3yr old started stuttering

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

DS1 is 3 tomorrow.

Over the past week or so he has started stuttering/stammering - mainly at the beginning of sentences. It doesn't happen all the time, mainly when he's got something 'impotrant' or exciting to communicate - it's almost as if his brain is working too fast for his mouth! But it is very noticable and he finds it very frustrting. When it happens he asks to hold my hand and whisper in my ear...the words tend to come out fine once he does this.

He is very verbal and chatty.

Does this sound normal, or should I contact HV for a referral to SALT?

Hi OP, I'm an Early Years SLT. Lots of children do go through periods of stammering as their language develops. Sometimes it sorts itself out and sometimes it doesn't. It sounds like your DS is aware of when he stammers and is a bit embarassed about it, hence holding your hand and whispering (bless him!)

I would ask for a SLT referral now rather than waiting. Waiting lists may be long and it's best to address these issues as early as possible. In the meantime, if he stammers, just give him extra time to say what he wants to. Don't ask him to stop, take a deep breath, say it properly or anything like that as this will only increase his anxiety and make him even more likely to stammer. Just act as if the stammer isn't happening.

Is there anyone in your family or his dad's family who stammers?

My DS1 started stammering at age 7 when he started at junior school. It started the same as your DS when he wanted to say something important or when he was excited about something. As it got worse and he was more aware of it I took him to see a speech therapist and he went on a couple of courses with similar age stammerers. IMO these didn't help, in fact I think they made him feel worse about his stammer. There were children there with more pronounced stammers and I think he convinced himself he would end up stammering as bad as them. Of course the more he worried about his stammer the worse it got. I sat him down and asked him how he felt about it, he told me he just wanted to ignore it and although it upset him sometimes he had good friends and teachers who understood so I don't think it bothered him too much.
He's 11 now and his stammer isn't that noticable. It does flare up at times of excitement (Xmas, holidays etc) but he's happy that it's ignored so he can get on with his life without being singled out as a 'stammerer'
I think in the case of your son you shouldn't rush to a speech therapist as if he thinks there's something 'wrong' with him it could make his stammer worse. Obviously discuss things with your doctor/health visitor but don't let your son see that there's a problem. He'll probably just grow out of it as he's very young yet. Above all just give him time to talk but don't make a big show of listening (my MIL made things worse for my son by always making a big show of kneeling in front of him and looking him in the eye and saying "I'm listening to you sweetie, take all the time you need" when he was only asking for a biscuit!)
Hope you see an improvement soon.