What Causes Stuttering?
by jmmillerAlthough many children stutter between ages 2 and 5, for some children the problem is one that could last throughout their lives. Parents may worry that their children will be teased or made fun of because of this common speech impediment.
When children first begin to speak, between 18 and 24 months, stuttering is a very common issue. However, at this age, stuttering does not indicate a life long speech problem. The stuttering may come and go over a period of a few weeks to several months. In most cases, your child will outgrow the stutter by their 5th birthday.
If your child seems to have other body of facial ‘tics’ or movements accompanying the stutter; the stutter is continually growing worse; or it is a constant issue, it is best to consult a speech pathologist. Early intervention, as young as three years old, could make a great difference in your child’s language development.
Although experts cannot pinpoint one main cause of stuttering, they believe that a number of factors contribute to the speech problem, including:
- Developmental delays
- Genetics - 60% of stutterers have a relative who also stutters
- Variations in the way language is processed by the brain
If your child stutters, it is important to be patient and supportive. Try not to criticize; even comments that you see as helpful can be discouraging to your child. Instead, try to communicate and speak with them with as little outside distraction as possible. Turn off the TV and really have a conversation with your child. Reward them with praise when they speak without stuttering, but do not punish or berate them for stuttering. Work closely with your child’s speech pathologist to learn different ways to help your child overcome their speech impediment.
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