It is estimated that up to 2.5% of children under the age of five have a speech stuttering problem. Stuttering (or stammering) occurs when a child repeats a word or phrase, prolongs a syllable, stops during speech or makes no sound for some syllables. Stuttering is most common in children who are learning to speak, although some kids have problems that persist until later in life, particularly as a result of self-consciousness, stress, anxiety or fatigue.

Scientists aren’t sure what exactly causes stuttering, but researchers hypothesize that there are a number of regions in the brain that play a part in stammering stuttering; namely the cortex, the cerebrum and the cortical pathways. In the past, doctors thought that blocking a chemical called “dopamine” in the brain would reduce the incidence of stuttering, but now they’re finding that increasing the level of GABA chemical can work in much the same way. Speech problems tend to run in the family, indicating that there is an unknown genetic factor at work. With developmental stuttering, children may find it difficult to synch their thoughts with their language abilities, and in adult cases of strokes or brain injuries, neurogenic stuttering occurs because there are lesions or structural abnormalities in the motor-speech region of the brain.

The danger of leaving speech stuttering problems unattended is that the stigma of being “a stutterer” stays with a person. Young kids especially have trouble making friends, developing normal self-esteem and speaking in public. To help people overcome emotional baggage caused by stammering stuttering, the National Stuttering Association has created over 100 stuttering programs nationwide. “I started stuttering when I was 8 years old,” said Sarah Bell, founder of the Longview Support Group. “I didn’t know anybody else like me that stuttered and felt really alone.” She said that participants can improve their communication skills and self-confidence through activities and games, which is a type of therapy in itself.

To help your child who is speech stuttering, it’s best to listen attentively and maintain eye contact the whole time. Be patient and give your child the time to find the right words, without interjecting. Set aside time each day for talking, when you are not too busy or distracted to truly communicate. When you speak, talk slowly and deliberately to encourage your child to do the same. Try to keep a calm, relaxed atmosphere in your home, since stress can increase the incidence of stammering stuttering. For local community resources, contact the Stuttering Foundation at 1-800-992-9392 or the National Stuttering Association at 1-800-937-8888.

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