My 4yo son has a stuttering problem. Is this normal?

Question

My son who is turning 4 this month has quite a stutter. I'm wondering if this is common, and how long until he outgrows it. And when should I be concerned enough to contact a speech therapist?

You folks are probably on the right track. We just moved to a new house one month ago. But he has been handling it SO well (very excited, adores his new room). He has never asked about, longed for, or cried over losing the old house. I thought he was making the transition quite well. Maybe there are many stresses compounding on him. We are not abusive, but lately we have been on his case a lot because he has been acting out, and being overbearing to his little sister, and our dog. Hmmm. I guess I need to find out the stressors and try to help him work through it?

Answer 1

My three year old had a stuttering problem a few months back, and I was concerned then. Everything I read said that if the child is getting stuck on an entire word, "can, can, can", then they are likely just going through a normal phase in language skills. They have so many new words in their brain (or are lacking the one they want to express themselves), that they aren't sure what to say next to complete their thought. But, if they are stuck on the first sound in the word, "t,t,t,t,t,t,t", then that *might* have a stuttering problem in the future.
My son did it both ways, although he was stuck on an entire word most often. I would just have him slow down, let him think about it, and try saying it again. After a few months, he got past it and hasn't stuttered at all. Now, my youngest son (turning three next month), is doing the same thing. His sounds more forced though, so sometimes I think he is just copying what he remembers his older brother doing. ;)

Answer 2

As a child I had a very abusive environment. I believe to this day that my stuttering was a result of my environment. I have never gotten over the stuttering completely, but I did receive marvelous help when I was 8 years old by a spec ch therapist at my school. I thank God for her because she did a miracle. Make sure that your son is not reacting to something that is going on in his life. Many times children don't know how to tell parents about things that are upsetting them or if someone is hurting or even abusing them.
Be patient and ask him in a way he would understand as a little boy.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Its possible that he will grow out of it. But why risk the chance that he won't. I'm thinking that perhaps it an emotional or psychological thing. Just from my own experience- I'm his age Plus 40... I stutter and stammer when I'm nervous or unsure or under stress, sometimes. It could be a very easy thing to diagnose - by a professional. If the stuttering is constant or only isolated or. find out for sure because sooner or later if not already... the kids he plays with will make fun of him and that may cause eve more issues...

Answer 4

I hope you read my answer before you ingnore the question.
I have a stutter and it is hell, I am prisoned in a body or mind that can't speak, even though I have great stories to tell. I only wish my mum had taken me to a speach pathologist when i was young. I might be o.k now. My advice to you would be to take your son to a speach therapist now and get help and be pacient with him. He wont grow out of it, my family thought that, I still hope i will, and I'm 22 and stuggling. My stutter is not that bad, but it still stops me from growing as a person. Good luck.

Answer 5

Try turtle talk. My son stuttered for quite a while and then his speach therapist suggested we try turtle talk. You have to talk very slowly like a turtle all the time (yeah it can be annoying) but it gives your child a chance to really think about what they want to say. After about 6 weeks of it you'll notice a difference. Look at books and point to pictures and talk about he book and everything around him using turtle talk (veeeerrrrrryyyy ssssssllllloooowwwwlllly). It did absolute wonders for my son.

Answer 6

If you take your child to get screened they are going to look at all factors (development, environment, hereditary) but I am going to bet most of them will say that he is doing fine and that he will come out of it. My son is 4 as well and gets stuck on the beginning of sentences, and we were told that his brain is moving to fast for his mouth. Your son is just excited and speech takes a long time to perfect. Please don't worry and most of all do not make fun or belittle him for his stuttering. Let people who are around him know as well that he has a speech problem. Most of all just encourage him to slow down.

Answer 7

Take him to a preschool screening. They will tell you if it is normal or if he could maybe use some speech help. At least here in MN, the school district you live in does the testing and will hook you up with the right people if he needs help. And it is all free.

Answer 8

at this age he will be starting kindergarten soon..sometimes a stutter is nerves. i used to work with speech impaired children i would advise talking to a speech therapist .....if he is still stuttering when he starts school the teacher will give you info on what would be best, good luck i will be hoping for the best for you..

Answer 9

trying to get all that's going on in his mind out in a hurry causes stuttering in some children .. hold off on the therapist work with him on certain sounds.. did that with my grand daughter she had trouble with G's and R's try stomach and a few of the other ones one this site ..free

Answer 10

Very common & usually out grown...

If the stuttering is severe,& persists,
speech therapy will really help ...

I'll bet he can sing without stuttering.
That's common too.

Allow him express himself, without showing
frustration or interruption... Smile, Mom