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Original poster

Sudden severe stammer DD 2.5

31 replies

Purple89 · 08/04/2025 10:16

Please help I'm so so worried. Any positive stories or reassurance would be much appreciated.

The one thing I thought i wouldn't have to worry about with my DD is her speech. She was a phenomenal early talker - full sentences from 18 months. About 2 or 3 months ago she started with a mild stammer occasionally- didn't really notice it and didn't happen very often.

One week ago today after skipping a nap it suddenly became severe. She sometimes clenches her fists, whispers or even yodels to try and get words out. It's often at the start of a sentence like blocks. When it's not there, her language has exploded even more, e g. Explaining big stories and abstract concepts like dreams. But it is quite frightening to see. To see your confident fluent girl reduced to struggling to say 'love you mummy'.

I'm very upset about it but not showing her that. Staying calm, not finishing her sentences, smiling and letting her finish. I've spoke to HV and she's put a referral in. Friends who have experienced this say its likely developmental and will pass.

But I'm finding it really upsetting and could do with a hand hold or wise words.

OP posts:
AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/04/2025 10:29

My daughter started stammering at the same age. The SALT said we should interrupt her with questions to give her time to think about what she’s saying. Her brain was moving faster than her mouth could keep up.

SummerHouse · 08/04/2025 10:59

We had this with DS. I was really worried as you clearly are. It came and went with no reason. We had him privately assessed but also went through the NHS at the same time. The private speech therapist who assessed him was brilliant. She said he was moderate to severe. His came on when I had second DS and I think that can have a bearing. Just as your DD clearly has too much vocabulary and thoughts for her brain to process and is keen to get her words out, I think DS was looking for reassurance that he could still get our attention and it just added a bit of urgency that wasn't there before.

I read all the books and even joined the National Stammer Association.

Now i recommend this but it takes a while to get your head around as it went against every instinct. The Lidcombe Program teaches parent led daily practice sessions where you talk about "bumpy" and "smooth" speech. So essentially you point it out (I know it's hard to imagine doing this) and see if they can say it again smoothly. You also do some deliberate "bumpy" talk. It does become normal and fun and positive and actually, I wonder how much they pick up. I don't think you can help reacting to a severe stammer. I think I probably did as much as I tried not to. I could see panic in him when it happened. This was a way to name the elephant in the room rather than pretend it wasn't happening and the "therapy" was just a game.

I can't say if this helped. His stammer did disappear overnight and one time it just never came back (although he went through many periods of it disappearing and reappearing). I think in most cases they just disappear.

It is heartbreaking at first. You don't want your child to struggle. But I know now it's not the issue I thought it was and I think it's very highly likely it won't last.

Wishing you and your brilliant daughter all the very best. You will get through this.

kkneat · 08/04/2025 11:02

One of my DD’s was exactly the same and didn’t even progress to a SALT - it’s apparently quite common. Nursery explained as the poster above said and I did some of my own research that their brains start thinking ahead and they can’t keep track with speech and stammer. We were told to do nothing and act like nothing was happening (and actually not to interrupt), it was completely gone by time she started school.

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CarpCarpCarp · 08/04/2025 11:48

My daughter had the same at a similar age - I think it's quite common as their language develops.

At the time we were quite worried and contacted SLT for our borough. I'll attach the leaflet we were given.

She had it on and off for a while but she's 4.5 now and her speech is totally fine, with a great vocabulary 🙂

Sudden severe stammer DD 2.5
CarpCarpCarp · 08/04/2025 11:50

(sorry it's come out quite blurry - if I can send it to you a different way let me know)

Squashedbanaynay · 08/04/2025 12:14

Has come and gone with my 3 ½ year old every time he has a burst of language. I just ignored it.

PieceOfSunshine · 08/04/2025 12:18

Squashedbanaynay · 08/04/2025 12:14

Has come and gone with my 3 ½ year old every time he has a burst of language. I just ignored it.

Same here. Nursery worried every time but it soon passes and his speech explodes. Definitely a case of his mouth not keeping up with his brain.

Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:44

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/04/2025 10:29

My daughter started stammering at the same age. The SALT said we should interrupt her with questions to give her time to think about what she’s saying. Her brain was moving faster than her mouth could keep up.

Thank you it's reassuring to hear. Did your daughter's go away?

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:45

SummerHouse · 08/04/2025 10:59

We had this with DS. I was really worried as you clearly are. It came and went with no reason. We had him privately assessed but also went through the NHS at the same time. The private speech therapist who assessed him was brilliant. She said he was moderate to severe. His came on when I had second DS and I think that can have a bearing. Just as your DD clearly has too much vocabulary and thoughts for her brain to process and is keen to get her words out, I think DS was looking for reassurance that he could still get our attention and it just added a bit of urgency that wasn't there before.

I read all the books and even joined the National Stammer Association.

Now i recommend this but it takes a while to get your head around as it went against every instinct. The Lidcombe Program teaches parent led daily practice sessions where you talk about "bumpy" and "smooth" speech. So essentially you point it out (I know it's hard to imagine doing this) and see if they can say it again smoothly. You also do some deliberate "bumpy" talk. It does become normal and fun and positive and actually, I wonder how much they pick up. I don't think you can help reacting to a severe stammer. I think I probably did as much as I tried not to. I could see panic in him when it happened. This was a way to name the elephant in the room rather than pretend it wasn't happening and the "therapy" was just a game.

I can't say if this helped. His stammer did disappear overnight and one time it just never came back (although he went through many periods of it disappearing and reappearing). I think in most cases they just disappear.

It is heartbreaking at first. You don't want your child to struggle. But I know now it's not the issue I thought it was and I think it's very highly likely it won't last.

Wishing you and your brilliant daughter all the very best. You will get through this.

Thank you so so much. I can't tell you what it means to hear this.

Do you think I should start trying the techniques using a book myself, or wait to see a SALT first? We've had a referral but i may go private.

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:46

kkneat · 08/04/2025 11:02

One of my DD’s was exactly the same and didn’t even progress to a SALT - it’s apparently quite common. Nursery explained as the poster above said and I did some of my own research that their brains start thinking ahead and they can’t keep track with speech and stammer. We were told to do nothing and act like nothing was happening (and actually not to interrupt), it was completely gone by time she started school.

Thank you so much that's so reassuring. I'm so glad it went away for your daughter. Was hers as severe as my daughter's stammer though? I worry because of the muscle clenching and whispering etc that hers won't.

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:46

CarpCarpCarp · 08/04/2025 11:48

My daughter had the same at a similar age - I think it's quite common as their language develops.

At the time we were quite worried and contacted SLT for our borough. I'll attach the leaflet we were given.

She had it on and off for a while but she's 4.5 now and her speech is totally fine, with a great vocabulary 🙂

Thank you this is incredibly helpful. It's not too blurry 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:47

Squashedbanaynay · 08/04/2025 12:14

Has come and gone with my 3 ½ year old every time he has a burst of language. I just ignored it.

Thank you so reassuring.

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:47

PieceOfSunshine · 08/04/2025 12:18

Same here. Nursery worried every time but it soon passes and his speech explodes. Definitely a case of his mouth not keeping up with his brain.

Show quote history

Thank you to you too - really reassuring appreciate it!

OP posts:
HundredPercentUnsure · 08/04/2025 13:53

You've had a lot of advice and suggestions already but I just thought I'd add these resources, recommended by our S&LT team. And calling it 'bumpy talking'.

https://michaelpalincentreforstammering.org/resources/for-parents/

https://stamma.org/get-help/parents/help-if-child-stammers

TaupeMember · 08/04/2025 13:56

Our son had this. It came on just before a leap, I worried myself sick and then it went away again and he was speaking in more complex sentences.

This came and went for a couple of years, the stuttering phase would last about 2-3 weeks

Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 14:03

HundredPercentUnsure · 08/04/2025 13:53

You've had a lot of advice and suggestions already but I just thought I'd add these resources, recommended by our S&LT team. And calling it 'bumpy talking'.

https://michaelpalincentreforstammering.org/resources/for-parents/

https://stamma.org/get-help/parents/help-if-child-stammers

Thank you so much I will look through these. As a side note, did Michael Palin stammer? As I see one of these resources is from him. Certainly didn't harm him if so!

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 08/04/2025 14:04

TaupeMember · 08/04/2025 13:56

Our son had this. It came on just before a leap, I worried myself sick and then it went away again and he was speaking in more complex sentences.

This came and went for a couple of years, the stuttering phase would last about 2-3 weeks

Thank you this is helpful and this aligns with what's going on with her too. Can I ask though, was your son's stammer as severe as mine with the muscle clenching etc?

OP posts:
AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/04/2025 14:30

Purple89 · 08/04/2025 13:44

Thank you it's reassuring to hear. Did your daughter's go away?

Show quote history

She’s 10 now and it’s all but gone. It can occasionally come back when she’s tired, run down or in stressful situations.

nessiesnotreal · 08/04/2025 14:49

Our youngest DD developed this suddenly at the exact same age. She just seemed to wake up one day and started stammering. It is absolutely heartbreaking hearing them struggle. We got in touch with the HV who came and did a home visit (this was 16 years ago) and told us not to panic and that this was actually quite common at this age.

DD was very quick to develop speech and was chattering away in whole sentences while some of her little friends of the same age were not as advanced. The HV told us it was developmental. It is like their brain goes faster than their speech. We were referred to a speech therapist but in the meantime were told to not show her any panic and not finish her sentences off for her but if she was getting a bit distressed trying to get her words out then to interrupt her speech attempts with questions. In other words try not to draw attention to it or make it into a big deal. Within a few weeks she woke up one day and it had gone as quick as it arrived and she never had it again. It was very upsetting at the time though.

Try not to worry too much. As you can see from the replies you have had here its more common than you may think.

HundredPercentUnsure · 08/04/2025 15:00

Purple89 · 08/04/2025 14:03

Thank you so much I will look through these. As a side note, did Michael Palin stammer? As I see one of these resources is from him. Certainly didn't harm him if so!

Show quote history

One of his family did, his dad I think

TaupeMember · 08/04/2025 22:53

Purple89 · 08/04/2025 14:04

Thank you this is helpful and this aligns with what's going on with her too. Can I ask though, was your son's stammer as severe as mine with the muscle clenching etc?

Show quote history

It was bad, yes.

We just stayed cool about it, and didn't rush him.

It was always such a relief when it went away though, I worried loads.

He's 10 now, and doesn't ever stutter anymore.

Original poster
Purple89 · 09/04/2025 19:07

TaupeMember · 08/04/2025 22:53

It was bad, yes.

We just stayed cool about it, and didn't rush him.

It was always such a relief when it went away though, I worried loads.

He's 10 now, and doesn't ever stutter anymore.

Show quote history

Thank you so much for responding 🩵 and I'm so pleased it went away for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Purple89 · 09/04/2025 19:07

nessiesnotreal · 08/04/2025 14:49

Our youngest DD developed this suddenly at the exact same age. She just seemed to wake up one day and started stammering. It is absolutely heartbreaking hearing them struggle. We got in touch with the HV who came and did a home visit (this was 16 years ago) and told us not to panic and that this was actually quite common at this age.

DD was very quick to develop speech and was chattering away in whole sentences while some of her little friends of the same age were not as advanced. The HV told us it was developmental. It is like their brain goes faster than their speech. We were referred to a speech therapist but in the meantime were told to not show her any panic and not finish her sentences off for her but if she was getting a bit distressed trying to get her words out then to interrupt her speech attempts with questions. In other words try not to draw attention to it or make it into a big deal. Within a few weeks she woke up one day and it had gone as quick as it arrived and she never had it again. It was very upsetting at the time though.

Try not to worry too much. As you can see from the replies you have had here its more common than you may think.

Thank you - really really appreciate it x

OP posts:
Bath2020 · 09/04/2025 19:13

@Purple89 i could have written this myself only it’s my ds and he just turned 3 at the weekend and has it about 2 months or so. I am beside myself with worry so I can’t offer advice I’m sorry but following for my own info xx

christmascalypso · 09/04/2025 20:38

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/04/2025 10:29

My daughter started stammering at the same age. The SALT said we should interrupt her with questions to give her time to think about what she’s saying. Her brain was moving faster than her mouth could keep up.

Please do not interrupt her with questions - this is not the up to date advice and will only frustrate her. See a speech therapist and take advice from them. In the meantime, just get down to her level when she is talking so she knows you are listening and wait for her to finish. If she is really struggling, you could say ‘oh that was a tricky word wasn’t it ‘ and then move on.

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