Treatment:

There is no one best treatment for stuttering. Most early cases are short-term and resolve on their own. In persistent cases, speech therapy may help. Research on therapies is ongoing and should be investigated to determine what kinds of help may be most useful.

Drug therapy for stuttering has NOT been shown to be helpful.

Speech therapy may be helpful in the following if:

• Stuttering has lasted more than 6 - 12 months
• Stuttering happens most of the time the child is speaking
• The child or the family are very embarrassed by the stuttering or the child is afraid to speak

Research into therapies for stuttering is ongoing and should be investigated to determine what kinds of speech therapy may be most useful.

The way that family, friends, and teachers respond to a child's stuttering is very important:

• Avoid stressful social situations, whenever possible.
• Encourage slow speech by allowing the child plenty of time to talk.
• Use slow and relaxed speech when talking to the child.
• When the child appears frustrated, it is okay to gently acknowledge the stuttering and the frustration.

Some people who stutter find that they don't stutter when they read aloud or sing.

Expectations (prognosis):

In the majority of children who stutter, the phase passes and speech returns to normal within 3 or 4 years. Stuttering that begins after a child is 8 - 10 years old is more likely to last into adulthood.

Stuttering is most common between ages 3 and 5. Parents should avoid expressing too much concern or commenting too much, which can actually make matters worse by making the child more self-conscious.

Complications:

Possible complications of stuttering include social problems caused by the fear of ridicule, which may make a child avoid speaking entirely.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your provider if stuttering is interfering with your child's school work or emotional development, if the child seems anxious or embarrassed about speaking, or if the symptoms last for more than 3 - 6 months.