who stutter will stop doing so with one or two years without speech therapy. The longer the stuttering continues the more likely it is that the problem will become long-term without professional help (and even with professional help). 

• Sex of the person – long-term stuttering is four times more common among boys than girls. 

When to seek professional help

Parents should consider visiting their doctors when: 

1. The child’s stuttering has persisted for over six months.

2. When the stuttering occurs more frequently.

3. When it is accompanied with tightness of the facial and upper body muscles.

4. When it interferes with the child’s schoolwork.

5. When it causes emotional difficulties, such as fear of places or situations.

6. When it persists after the child is five years old.

A good evaluation (diagnosis) is vital as this determines what the best treatment might be. 

Treatments for people who stutter tend to be aimed at teaching the person skills, strategies and behaviours that help oral communication.