Early Stuttering: Quick Notes

What We Have Found:

Stuttering is not unusual in young children 

Stuttering onset is often associated with rapid growth in language development 

Children who start to stutter do not appear to be more shy or withdrawn 

No strong evidence for social/environmental factors related to stuttering onset 

Children Who Stutter:

May Repeat words or syllables over and over 

May  prolong sounds 

May have speech ‘stoppages or blocks’ where no sound comes out 

Stuttering can start suddenly or gradually 

Stuttering Left Untreated May Lead To:

Bullying & Teasing 

Speech-related social anxiety 

Failure to obtain occupational potential 

Severely impaired communication