On the flip-side, there are some indicators of persistent dysfluency, which a speech therapist would consider during a child’s first session:
- Has your child’s stammer or stutter been present for over 6 months?
- Do they repeat single sounds / syllables?
- Do they stretch sounds?
- Do their sounds or words get stuck? Perhaps their mouth is ready to say the word but they physically cannot get it out
- Do they display secondary behaviours when they get stuck?
- Are they showing a level of awareness and/or frustration?
- Are they avoiding words?
- Are they avoiding social situations?
- Is there a family history?
- Does your child have other speech and language needs?
If you find yourself answering, yes, yes, yes then please do contact a speech and language therapist. Even if you’re unsure, a chat with a speech and language therapist may help answer any queries or concerns you have. A speech and language therapist will also take into consideration the sex of your child as well as how old they were when they first began to stammer. Why? This is because girls are more likely to ‘outgrow’ dysfluencies, and dysfluencies which starts before 3 and half years are also more likely to resolve naturally.
Depending on your child’s age, presentation and awareness, the therapist may suggest more indirect work, focusing on supporting parents and providing them with strategies and techniques to support their child’s talking. Alternatively, direct work may be appropriate and again, depending on the child, this could be 1:1 or group work.