Is 2.6 too young to develop a stammer?

[Allegrogirl]

Just noticed over the last few days that my dd who is 2.6 seems to be stammering at the beginning of sentences. Her speech has been improving rapidly lately so I don't understand why this is happening. I am hoping it is just because she is now in a hurry to get the words out and that it will be a short lived phase.

DH is worried as he has stammered since infant school and it has caused him misery his whole life. It has much improved now and only happens when he's really nervous or tired so I don't think DD would have picked it up from him.

Should I be worried or just wait and see if it improves with time?

We have just had an appointment through to see a Speech and Language Therapist with dd2 who is 2.10.

She started stammering a few months before Christmas, I spoke to HV about it, because sometimes she would get upset about it, and say 'I can't talk to you mummy'. We were referred and then lost in the system. Her stammer stopped for a while, but it has come back quite badly, and so I chased up the appointment.

Over the phone the SALT said that sometimes it is part of speech development, but it can be progressive, and if it is then it is good to start therapy before they are 5. We have been told to write a speech diary to take note of which words, letters cause most dificulty, how she stammers (repeating first letter, whole word, delaying word etc) and whether she does it more at certain times of day, when tired, excited etc.

I asked whether it can run in families (dh's dad and nanna both had stammers as children), and she said that a lot of people believe it can.

If you are at all worried I would speak to your HV, who would be able to refer you.

HTH

Thanks for replying hazeyjane. I think I'll have a chat with the HV. We're going to make an effort to make life a bit calmer for a bit and see if that helps.

My son who was delayed a little in speaking stammered for a while around 2.9yr to 3.6yr or so. I never mentioned it and although he sometimes got a bit cross when he couldn't get a sentence it out it just disappeared over time as he got better at speaking. I've noticed my second son (who is now 2.5yrs) also sometimes stammers a little and has trouble getting sentences out just recently but I'm just presuming he'll grow out of it as his speech improves as well.

So although I completely understand your worries based on your husbands experience it may well be something he'll just grow out of.

it's a perfectly normal developmental stage at this point

it can last until four or five in some cases - supposedly beacuse their brains are going too fast for them to be able to get the words out. you can get him checked because of your dh's issue, but most toddlers/ pre-schoolers go through this developmental stage - all three of mine did. normally a HV or gp will not refer on unless it is a longstanding issue, but you might get an earlier appointment with family history.

Thanks for your replies. Me and DH are both worriers but we've chilled a bit now. We were surprised that this suddenly started after her speech seemed to be going so well. I guess we're expecting the worst because of DH's history but we'll just have to deal with it if it happens.

Allegrogirl, I just wanted to say we saw a SALT today, who assessed dd2, and thought that she would benefit from a course of therapy. It would seem it can be very succesful in preschool children. There were various factors that led to her thinking therapy would be a help, including family history.

I just wanted to let you know, that although it is only the beginning, we found it a very positive experience, and I think dd2 enjoyed all the attention!

I hope you and your dd are ok

Obviously you need to keep an eye on it but my DS1 started stammering around 2-2.5 - I did a bit of research and it seemed like it was actually very common at that age to stammer (it also coincided with the birth of DS2 which DS1 reacted quite badly too so maybe that had something to do with it?)

We just ignored it, gave him time to say what he wanted to say and it soon went away.

Thanks all. Spoken to HV who has said the earliest she would be seen by a SALT is 3 so to call back in a few months if we feel the need.

I feel better for having done something and it's nice to know there's no problem with a SALT referral if we want it. I've also read that preschool therapy is successful which is reassuring. DH's stammer didn't start until he was at school and therapy only had limited success for him.

Hoping it's just a phase like so many things that seem a big deal at the time.