my son is 4 and stutters?

Question

it really frustrates him and was wondering if anyone knows things i can do to help him

Answer 1

Check out The Stuttering Foundation's website at www.stutteringhelp.org. You will find a risk factors chart that will help you decide if and when your child needs a specialist in stuttering for therapy. There is a referral list of specialists in every state and worldwide. There are brochures that are helpful with tips of what to do. Some of their books and videos are available at local libraries; check yours.
Bud

Answer 2

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 3

Speech therapy is essential at this age. By the time your child is 5 or 6 it will be too late to change the neural pathways that facillitate language. (After that age it is still possible to change speech patterns, but it is much more difficult). By the time a child reaches the age of 5 or 6, their brain has finished forming the basic structures for the processing of language -- before then it should be fairly easy to correct the problem; it will take a lot less time and effort on his part.

Answer 4

Get him a speech therapist. Quick. I stuttered as a child and 'outgrew' it. My son stutters also and is now 19. He was taught exercises by a speech therapist and they do work if you work at them. Best of luck to you and him also.

Answer 5

I had the same problem when I was younger, one day at the speech therapist and I was cured, but then again I was only confusing the CH and S sounds with an W. But definitly take him to a speech therapist, get it corrected asap before he gets to use to talking that way.

Answer 6

Take him to see a speech therapist. Alot of time's if he goes to a pre-school they can recommend someone for you. My mom is a speech therapist and she does work for the local daycare's in the area. If he's not in pre-school you can always ask the local schools most of them have a speech therapist on staff that would be able to help you find someone that could help you.

Answer 7

Have him tested for speech therapy. ask your pediatrician, and they can make the referral. My daughter stuttered, and the speech teacher came to our house, and helped her get it under control before she even started school!
Good luck!

Answer 8

speech therapy like everyone has said at home or a day care you can even help him you self. but give him time to talk and concentrate on what he needs to say never rush a kid with a speech problem or it can just make it worse then what it is.

Answer 9

well we started having the same problem a couple months ago with our 3 year old i read that its normal for a few months, but it doesnt go away contact a speeck pathologist, they say dont inturrupt your child, just let them say it as long as it takes, dont correct them, and dont try to make them pronounce certain words all the time bc it will just make them feel bad about it, i think my daughters problem is she is just getting to excited, she was a very clear speaker before but now she is starting to want to say longer sentences and its all going through her brain but not her mouth

Answer 10

Without doubt you need to see a professional speech therapist if it is causing your son problems.

That said, I had a stammer when I was a kid too. My Mum encouraged me to sing as, believe it or not, we don't stammer when we sing. It helped me so I hope it helps him.

Good luck.