Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Anyone have any experience with this? Eddie is a little over 3 and out of the blue has started stuttering, like in the last week. Its on T words, mostly "the" and "to". Its frequent enough throughout each day that I notice it, but not constantly.

Is this normal, or if not normal, common? Should I wait to see if it resolves itself? I know not to call attention to it and make him self conscious of it.

Its just alarming and so sudden. Anyone have any advice on this? I dont know what to make of it.

Message edited 1/1/2011 11:11:54 PM.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

My girlfriend is a speech therapist and if you would like I will ask her specific questions for you. But I completely remember asking her this question (for a previous client - I am a pediatric occupational therapist) and she said it is completely developmentally appropriate - most children go through this phase and it, like all other phases, will pass. You are doing the appropriate thing by not drawing attention to it. They are basically processing ideas/thoughts in their minds that their mouths just cant keep up with. Like I said before, if you want to FM me with specific questions, I would be more than happy to ask her for you.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

I was a little concerned about ds stuttering. The ped said it was developmental and should resolve itself. Sure enough it did. Now he only does it when he is tired. My mom said I was the same way.
If he is prone to ear infections I would have him checked. I still stutter now when my ears are infected. Ds's ears were clear so the ped said it was just developmental.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

I stuttered for a short while when I was younger....and it fixed itself.
I would wait and see how long it lasts...if it doesn't correct itself, maybe talk to a doctor.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

thanks everyone, that makes me feel better. I definitely plan on calling the ped if it continues/worsens, but I had heard it was a development "glitch" sometimes at his age, so I didnt want to panic just yet.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Posted by imyself

I was a little concerned about ds stuttering. The ped said it was developmental and should resolve itself. Sure enough it did. Now he only does it when he is tired. My mom said I was the same way.
If he is prone to ear infections I would have him checked. I still stutter now when my ears are infected. Ds's ears were clear so the ped said it was just developmental.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Is it mostly whole words and when he's excited?

Like "Look look look at the rainbow" or things like that?

If so, it's likely developmental.

It's more of a possible concern if he's repeating single sounds like "the b-b-boy" or prolong sounds like the "b-----oy" or getting "stuck" where he starts a sound and then nothing comes out and THEN he finishes the word."

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Melissa, this is completely normal - per my speech therapist.

Jack just started stuttering random things. Mostly "mom mom mom mom mom can I have milk" - and she said at this age it's completely appropriate.

Message edited 1/2/2011 8:44:34 AM.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

Posted by Diana1215

Melissa, this is completely normal - per my speech therapist.

Jack just started stuttering random things. Mostly "mom mom mom mom mom can I have milk" - and she said at this age it's completely appropriate.

Re: Stuttering? Could use some insight.

DS went through a span of this around that age ( I even posted on here about it)....He started doing it quite a bit and then it started to become less and less....He outgrew it relatively quickly
( though it felt like an eternity ), start to finish maybe a year ??..

With him, I think it was that he had so much to say in his mind and was trying to get it out faster than he could say it...It was also much worse when he was tired...

As you said, they say to not call much attention to it and not to ask them to slow down (which is hard)...Also to speak slowly and clearly to them