Stammering 3 Year Old

[sallycinnamon]

DD aged 3 and 5 months woke up last Friday with quite a pronounced stammer (or stutter- not sure what the difference is) When DH got home I told him and his first reaction was that I was overeacting and she was probably tired. Over the last few days it has got worse and worse- to the point where she can't say a sentence without stammering. I thought the best policy might be to ignore it as it would go away as quickly as it came. Yesterday however she was getting very upset and agitated about it and saying things like 'mummy my words aren't working'. Any advice anyone? Really not sure at what point you start to get concerned- I can't bear to see her crying.

My ds aged 2/1 stammers with excitement but with your older girl the way you describe it I'd seek some professional advice, good luck

developmental thing - can last a few months - to do with the muscles growing and not being able to get the words out as easily.

DS had a few episodes of it (noe for ages at nearly 5 now).

Sallycinnamon as a mum of a boy who stammers (has done since 2.5) aged nearly 8 I would really keep my eye on it and if she is still stammering in a couple of months see a speech therapist. It may be a good idea if you are using the NHS to actually get her name down now for a review as they can take ages. It may be something that simply goes away but I would keep on top of things. I have learnt that if you don't kick up a fuss and do everything yourself help is at a minimum. Keep in touch on Mumsnet and let us know how your DD progresses.

I was told that it is very common, esp around 2-3 years of age, and often just goes away by itself, BUT, don't be fobbed off by gp saying, oh it will just go, because it might, but might not, and will almost certainly benefit from eg speech therapy. If it's causing her such distress, maybe see gp sooner rather than later.

Try talking slower to her & looking full in face, so communication Is easier & less hurried & she doesn't feel under pressure, and of course, don't comment, tell her to take a deep breath & start again, complete sentences for her etc.

My ds has started stammering a couple of months ago (aged 2.5) he doesn't seem bothered tho, so I am biding my time, altho' have mentioned it to doc as was there already about sthing else

google stammer or stutter, lots of web site & orgs that can give you useful advice/tips/reassurance

Thank you for all your advice. Its much appreciated. I'll speak to the GP.

Hi sallycinnamon, my ds has been stammering on and off since he was 2.4 (coincides with my dd's birth last Nov). We went to see a SALT on the NHS last month (funnily enough the appt has been arranged since he was 2 as he has a tonguetie, now corrected). The stammer has appeared 3-4 times over the last 6-7 months. He has a few weeks in between them when we all of a sudden realise it's gone. Unfortunately this current episode is really bad and was glad to see the SALT in June. She said to slow down talking at home. Also try and keep fuss and noise down to a minimum in the house so that people can be heard clearly and only speak one person at a time. She actually said not to say 'take a deep breath' cos this can cause them to start a funny breathing habit instead of the stammer. Even though we haven't said this to ds (take a deep breath) his stammer has changed from stuttering over the first letter of a word to taking in really deep breathes over and over before he speaks. Slowing down our talking seems to have the best effect at the moment.

It just breaks my heart and when he has bad days he just cries with frustration and says 'say it for me mummy, say it!' but ofcourse I have no idea what he wants to say and that upsets him even more We have good days where it appears only a few times and other days it's all day. Thankfully we're seeing the SALT again next week as I rang her and said it's just getting soooo bad now. She said there's a good success rate with children under 5 so hopefully she'll give us some ideas of what else we can do at home. Will let you know what she says. Oh, also just remembered, she said it's very common in under 5's and usually corrects itself, but if there is a family history of stammering then it might continue (none in ours but I guess it could start any time).

HTH Big hug to your dd.

hope my sentence was, clear, maybe reading 99 red blaoon's reply it wasn't.

I said 'of course, don't comment, tell her to take a deep breath & start again, complete sentences for her etc. ' That, hopefully of course means of course, don't comment, don't tell her to take a deep breath & start again, don't complete sentences for her etc.

Agree with throckenholt ds1 eaxctly the same age doing the same thing perfectly fine now and he is 6 yrs. He even did it when he was 5 around Christmas time when he got over excited. But don't point it out we used wait patiently for him to get the word out. He would get frustrated when he was about 3, but we would just say the word slowly together then nothing else was said by me to him about it. I didn't want to make a big deal of it. Occassionally it was so bad he would go to say "dad" for example and it would come out "d" "d" and he couldn't complete the word. It used to break my heart and I even had him down to see a speech therapist but he stopped before we got the appointment through. Just monitor it and if you really feel the need to put her down to see a therapist you may find that after a few months it disappears and if it hasn't you have got her down on the list, they usually pick things like that up if it is important when they are at school too.

thanks monkey, I had misread it! sorry!

I think I am in the same boat as the original poster. My ds is 3 and 4 months and overnight has developed a stammer. He already has problems sometimes making himself understood as he has a short tongue (tongue tied), but this has just suddenly appeared from nowhere. He will repeat the first word over and over again and then finally get the rest of the sentence out. Luckily, I don't think it upsets him enormously, but it is quite worrying to me. My mum says he will grow out of it, but I would appreciate any advice other mums may have.

Hi sarahlou, my ds has a tongue-tie too, although it's been 'corrected' it's still short and doesn't come out much. This hasn't effected his speech and I think it's unrelated to his stammer which is more psychological. If it's the first time it's appeared I'd take the advice below and try to ignore it as best you can. My ds' stammer has come and gone just like that. It's just the most recent one which is of stronger severity and lasting much longer than any previous episodes and now has me worried. Funnily enough I talked about it with my other 'mum' friends on Friday and was surprised to hear another one was worried about the same thing with her ds. I hadn't noticed it till she pointed it out. It does seem to be quite common. If you're worried then def bring it up with your HV and see if you can be put on the waiting list. HTH.

We're seeing a SALT on Thurs. Will let you know what she says!

99 - did your ds have surgery to untie his tongue? I only ask because when my ds was born, the hv said that they don't correct them anymore - they have to learn to talk as they are! It comes from my dh's side of the family-his mum, sister and 2 nieces are all tongue tied although you cannot tell with his sister. I think that I will just monitor him and if I think it is getting worse, I will ask school to refer him to speech therapist.