Any SALT's out there? Stammer in very young child ...

[Plonker]

Dd3 is 22 months.

She has excellent speech, very clear, lots and lots of language, never shuts up

However, over the last couple of days, she has started to stammer

We have been through this before with dd1 (now 9) although she was older (closer to 3yo) and was going through a lot of big changes (arrival of baby sister, I started working through the day, she started playgroup). She was referred to a SALT who played lots of games with her and said she had 'Normal Dysfluency'. She grew out of it by the time she was 5/6yo but went through an awful time, even sitting on the floor crying at one point saying that she couldn't speak anymore

Anyway, back to dd3 - does 'Normal dysfluency' run in families? Can it start as young as 22 months? Other than ignoring it when she stammers, is there anything else we can do?

Should I push for a SALT referral? How long are the waiting lists?

Please help

I am not a SALT but both my DDs had stammers (as far as I remember it might have been from about 2.5 years) My eldest had it for quite a while but my youngest didnt seem to have it for so long. I was very anxious because I had a mild stammer all my life. The SALT assured me that children of this age can develop stammers and they can disappear little by little. It would do no harm to contact your Health Visitor and tell them your concerns. They will probably refer her to the SALT for you - that is the procedure where I live. Sorry for not being of more help but I know how worrying it can be. I think because your DD has such clear speech and knows a lot of words - she is trying to get everything out and can't get it out quick enough and so the stammer appeared.

Thanks Concepta

Yes, I think I will push for a referral - I guess it can't hurt?

It's much worse when she's tired, I think that maybe she struggles to organise her thoughts a little bit when she's tired and her words get a little stuck. I'm only guessing though.

I've been through this before with dd1 but she was older and there were big changes in her life at the time. With dd3 there are no changes, she has had a massive explosive in her language though, so maybe your right and she just can't get it out quick it enough.

Thanks for your help

Both DSs had this at about 3. Also, there have been numerous threads on MN by similarly worried parents and lots more MNers have been through the same.

Yes, I had a look through old threads Soupy, I just couldn't find much to do with younger children. They seem to be around the same age as my dd1 (roughly around 3yo).

I just wondered if anyone could advice re a toddler. Is it worth pushing for referral or do we wait to see how her language develops first. Was also interested to know if these things run in families ...

Hi Plonker (love your name!), my DD (now nearly 8) started stammering at about two-and-a-half and, as my MIL stammers very badly, I asked for a referral to a SALT. I even sought out a private SALT specialising in toddler stammering! DD had a sort of monitoring session with the SALT every 6 months or so until at about 5-6 (can't remember exactly), we all felt that she no longer needed any further sessions as the stammering had disappeared as she physically matured. We always felt that DD's tongue just couldn't keep up with her brain - she's always been a HUGE chatterbox with a vast vocabulary and she couldn't get the words out quick enough. I'm glad I asked for a referral - SALT was incredibly nice and sensible - and I got the impression stammering at this age is fairly common which is resolved as children get older. DD also stammered worse when tired.

Thanks Danny

I'm going to push for referral. It does seem very common and I'm glad you say your dd stammered worse when she was tired too, that's reassuring

She is totally oblivious to the fact that she is stammering, unlike dd1 who was verrrry conscious of it, so thats a real positive of her being so young.
Hopefully she'll grow out of it soon - I remember it going on for years with poor dd1, although it did go eventually.

I am a SALT although I don't work with children. However, DD goes through periods of non-fluent speech, and I have had a few chats with a colleague about it.

Some info here may help

Dysfluency does run in families, and from what I understand does seem to appear at rapid bursts of language development. The advice I was given when DD's non-fluency persisted, was not to ignore it but to normalise it, e.g. to talk about bumpy or sticky speech, and make gentle reference to the fact that it is something that we all do. If you think about it, we all get a bit stammery from time to time. DD still gets in a real muddle when she has too much to say, but can cheerfully acknowledge that she got a bit stuck with her talking, and will point out if we do the same. There is no anxiety associated.
I advise you find out where your local salt department is, and give them a ring. They will be happy to advise and will let you know the referral process and likely wait.

Should also add that the reason I was given that advice is that DD was showing some associated behaviours (e.g prolonging sounds) and that we have stammering in the family.
Suggest you go with what your salt says!

Should also add that the reason I was given that advice is that DD was showing some associated behaviours (e.g prolonging sounds) and that we have stammering in the family.
Suggest you go with what your salt says!

Referrals can take ages to come through depending on your area so it's always worth getting the referral - you can always say you don't need it when the time comes.

My dd started to stammer at a bit before 24 months, and had been a good, happy talker until then. The stammer came on very suddenly and was very severe, so that she would absolutely freeze up, and it was very distressing. A SALT I knew said it was earlyish, but not far from the time it often took place. The worst of the stammering wore off about 4 weeks later, but she still gets it at the start of her sentences about 20-50% of the time, depending on the day, and she is now 2.6. It's supposed to go hand in hand with increases in vocabulary, so if your dd is a good talker at 22 months, that would seem to make sense.

Thanks for all replies, it's interesting to hear that it runs in families ...

I will speak to HV on monday and ask for a referral.

Hello, I work at the British Stammering Association and thought I'd write something.

As has been said, it is quite common for children to experience difficulties with their speech- around 5% of children under the age of 5 will do so. Around the age of 2-3 is when most children start to stammer, although it can develop at a later age.

In the majority of cases, they will naturally outgrow it. However, we do not advise that parents leave it to correct itself, as some of the posts above have said, as up to a quarter of children are at risk of developing chronic stammering which may persist into adulthood without intervention during the pre-school years.

Therefore, we advise anyone concerned about their child's stammer to get their child assessed by a Speech and Language Therapist as early as possible. It's never too early to act. By getting in touch with the British Stammering Association, we can give you direct contact details of your local NHS therapy service where you can refer yourself without having to go through your GP.

If you are concerned, phone our helpline (local rate) on 0845 603 2001 or email [email protected].

Stammering can affect children in lots of different ways -some will block at the start of sentences, some midway, and others at the end. Some will repeat sounds.

The exact causes of stammering are not yet fully known, but new research is suggesting that it's genetic. There is no evidence that parents cause stammering, so don't blame yourselves. It can run in families, and more boys than girls stammer.

Please see this link for parents of under 5's from our website, which gives tips on what to do in the home to support your child: www.stammering.org/under5.html

And here is a link for older children: www.stammering.org/parents_info.html

For more information about stammering in general see our website www.stammering.org.

I hope this helps
Steven
British Stammering Association

My DD developed one overnight just after she turned 4. It was really bad for 3/4 months and then just stopped as quickly as it started. I did speak to the HV but by the time she got the referral sorted it had gone.

Please check out 'Lidcombe' stammering therapy. Try googling it. Many SALT's offer this specialist therapy and it is very effective. The SALT teaches the parents how to address the stammering, games to play and how to monitor progress. Research shows that this type of therapy is best done before the child is 6 yo. HTH