“What causes stuttering?”
“Can stuttering be cured?”
“How can I support my child when they stutter?”
“Can speech therapy help?”
If your child seems to be stuttering, you may have questions like these. You’re not alone. Many caregivers wonder about the same things.
When your child begins to stutter, it’s important to understand whether speech therapy may be needed and how to support them in ways that promote confidence, ease, and academic success. As their caregiver, you want to be in their corner, and there is a lot you can do to help.
The goal is not to “fix” a stutter
Remember that your child is much more than their stutter. They are a whole person with likes, dislikes, a unique personality, and dreams and passions of their own. Try not to focus too heavily on their speech or pressure them to speak in a particular way. The goal is freedom of speech and greater confidence, encouraging self-love and acceptance.
How you talk about your child’s stuttering matters. Avoid words such as “bad,” “fix,” or “cure.” Stuttering is not something that needs to be “fixed” or “cured.” It is a diverse way of speaking.
How you talk about your child’s stuttering matters.
As a speech-language pathologist, I have seen firsthand how misunderstood stuttering can be. Many of my clients have learned to avoid stuttering at all costs. They may stay away from certain social situations, avoid ordering what they want at a restaurant, or rule out an entire career because it involves a great deal of verbal communication. These are only a few ways stuttering can affect someone’s life.
The way we speak to children helps shape their beliefs, perspectives, hopes, and dreams. Awareness and understanding can make a meaningful difference. Parents are in a powerful position to create a safe, affirming environment for children who stutter.
Free 45-minute consult
Looking for a speech therapist?
Talk through what you are noticing and get clear next steps.
Request a free consult
6 tips for talking with your child who stutters
It may be difficult at times, but try to focus on what your child is saying rather than how they are saying it. Use these tips to support your child during conversations:
1. Listen actively.
Show your child that you are fully engaged in what they have to say. Use eye contact, body language, nods, and gestures, and stay present throughout the interaction. If your days are busy, try setting aside a few minutes at the same time each day to give your child your undivided attention.
2. Be patient.
Your child may need a little more time to say what they want to say.
3. Avoid giving advice.
Do not tell your child to slow down or suggest that they “take a deep breath.”
4. Slow your own pace.
Modeling a slower overall speaking rate can be helpful. Speak in an easy, relaxed way and pause often. Children who stutter may also benefit from experiencing a slower, more relaxed pace of life. That is not always possible, but when you can, try not to rush or hurry your child.
5. Do not interrupt.
Children often find it easier to speak when there are fewer interruptions. Trying to talk over other people to be heard can increase tension and make speaking more difficult.
Model taking turns with everyone in your family so that people do not talk over one another. The dinner table is a great place to practice.
6. Be inclusive.
Treat your child as you treat your other children, or as you would if they did not stutter. Do what you can to help your child feel comfortable and included.
How can speech therapy help with a stutter?
As a society, we have a responsibility to change our beliefs about stuttering. We can understand it as verbal diversity, recognizing that people speak in different ways, rather than seeing it only as a condition that must be “fixed.”
It is important to recognize that not everyone who stutters wants to reduce their stutter. People who stutter need holistic intervention that supports each person’s individual communication experiences. Speech therapy goals and treatment plans must be personalized for the child who stutters.
Speech therapy can help children and adults find their voices in different ways by providing:
- Techniques that increase fluency, or ease of speech
- Techniques that reduce tension during speech
- Counseling about thoughts, emotions, and beliefs related to stuttering
- Confidence-building that helps you advocate for yourself in many kinds of situations as a person who stutters
Related guides
How can I tell if my child needs speech therapy for stuttering?
If your child has difficulty getting their words out and shows significant tension around speaking, consider talking with a speech-language pathologist, also called a speech therapist. They can evaluate your child and develop an individualized plan that helps you support your child in speaking with greater ease and confidence.
Speech therapists have the education, training, and licenses needed to assess speech and formally diagnose or rule out a stutter. Keep in mind that no one speaks with 100% fluency all the time. Everyone occasionally repeats a word or adds an “um” or two while talking. These are known as non-stuttering-like disfluencies. Examples include:
- Occasionally inserting filler words while speaking, such as “I, um, uh, well…”
- Repeating phrases, such as “I saw, I saw, I saw a cute puppy at the park.”
- Revising a sentence, such as “Yesterday, I mean yesterday morning, or, um, yesterday afternoon, I saw a cute puppy at the park.”
When listening to a person’s speech, speech therapists know what signs to look for to determine whether the person is showing stuttering-like or non-stuttering-like disfluencies.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, the best next step is to contact a licensed, trained speech therapist for a speech evaluation.
Other common questions parents have about children who stutter
What causes stuttering?
We know that stuttering results from a combination of factors involving development, language acquisition, environment, and brain structure and function. One finding is that people who stutter have delayed auditory feedback, meaning more time passes between auditory perception and speech. Stuttering also has a genetic component. A review of 28 studies reported that between 30% and 60% of people who stutter had a known family history of stuttering.
Developmental stuttering typically begins between ages 2 and 6. Stuttering can also be acquired during adulthood. When that happens, it is most often caused by a brain injury, stroke, or psychological trauma.
Does stuttering reflect my child’s intelligence?
No. This is a myth. Stuttering has no connection to how intelligent someone is. In fact, people who stutter often have a higher level of social-emotional intelligence because of the life-changing experiences that come with their stutter.
Can my child have a successful career?
Encourage your child to pursue any career they dream about. The belief that people who stutter cannot succeed is a limitation imposed by society. People who stutter can choose the careers they want and achieve great success. The stuttering community includes scientists, researchers, performers, comedians, doctors, speech therapists, teachers, and many others. Here is a small sampling of famous, accomplished people who stutter.
Read this article to learn more about misconceptions surrounding stuttering and how to support people who stutter. You can also visit these organizations for more information:
National Stuttering Association
FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter