Stuttering three year old????

Question

My daughter who is now three has been talking for about a year now....she has been doing really well.....saying three to four word sentences and picking up new words every day...but for the past several weeks now she has been stuttering almost every word she says.....my doctor says that it is because she has so much going on in her brain that her mouth can't keep up....i was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what they did about it.....thanks

Answer 1

I am a speech therapist and your doctor is correct. Stuttering is VERY common during periods of language development. Does she appear stressed with the stuttering? If not, be sure that you appear calm as well. If you start to notice her blinking as she stutters, or nodding her head as she does it, turning her head to a certain direction, these are more unusual and a sign that she needs to be evaluated by a pediatric speech language pathologist. In most cases, the stuttering will go away just as it appeared.

Answer 2

Your doctor is right unless you feel you could be stressed. Is there any chance she could be stressed? Often times when children are stressed they will start stuttering. If you feel she may be stressed, do whatever you can to comfort her. Don't ask her to slow down or repeat or she will only become more aware and begin to feel frustrated. I'm a preschool/kindergarten teacher and I have had several stutters. In manycases, there was a huge change or stress in the child's life. I remember one student who started stuttering for about 4 months after her baby sister arrived and then it stopped. In many other cases with stutters, 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 her life, it is most likely a growth spurt that she is going through. Don't finish her sentences for her because it will only cause frustration. Just get to her eye level, listen, and pretend like you don't notice. Give it some time yet if he doesn't improve in a few months, she 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

My son went through this at about the same age. I was very worried because learning disabilities run in my family and his dad's. My doctor told me pretty much the same thing. He is now going to be 7 next week and is no longer stuttering. For him, it was wanting to get his thoughts out faster than his brain could work. I just kept telling him to slow down, it's ok, and reassured him that I was listening to everything he had to say. It probably is simply a phase but as mother's we tend to worry about everything.

Answer 4

In my opinion, your doctor is right to a point, but your daughter also looks upon you for her every need. I would try to speak a little slower and clearer making sure that my mouth forms the words correctly, and wait with patience as she talks without finishing her sentances, but repeating the question slowish and clear along with your answer, let her listen to you talk properly, she will try to copy her mummy, if she does not improve within a few months, then seek the help of a speech patholigist. I wish you all the best!

Answer 5

To tell you the truth, I am a 19 year old male, and I have had the same problem since I was 5. I did go to speech therapy, it did help then I quit for a while, then the stuttering came back. If I were you, send your child to a speech pathologist and just keep with it for 2-3 years.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

we have this same issue with our 3 yo daughter (she's been talking since 9 mos). i took her to a speech pathologist because, like your little one, it got really severe- every other word, etc. the speech path. told me that 97% of kids grow out of it by age 5. she also gave me some guides: don't tell her to "slow down" or "think before you speak". she said just listen- listen to what she is saying, not how she is saying it. and when you speak to her, speak slowly and clearly. she hasn't stuttered for about a month now, and she goes in and out. what i noticed is that ANY kind of stress- even good stress- causes a set back in her speech. like going to grandma's house and then having to come back home. or a really busy weekend (even if it was all fun stuff). she will stutter for about 3-4 days and then go back to 'normal'. a strategy that helps her is to clap for each word she is trying to say. i thought of this because she is really musical. the only reason i taught it to her though is because SHE was bothered by stuttering. she would say 'momma my words are hard, please help'. so we did this. now she does it on her own.
don't stress out about this. if it persists, then follow your gut.

Answer 7

You can find all of the information you need at www.stutteringhelp.org, the web site for the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation where we found the best information and help for our family of stutterers. Look at the "Brochures for all ages" section as well as the online videos. They have information that every parent should read and see so they can help anyone who stutters and so they can teach their children how to react to someone who stutters.

Answer 8

My little brother had that problem when he was 3 until he started 1st grade. He would get so nervous because he wanted to say so many things at the e same time. However, we would try to calm him down before he would speak and that helped. He is now 22 and speaks normally. Good luck.

Answer 9

I think that the doctor is right...to a point. If it keeps up afer quite some time, contact a speech therapist. Your local public schools office may have information about early intervention speech programs for 3 year olds.

Answer 10

I am not a parent, but...my cousin (who is 10 as of now) used to stutter soooo badly. Eventually, he got over it. So hopefully as you daughter grows older she'll get out of it.
Just trying saying words that she only knows around her, until she gets them down pat! ;]
Seemed to work for my cousin!
And the doctor told my Aunt the exact same as your doctor.