Toddler Stuttering
Is Toddler Stuttering Normal?
True stuttering is not normal, but toddler stuttering usually is. Not all toddlers will stutter to the point where therapy may be necessary, but most stutter from time to time as part of learning to talk. Toddlers face a common problem, that of not usually having an effective enough command of the language to always be able to express themselves. Toddler stuttering is often a situation in which the mouth is outrunning the brain, and the child is trying to find the right word, but hasn't done so in time. The opposite can be true also, where toddler stuttering happens when the child is having difficulty in formulating the sound even though he or she knows what the proper word should be.
The above is usually referred to a pseudo-stuttering and is part and parcel with a situation we call disfluency. Even adults exhibit disfluency at times. We don't know a word or don't know its proper pronunciation and try to change course in mid word or mid sentence. The result sounds a lot like stuttering, though it is not.
Underlying Cause Of Stuttering Unknown - Curing stuttering can be very difficult in many cases, the main reason being that no one really knows what causes it. There are various theories as to probable cause, varying from physical reasons, to neurological causes, to psychological causes, to genetic inheritance. Treatments or therapy can be based upon any of these theories, and may or may not be effective. Many toddlers who are stuttering will simply "outgrow” the condition. Others are cured through therapy, while still others may carry the condition with them into their adult years. Speech therapy usually works, especially if started early, but the time it will take for the person to be cured of the condition can seldom be predicted.
Wait And See, But Not Too Long - Should you worry if your 2 year old or 4 year old begins to stutter? The answer to that is - maybe. Not much help there, but most speech therapists recommend taking a wait and see approach at first. A parent will need to determine if the toddler is experiencing true stuttering or pseudo-stuttering. If the latter is the case, the condition should clear up, probably within a year at most, and should show no signs of becoming worse. If true stuttering is the case, and a speech therapist or even a book on the subject can tell what to look for, therapy is the best approach. The earlier speech therapy can be undertaken, the more effective it usually is.
By the time a toddler is reaching preschool or school age, stuttering can have become a very uncomfortable and frustrating situation for him or her (boys are usually more affected by stuttering than girls, by a ratio of about 4 to 1). Some youngsters handle the situation quite well, while other have all sorts of problems, and may become extremely shy and introverted, or may lash out if teased or criticized.
What A Parent Can Do - While there isn't always a whole lot a parent can do directly to correct the problem, professional help may well be needed, there are many ways in which the toddler can be helped along on the way to an eventual resolution of the situation. Toddler stuttering can sometimes be lessened by teaching the youngster alternative words for those he or she may be having trouble with. Acknowledge the problem. If you ignore it, the child may think there is nothing that can ever be done about it, and it stuttering is something that shouldn't be talked about. Avoid conversation when possible during stressful situations. If it is necessary to correct a toddler's speech, do it positively and not from the perspective that the child has done something wrong. Speaking slowly can be helpful as well.
If toddler stuttering appears to be true stuttering, and a potential problem, parents need to educate themselves on the subject, to learn how best to deal with it. Treatment of severe toddler stuttering is not a place for amateurs.