Childhood Fluency Disorders- Information on Stuttering for Parents

by | Jan 16, 2018 | Fluency, Preschool

Below is an excerpt from a larger text.  For a complete read on both stuttering and cluttering, visit the ASHA website at http://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935336&section=Overview

Stuttering

Stuttering typically has its origins in childhood. Most children who stutter, begin to do so around 2 ½ years of age (e.g., Mansson, 2007; Yairi & Ambrose, 2005; Yaruss, LaSalle, & Conture, 1998). Approximately 95% of children who stutter start to do so before the age of 5 years (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005).

Emotional problems and parenting style do not cause stuttering. However, coping with stuttering can result in significant emotional reactions and avoidance behavior. Specifically, emotional reactivity/regulation and behavioral disinhibition have been found to be associated with stuttering and may affect the child’s ability to cope with disfluencies (Choi, Conture, Walden, Lambert, & Tumanova, 2013; Jones, Conture, & Walden, 2014; Ntourou, Conture, & Walden, 2013). Furthermore, although not considered a cause of stuttering, environmental factors may exacerbate disfluency. These factors can include family dynamics, fast-paced lifestyle, stress and anxiety, and the child’s temperament (Anderson, Pellowski, Conture, & Kelly, 2003). 

Risk Factors For Persistent Stuttering

It is not possible to determine with certainty which children will continue to stutter, but there are some factors that indicate a greater likelihood of chronicity. Risk factors that may be associated with persistent stuttering include

  • sex of child, as boys are at higher risk for persistence of stuttering than girls (Craig et al., 2002; Yairi & Ambrose, 2013);
  • family history of persistent stuttering (Kraft & Yairi, 2011);
  • time duration since onset of greater than 6 to 12 months or no improvement over several months (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005);
  • age of onset-children who start stuttering at age 3½ or later (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005);
  • co-occurring speech and language impairment (Ntourou, et al., 2011; Yaruss et al., 1998).

If you feel your child may require intervention for stuttering please contact us for a no-charge phone consult and speak to one of our speech-language pathologists!