It can be confusing and overwhelming if your kiddo just started to stutter.
Most pediatricians recommend the "wait and see" approach for about 6 months to a year. Stuttering can go away naturally for about 70-80% of children without intervention by about age 5. The chances of recovery are just as high if your kiddo has a little or a lot of stuttering when it starts. Some factors that may support natural recovery are:
- no family history of stuttering
- early onset (2-3 years old)
- gender (girls recover more frequently than boys)
- child is going through language burst (growing vocabulary and longer sentences)
- no other speech-language difficulties
- kiddo doesn't seem to notice or be bothered by the stuttering
A speech-language pathologist can be extremely helpful to answer your questions if your kiddo has some of these factors which may make it more likely that the stuttering will continue without direct support:
- family history of stuttering (especially if the stuttering continued into adulthood)
- later onset (3 years+)
- other diagnoses (speech-language difficulties, ADHD, etc.)
- child reacts negatively to stuttering (stops talking, visibly upset, strains when trying to get words out)
- parent is feeling anxiety about the kiddo's reaction to their speech
If you are in the "wait and see" stage, or you are on the list to see a speech-language pathologist, here are 7 tips for parents to help create a supportive environment at home for your kiddo who stutters in the meantime.
We hope this helps, and don't hesitate to reach out to a speech-language pathologist who specializes in stuttering if you have any questions or concerns.
You're not alone in this!
Warmly,
Danra
Owner, Vermont Stuttering Therapy