Signs Your Child May Have a Stuttering or Fluency Disorder
Leanne Sherred, M.S., CCC-SLP
Some forms of stuttering are developmentally normal in children. However, a child may have a fluency disorder that needs treatment if they repeat or prolong sounds, experience blocks in speech, avoid speaking, or have body movements that accompany their stuttering.
Key takeaways
Between 5% and 10% of all children will stutter, often between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. About 75% of these children are likely to outgrow it; the remaining 25% may need speech therapy.
Typical stuttering behavior might include repeating words or phrases, or using filler words like "um."
Signs of a fluency disorder last longer than 6 months and include repeating or stretching out sounds, experiencing blocks in speech, avoiding speaking, or having body movements that occur along with stuttering.
When diagnosing a stutter, speech therapists look for red flags such as a family history of stuttering, stuttering starting after age 3½, or other problems with speech or language skills. Boys are more likely to stutter than girls.
If your child is stuttering or having trouble communicating, it's recommended to schedule an evaluation with a speech therapist.
Support for children who stutter
Speech therapy helps kids who stutter boost their confidence and speak more freely. Find the right therapist for your child at Expressable.
Get startedKey statistics about stuttering
Approximately 5% to 10% of children will go through some period of stuttering, also known as stammering, during their development, often between ages 2 and 6. About 75% of these children are likely to grow out of it without intervention. However, the remaining 25% may need speech therapy. This doesn’t mean that they’re anxious children or that they’re not intelligent. Stuttering is just a part of them, like their hair or eye color.
Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder affecting about 1% of adults and 5% of children. Learn what causes stuttering, the 3 types, and how speech therapy helps.
How do you know if it's a stutter?
A stutter is also known as a disfluency, or an interruption to the normal flow of speech. Stuttering behaviors can come in many forms. Here’s a look at what we’d consider more typical disfluencies--which are those that most people experience some of the time--versus less typical disfluencies, which are more commonly seen in people who stutter.
More typical types of disfluencies:
Repeating phrases and whole words (“But-but-but I want one!”)
Use of filler words (like “um” and “uh”)
No negative reaction or frustration with their disfluencies
No signs of physical tension
Disfluent periods last less than 6 months
No other speech or language difficulties
Joseph's story
Discover how Joseph, a preteen who stutters, transformed his speech, confidence, and sense of control.
Read Joseph's storyLess typical types of disfluencies:
Blocked sounds (tries to say a sound, but nothing comes out)
Prolongations (“I ffffffffffeel angry.”)
Repeating sounds or syllables (“I see a b-b-b-baby,” or “I want an a-a-a-a-apple, please.”)
Secondary behaviors (movements such as hand flapping, tapping, blinking, or throat clearing) that coincide with the stuttering
Frustration or negative reaction to stuttering
Disfluent periods last more than 6 months
This video describes the 3 types of stuttering--repetitions, prolongations, and blocks--and possible accompanying behaviors.
What are the risk factors for stuttering?
What causes a stutter? Speech-language pathologists look for certain red flags when determining if a child has persistent stuttering that needs treatment. These include:
A family history of stuttering
Consistent periods of disfluency lasting longer than 6 months
Stuttering starting after age 3½
Delayed/disordered language skills, or advanced language skills
Other speech sound errors, or difficulty being understood
It's also important to note that there is a higher incidence of stuttering in males than females.
When should I contact a speech therapist about stuttering?
Everyone has moments of disfluency. We all trip over our words, repeat ourselves, or say “um.” But for some people, disfluency may start to impact their communication. A licensed speech-language pathologist, or speech therapist, is trained to evaluate and treat stuttering and fluency disorders.
If your child is experiencing bumps in their speech or seems to be stuttering, or if you notice any of the signs listed above, it's a good idea to schedule an evaluation with a speech therapist. Get matched with the right speech therapist for your child here.
Learn more about stuttering
For more information about stuttering, including its causes, how it's diagnosed, what stuttering therapy looks like, and how to support someone who stutters, check out our stuttering treatment guide and our stuttering video series.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Some children stutter as they’re learning to speak, and they naturally outgrow the stutter as their language develops. Scientists are still studying the causes of true fluency disorders, or clinical stuttering. It may be due to genetics or family history of stuttering. Or it may be related to differences in brain function and speech-motor control, or differences in the way the person processes language.
Some toddlers stutter as they’re learning to talk, and the stutter fades away as their language develops. If your child’s stutter lasts longer than 6 months, it’s a good idea to contact a speech therapist for an evaluation.
Stuttering usually begins in toddlers or preschoolers between the ages of 2 and 5. As with most speech issues, the earlier speech therapy begins, the better! Talk with a speech therapist if your child’s stuttering lasts longer than 6 months or is getting worse over time, they make body or facial movements when speaking, they avoid situations that require talking, or their stutter continues after they turn 5.
Your child’s speech therapist can recommend the right exercises or techniques for your child to manage stuttering. But you can help your child at home by keeping the pressure low; don’t correct their speech when they stutter. If they’re struggling to say a word or sentence, let them finish without saying it for them. Avoid saying things like "take a deep breath" or "slow down." And model a slow, relaxed way of speaking, which will help your child slow down their own speech.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
