to ask of anyone else has/had a child who stammers?

[CantEvenKeepAnOrchidAlive]

DS is 3 next month. Has been talking since he 14/15 months old. His vocabulary is vast although his pronunciation isn't often clear and sometimes only myself or DP understands what he says.

For the last 6 weeks, he started to struggle getting the first couple of words out when speaking sentences. So, a lot of 'I I IIIII want do painting' for example. But over the last few days, it has become progressively worse. He will stammer on one worded answers, can start a sentence and stammer half way through or words come out in bits so helicopter becomes 'he he hel iii copt ttter'.

We haven't discussed it in front of him and if he gets really stuck to the point of silence, I say to slow down and try again. Not even sure if this is correct.

If anyone has been in this position before, how do you handle it? Did you see a GP about referral to a SALT? Unsure of what to do :(

[BeeInYourBonnet]

My DS started doing this at about 3.5y. It got really quite severe. We got a SALT referral through preschool, as teacher thought it was unusual/not 'normal' preschooler behaviour ( we had been unsure if it was just a normal phase).

By the time we got too see the SALT a few months later, it had more or less stopped, but it was still helpful seeing the salt.

Since then the stammer has returned in peaks and troughs. Every time it gets so bad that we consider contacting SALT again, it then seems to improve.

I have experience of stammering ( my dsis and uncle stammer) so I know the techniques to use to help/not worsen the stammering, but I do worry a lot about what happens if other children start focussing on it ( he currently doesn't perceive it to be an issue).

Sorry I can't offer much advice/comfort, but thanks for starting thread - I'll follow with interest.

[hazeyjane]

My dd had a pronounced stammer from 2, she was a very early talker and had a huge vocabulary. The stammer started to really upset her, and we have a family history of stammering, so our HV referred us to SALT.

We did something called The Lidcombe Programme, with our nhs SALT, she had a weekly session, and The programme is taught to the parents to do at home.

It worked really well with dd2, she had a year and a half of SALT, and her stammer has practically gone. It does still resurface when she is tired, or anxious, but we use the techniques from the programme to help her.

It does no harm to ring the SALT advice line, and you can self refer.

[CantEvenKeepAnOrchidAlive]

I do worry a little about other children noticing and mentioning it to him as he starts a preschool after he turns 3 but I am hopeful they won't.

I think DS notices sometimes because when he really struggles, he stops and sighs then seems to give up saying it until I prompt him to repeat.

May I ask what sort of techniques you have used? I never know whether to wait for him to finish or stop him and say to start again. I think stopping him is not the right way but I've never been in this position.

[CantEvenKeepAnOrchidAlive]

Technique question was to Bee sorry for not being clear.

Thanks for the info on the SALT advice line hazey - my assumption was a referral through GP.

I'll look that up in a minute.

[troubleinstore]

It is very common at this age and DD and other friends children have also had the same. I did worry about it but in my case and in my friends children, they have all grown out of it. I can't say its the same for all, but please be aware that it may just pass. I hope this eases some fears.

[GoodnessIsThatTheTime]

I was told we couldn't self refer in our area and that it wasn't unusual at 3. Even staying school the teacher had said she'd onlybreferbif causingbher a problem.

luckily now at 5 she's grown out of it as it was quite marked.

[Mandy21]

Us too. Think DS was coming up to 3. We sought a referral via the HV. In my DS' case (and I imagine this is true of quite a lot of children) its just a case of the brain and vocal ability just being out of sync. He stuttered when he was excited, or definitely had something to tell me (and wanted to get it out before his sister!). It improved as he got older, we were under the speech therapist for about 6 months. It was useful to have advice on how to handle it. We were told not to draw attention to it at all, don't say slow down, or try to guess what hes saying. Just let him take the lead (so he doesnt feel pressure to say you want him to say, or comment on you want and actually to limit questions - just let him talk as and when he feels like it.

Hope that helps

[GoodnessIsThatTheTime]

Only causing her a problem.

Damn phone.


She's very bright and it was always put down brain working faster than mouth.

[emilyofnewmoon]

Had this with ds2. He started to stammer around 3 or 4. Saw SALT and they said he had a lot to say and couldn't get it all out without stammering. They advised patience when he was trying to say something and never to finish words for him. We ignored his stammer for the next few months and then by the time he was in reception it had gone totally.
Ask HV/GP about referral to SALT soon as this can take a while.

[BeeInYourBonnet]

this is a useful website

[DrunkenDaisy]

My DD did this at that age. We were worried but decided to ignore it and not overly-correct her. It went away in about 6 months. She also had a nervous 'cough' that she used to do a lot. That also went away.

I just gave her loads of love and praise and didn't mention the stutter at all.

Good luck and don't worry.

[NewtRipley]

MY DS2 stammered at this age and grew out of it gradually within a year or so.

[BeeInYourBonnet]

Yy to always letting him finish what he's saying in his own time, not interrupting or drawing attention.

[poopadoop]

One thing you can make sure to do is speak a little more slowly and clearly yourself so they 'mirror' you. And don't finish sentences, just be as calm and patient as you can

[Edenviolet]

Does anyone have dc that stammers at the end of words? Dd2 does this and I don't know whether to be concerned or not, she says things like mummy e e e e e.

[HadABadDay2014]

I have a stammer, nothing has worked for me.

It's worse when I am nervous or talking on the phone.

[kennyp]

to cut a long story short - could there be some stress anywhere in your child's life that is contributing to his speech?

to cut a longer story even shorter - i'd always recommend pursuing SALT if you think it's needed. after a referral the issue might have resolved itself but if it hasn't it's always worth seeing a salt if you can, to put your mind at rest.

[CrohnicallyFarting]

In my area, they have drop in sessions with SALT at the children's centres/sure starts. If anyone has concerns, it's worth checking if you have similar in your area.

[NewtRipley]

OP

On a general note - I know it's hard when they are this age and you think they'll be teased at school but IME, infant children are remarkably accepting and not prone to teasing - think of all the friendships that form between children who can't speak the same language

[Aboyandabunny]

My Ds (10) has stammered since age 2.5.
It comes and goes depending on stress and tiredness. We self referred to SALT which has given him coping strategies.
It was awful in P2 and this year again (P5) as teachers seem to have focussed on it.
Children in his class are mostly supportive but odd one will tease him about his 'bumpy' words which he finds hurtful.
SALT say he will have stammer for life but will learn his own coping strategies as well as their tried and tested.

[Rosierubies]

One of my DS's has a profound stutter. He is now six and after a year with SALT using the liddcombe process we have had a breakthrough. His pronounciation is still very poor as is his sentence structure and once we have graduated from liddcombe we will be moving

[CantEvenKeepAnOrchidAlive]

Thank you all. I looked up my local Trust and it says it will see a child of his age if the stammer has been on going for 2 months. I might pop across to our health centre tomorrow to chat to a HV and see what they recommend as most of your referrals have been through that channel instead of GP.

I'm hoping it will disappear and I'm sure it will by the time he starts school, I would just like some advice and tips on how to handle it. I've never finished his sentence but if he doesn't complete his sentence, I will prompt him to finish it and I've never showed any irritation or lack of patience towards it.

Hopefully it will get better.

[Bloodyteenagers]

This is a really good site. www.stammeringcentre.org/mpc-home
Although based in London, take referrals from all over the country, including for under 5's.

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

DS developed a stammer aged 3, seemingly overnight. I asked for advice at nursery, and the nursery nurse with extra speech and language training spent an afternoon one to one with him. She told me that she thought he was thinking faster than he could speak, and that it would resolve, but that nursery could refer to SALT if they felt he wasn't improving. I agreed, and - nursery were right, it was resolved 6 months later. They strongly advised us not to interrupt him or to finish his sentences for him.

When he started Reception I thought it might be returning as he began to repeat the first few words of his sentences, but again we resisted the urge to correct him and again it passed within a few months.

[SugarPlumpFairy3]

I think it's quite common in children of this age. My dd suffered around the ages of 2-4 and then it got better around 5. It's totally gone now she's almost 7. By all means monitor it and mention it to your Hv but try not to worry too much.