Can Someone Talk Me Down With Respect to My 3 yr olds Stuttering Please?

[FixItUpChappie]

Its so OTT but I feel just massive anxiety about my son's now very apparent stuttering issues. We've noticed it for a long time but thought it would just go away on its own. Its only worsened though and is now almost constant.

Very long BBBBBBBBB but, bbbb but wwwwwwwwww pause, try again, bbbbb, www what is that truck doing mommy?

This morning for the first time I saw him grab his mouth as if to try to help his words get out. It was heartbreaking

Its not reserved for when he's excited - he stutterred this weekend even when lounging in bed with me reading and relaxing.

In searching the net I see we should not draw his attention to it, just wait patiently and supportively while he finishes, not rush him, speak more slowly ourselves, try to calm our home environment down. I have called the Dr. for an appointment and referral. I just wonder what else we should be doing.

I told my son's daycare not to mention his stutter or rush him. I do think its a stressful time for him as I went back to work in February from my 2nd mat leave. I know he wants to stay home. We don't know how to slow our lifestyle down much more aside from really staying home on the weekend, not booking to much weekends and evenings, focusing on more 1:1 time. Stopping what we are doing, getting on his level and looking right at him when he's talking.....we have limited control over the daycare environment though.

This is solvable right? Does anyone have any tips or techniques we could try to help him with?

I just keep thinking, what if it doesn't go away and he faces bullying and is behind in his learning. He is such a wonderful child - I can't help feeling like somehow we've let him down.

When DC2 arrived, DC1 developed a stammer much as you describe - he was a little younger, the other side of his third birthday.

It was heartbreaking and really hard not to "help" when he got stuck.

We spoke to the HV who said it was extremely common and they would only bother even thinking about it if it persisted for more than a few months. It didn't - that is, he now only falters when he's very excited or angry. But then so do I, usually.

Even if it does persist, there are lots of strategies to pursue. And nowadays so much interaction is written that I think it matters less than it used to.

and fingers crossed it does get better - partially or completely - by itself.

Why do you think a child that stammers will be behind in their learning? My son had an established stammer by the time he was 3 and his has persisted, he's almost 15 now. He's never been bullied, is academically able and fwiw holds his own in conversation.

I know a stammer can be distressing, get a Speech Therapy referral but try not to worry. A lot of non-fluency in young children self-resolves but if it doesn't he'll be ok!

Hth's

Google your local SALT service and self refer, there should be an advice line number.

Dd2 saw a SALT for about a year and a half, and we did something called The Lidcombe programme. Her stammer improved hugely, it sometimes comes back a bit (she is nearly 7) when she is anxious.

My 3yo DD went through a few months where she stuttered all the time, she really seemed to struggle to get the words out. FIL told us he had suffered the same at random points during his childhood and was told that it was just his brain working quicker than his mouth. He has no stuttering issues now, and advised us not to panic or rush her and just wait and see. Despite the rare excited moment, she's now not stuttering at all. It did take time though. By all means see your GP though if you are genuinely really worried though, if only to put your mind at rest.

It is good to hear that this is a common issue. I don't think him less intelligent - by no means. I just wonder if it will discourage him from speaking, make him self-conscious and affect his confidence overall. It reassuring to hear from parents who have faced this issue thank you!

My DS started stammering out of the blue when he was 2. The earlier the speech therapy the better but the best tips are on the British Stammering Society and the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children. What we found has been really crucial has been our attitude towards the stammering - even down to keeping a neutral relaxed facial expression when he is stammering. My DS is one of the small percentage who has gone on to stammer, lots of preschoolers overcome it, but my DS stammers at 10. He is also 2 school years ahead academically, has loads of friends, if someone comments on his stammer he has some really good replies/explanations which he is comfortable with. Always happy to be PM ed on this.

It might be that his head is going quicker than his mouth, try getting him to slow down and get his words out.

My son did this at about 2-3 yrs of age. We didn't worry his brain was just working too fast. He stopped after a little while. He's 16 now and has had no further problems.

Probably not really much help to you, but I worked with a pre-school child who stammered when he tried to talk to other people. However, he liked to play-act, and if he was taking on the role of a teddy or some other character, then he seemed to be able to get his words out without difficulty. That seems to suggest it is a mental, not physical, impediment.

So maybe see if he CAN talk on behalf of a teddy or favourite toy, in some informal, play situation.

Get him referred ASAP. Also google the Michael Palin Centre. Good advice on their website. I have a child who still stammers but it runs in my family. She has not really experienced bullying and is at least in the top 5 % of ability if not higher. It is unpleasant but your attitude is really important.