My stuttering 4-year-old. How can I help him?

Question

Sometimes my 4 1/2 -year-old stutters his words and doesn't pronounciate very well, and other times he speaks fine. I always understand him, but sometimes others have problems. Other kids AND adults have made faces at him, like, "what are you saying"? And I've been asked "why does he talk like that" right in front of him. My pediatrician said not to worry, that some kids his age think so quickly, they just can't get the words out right, and that it will get better. I feel like I need to do more to help him. Has anyone ever had this problem? I'd like for him to go to speech therapy, but I can't afford it. I don't want him to become self-conscience. What's your advice?

Answer 1

Are there any new changes in his life (new baby, more, school related problems, family issues)? Often times when children are stressed they will start stuttering. If you feel he is stressed, do whatever you can to comfort him. Don't tell him to slow down or repeat. He will only become more aware and begin to feel frustrated. I'm a preschool/kindergarten teacher and I have had several stutters. In several cases, there was a huge change or stress in the child's life. I had one student who started stuttering for about 4 months after her baby sister arrived and then it stopped. In many other cases with stutters, I felt it coincided with a growth spurt. Their bodies are just growing and learning too fast for them and it takes time to catch up. Their mind is thinking of words much faster than they can get them out. If there aren't any big changes or stress in your child's life, it's most likely a growth spurt that your child is going through. Don't finish his sentences for him because it will only cause frustration on his part. Pretend like you don't notice. Give it some time yet if he doesn't improve in a few months, you can get free speech therapy through your local school district. Check out the Stuttering Foundation of America web site at http://www.stutteringhelp.org and read their tips on helping the child who stutters. Relax and good luck!

Answer 2

Let me ask you this question, it may seem weird, but there was a study that my graduate school conducted. Did anyone by chance switch his hand preference? Meaning, if he was predominately left handed, did someone encourage him to use his right hand instead? If so, sometimes this causes problems with speech and stuttering due to the brain being wired one way, but used the other. It can be helped through therapy if this is the case, and switching back might cause it to become worse. If this is not the case, if he is a child that used th bottle or pacifier, or even sucked his thumb for long periods of time, that will cause speech problems as well. You are doing the right thing by being proactive about it. As long as you are aware, and exploring your options to help him, things will work out fine. You're doing a great job by being concerned, and I wish you and your son the best.

Answer 3

My almost 4 year old does the same thing. So did my brother, he stuttered until he was about 8. My mother was told that in most circumstances, the sentence goes through their minds before their mouths can get the words out. My doctor agreed, he said it's not a "problem" but just a phase kids go through and it will work it out itself. Since I've quit worrying about it, and made my family leave her alone, she's started stuttering less. When she gets hung up on her words, I stop her and gently say, "Baby, just slow down." And that usually gets her unstuck. As far as the pronunciation goes, the more and longer he uses the language, the better his enunciation and pronunciation will become. After all, he's only 4. I still goof up my words and I'm 40.

Answer 4

Have you noticed that when he sings, he probably never stutters. I believe that is because a deep breath is taken beforehand. Just ask your son to start by taking the big breath and slowing down. I'm sure this will help. As for the poor pronunciation, don't correct him constantly but repeat his sentence back to him in some way but correctly constructed and spoken. Eg, if he were to say,"I want a dink, please," you would respond with,"Oh , do you want a drink? What would you like?" He is coming to the age when speech problems are so easily corrected with a few exercises. If you continue to be worried, please try not to leave it too long before seeking professional help. Good luck.

Answer 5

I stutter, my first few phrases have been with it. It may also be strain brought on, I are aware of it turns into worse while I have plenty of matters occurring, so he is also choosing up on that. I could point out it to his pediatrician and ask for his opinion, and might be in the event you suppose it is unhealthy sufficient you would get him speech categories. I had them. As for speaking to him, I could check out telling him it is ok and to sluggish down. However, that has a tendency to frustrate me while any individual says that to me. He's best 4, so I have no idea if he'd get pissed off over that, however it is well to hold that during brain for the longer term. For now, act adore it's no longer there and take a look at your first-rate to provide him your complete concentration while he is speaking. If he is aware of he has your calm concentration, he perhaps ready to chill out sufficient to quit stuttering. I desire I helped in any respect, well good fortune to you! (:

Answer 6

Call your local public school system. For kids his age they usually will do testing and maybe even therapy. And it's free. If they won't do it now, they'll do it when he enters Kindergarten.

For the rude adults who ask "why does he talk like that" I think you might reply one of two ways:

"Talk like what?" Then let them stumble through an explanation of their rude question." Just pretend you have no idea what they are talking about.

Or

"Pardon me? Did you just rudly ask me, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY SON, why he speaks with an impediment? I can't believe you could be so insensitive to ask that and really it's none of your business."

Give it back. That's plain rude and adults who ask deserve an equally rude answer. All kids develop differently and he'll grow out of it or you can help him with therapy. My nephew did the same thing, my friend's kid does the same thing. It's perfectly normal.

Also, there are tongue and mouth exercises that you could do with him to help strengthen the muscles in and around his mouth. You might find some on-line somewhere.

Answer 7

Just take him to some speech clases or something. My cousin had trouble pronouncing Z words, Fs, Ks, and alot more throughout his childhood. So he'd use letters like Ts in place of Fs, etc, etc.

He had this trouble until he was 6 or 7. If he didn't go to the speech program class he'd probally still have this trouble. He's 11 today and has perfect english thanks to that class.

You should take him to the speech class while he's still young, because when you get older you'll have a harder time. Believe me that class will work wonders.

Answer 8

I think your pediatrician is right. His brain is just thinking quicker than he can speak. Once he is in school, and is still having problems you can talk to your son's teacher & have him put into speech therapy free. But, he will probably "outgrow" this small little problem.

Don't worry to much about what other people think. THere are some dumb people in the world!

Answer 9

My 3 year old daughter had an awful stutter. Her doctor kept telling me she would probably outgrow it... and she did. The best piece of advice I got was to squat down at eye level with her when she was stuttering, look her square in the eye and wait until she finished speaking. The child has to know that you aren't going anywhere and you won't give up on them until they get the words out. I refrained from telling her to slow down because this seemed to make her more anxious. I just waited quietly and she started to relax and the words came more easily.

Answer 10

My nephew had a problem with speech as well. My sister paid a private speech therapist for two years to no avail. When my nephew was 5 and started school a speech therapist was provided for him free of charge. The school therapist got him speaking properly. He is 9 years old now and doing well.

Bottom line, I agree with your doctor. As your son gets older, it may take care of itself, if not wait until he's in school.