SALT help please, stammering in a nearly 3 year old

[DarrellSHivers]

My DD is 3 in the next few weeks and recently(over the last month or so ) seems to be stammering, which does seem to be getting worse. It seems to be mostly when she is excited and so far we have mostly listened and not taken too much notice of it and then responded to whatever she was saying.
Now DH is getting a little worried as has done a little internet searching and says it is slightly rarer in girls at this age and although common, it has an incidence of 5 in 100.
She is also dual language input , mainly speaking English.
How common is this, and will it have any bearing on the liklihood of a stammer later on in life|?
What is the best way to deal with it as well.
I will probably go see HV\GP but would love some speech and language specialist advice.
Thanks in advance

bump

I have no specialist knowledge but wanted to let you know that ds1 went through a period of stammering at that age. We ignored it and it went away, although I'm afraid I can't remember how long it took. I remember worrying quite a lot about it at the time.

Hope that helps and that an expert comes along in a minute to give you more of an answer.

Thanks Sari, that is what I thought , but now my DH has me a bit worried

I've been thinking about this and am pretty sure ds2 stammered for a while too at around the same age. Thing is, by then we weren't worried about it because of ds1 so I can't really remember.

It's a shame no professional has seen this. Perhaps you would get more answers if you posted again somewhere like behaviour/development.

anyone?

My niece went through the same thing. It was as if her mind was going and she really had trouble getting the words out when she was excited. My sister and bil just let it go and she grew out of it.

My DD was 3 in June & she sometimes stammers. I can almost see her little brain working overtime & her mouth just doesn't seem to have a chance to catch up. I say, take a deep breath & blow out through your mouth & usually she is ok. It doesn't happen that often, but enough for it to be on my radar !

If your DD is dual language, I'm sure it's just normal ?

hello shivers, my son is 4 ,and still stammers at time, he wants to say so much in little time make him stammer, i have asked him to take it slow and he is brilliant now, so my point is its normal.hope it helps u.

Darrell,am a salt but must go out now.
Back later ok?

Thanks for all your help, it does seem to be related to anxiety/excitement but would appreciate your advice as well monndog

Darrell,am not a specialist in this field (my work is with people with learning difficulties) but consensus amongst salts seems to be that an assessment by a salt (not a GP or HV) is needed to (as has been said here) ascetain if it really is stammering or normal non fluency.

What is crucial as well is a uniform approach to the issue by family and friends.

I would ask for a salt assessment (some depts. allow self referral) just to be on the safe side.

Chances are that it is normal non fluency but if it isn't then intervention can start asap.

Thanks for all your help
I think I'll see how she goes over the next week or so and if still problematic get a referral to speech and language(slightly scared and head in sand approach)

Both my DS and my 2 friends children stammer when they are trying to get something out but can't quite manage. For instance, today DS was trying to say he couldn't do his cardi up, and he said 'but I, I can't, but I, but I', then changes it completely and says mummy you do it. He was rushing because he wanted to get out to play. Is that what you mean. If it is, I am sure it's nothing to worry about as they all seem to do it at around 3

Sorry, am not a salt, just read thread title properly.

Darrell,make an appt now
Salts are few and far between and in the unlikely scenario that you do need specialist help,you are in the system.

Remember,you can always cancel an appt. if things sort themselves out spontaneously.
(Salts love it when communication problems resolve themselves!)

I wonder what other language you are speaking?
Hopefully one where you might find a salt who speaks it.

Bilingualism has nowt to do with stammering btw
(I am in a bilingual household myself-Welsh/English)

DH Punjabi
me english
glad to hear bilingualism has nothing to do with it as DH was feeling guilty that he had confused her.
She doesn't really speak it (not much opportunity) but she understands it

Darrell, my ds (2.9) is the same. Sometimes the stammer is just at the beginning, (Ca ca ca ca ca caaaa can we go and see if it's raining outside? etc, and especially with sentences beginning 'I') and occasionally he'll get really stuck on a word mid-sentence which he just can't get out. I wasn't too concerned, as his speech has really taken off recently and he gets very excited and gabbly, but it has got worse in the last few weeks and a couple of times he has just stopped and said "I can't say it, mummy....I can't say anything".

I saw the HV last week, and she isn't overly concerned, but has immediately referred us for a hearing test and an initial assessment with the SALT, to be on the safe side. The appointment will be in about 2-3 months so I'm pleased we're in the system at least. I do think it's probably age-appropriate non-fluency (if that's the right phrase), but it is worrying, and quite upsetting for us both at times so from my point of view it's sensible to get it checked. HTH

Ok, will make appointment this week (removes head from sand)
Thanks again

DH has nowt to feel guilty about.
Giving your child the gift of bilingualism is one of the best things he could do for her.

Glad you will make the appt.

Hello ... just caught this thread ... I'm a speech & language therapist, specialing in childhood fluency diffiulties ... will glady offer some advice if you still need it!
Best Wishes

Lisa

www.sltforum.co.uk
www.talkingtots.info