Stammering

Stammering can be known by a variety of names including, stuttering, repeating, words getting stuck, bumpy talking, dysfluency.

Up to 5% of all children go through a period of stammering between the ages of 2-4 years old.  This is often around the time when their vocabulary/language suddenly increases and the language demands placed on them increases either by starting school, nursery or just expanding their experiences.  Approximately 1 % of children will go on to stammer into adulthood.  We can not predict which children will grow out of their stammer and which ones will continue to stammer so it is important to create a supportive communication environment for all children who stammer to support their talking.

What does Stammering look like?
Stammering can present in the all or some of the following ways:

• Repetition: Repeating initial sounds, or words, e.g.ch-ch-chocolate

• Prolongation: Stretching out sounds/syllables, e.g. mmmmummy

• Blocking: When a word gets stuck and nothing comes out ‘ch……ocolate’

Sometimes you also may notice

• Body/facial movements in moments of stammering

• Tension in face/neck/body

• Avoidance of certain words/situations

If you are concerned about your child’s talking please speak to your health visitor or your child’s nursery or school to discuss whether a referral to the speech and language therapy team is appropriate.

If your child is not in education, please contact us on 0300 123 344 or email: medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net to discuss accessing further support.

Take a look at the advice sheets (on the right) to support your child’s talking at home, school and nursery.