The signs and symptoms of child stuttering usually appear at preschool age, between 2½ and 3 years of age. Childhood stuttering is characterized by repetition of sounds or syllables words, which result in blockages or extensions of speech, especially between words.
Children with stuttering usually have some tics blocking times and use support words often in sentences, even if those words do not fit into the context. It is also common for them to avoid speaking in the presence of others.
In addition to impairing verbal communication, stuttering is often accompanied by shyness, fear associated with speech, and anxiety in some situations.
However, children aged 2 ½ to 3 years may stutter due to anxiety at the time of speaking, which may alter speech fluency. This anxiety is normal at this stage of speech development and increased vocabulary.
In these cases, stuttering is part of the development and often disappears spontaneously, without the need for treatment. The younger the child is and the shorter the duration of stuttering, the more likely it is to recover spontaneously.
However, if the child begins to stutter when he is learning to speak and the disorder lasts more than 12 months and it gets worse over time, child stuttering is no longer considered part of the development. The disorder is classified as chronic and pathological and needs to be treated.
There is no specific medicine to treat stuttering. The treatment of children's stuttering is done with speech therapy. The goal is to help the child to speak more slowly, smoothly, and fluently. The inclusion of the family in the treatment can increase the chances of success and should be stimulated.
An important orientation that is given to family members is that speak slowly with the child. Decreasing speech speed facilitates the flow of stutterers. On the other hand, speaking at an accelerated pace requires more of the speech comprehension system and the linguistic system that elaborates and produces the answer, contributing to blockages.
Stuttering is a fluency disorder characterized by interruptions or prolongations of speech that prevent a person from speaking continuously, fluidly and effortlessly. It can be caused by hereditary, social, psychological, linguistic factors (children who speak 2 languages or more) or even delayed language development.
Childhood stuttering can persist into adulthood. The earlier the problem is diagnosed and treatment begins, the better and faster the results will be.
Learn more at: Does Stuttering Cure?
