Every individual experiences speech disfluencies. Therefore, it is entirely normal for children to stumble over their words during the early stage of language development. They are still learning to pronounce the sounds of words accurately and fluently. However, to some extent, speech disfluency can be considered stuttering. So what’s the guideline? Does my child stutter? Does my child need additional help?
 

What is typical disfluency?

Children with typical disfluencies between 18 months and 3 years will exhibit repetitions of sounds, syllables, and words, especially at the beginning of a sentence. As they get older (3 – to 5 years old), children might also experience periods of disfluency due to increased cognitive and emotional load during interaction. Some common filler words (e.g., “um”, “eh”) might also be used in conversation. 
 

What is stuttering?

Stuttering is more than just disfluencies. Stuttering is a type of speech disorder that is characterised by disruptions in the flow of speech. These disruptions can be unusual pauses in speech and repetitive sounds. 
 

The following types might happen to someone who stutters:

• Sound repetitions – "I s-s-s-see a lion."
• One-syllable word repetitions – "The-the-the tiger."
• Prolonged sounds – "Aaaaaaambulance."
• Blocks – "Give me the (pause) lemon tea."

People who stutter may also exhibit secondary behaviours when talking, such as rapid eye blinking or body tenseness. In some cases, children who stutter may only speak in single or minimal words to avoid stuttering. 

When to seek help?

Many children go through normal periods of disfluency lasting less than 6 months. Disfluencies lasting more than this might require attention and treatment. Seeing your children tense up or struggle when talking is also a sign to keep an eye on. 

Early help can reduce the chances that your child will keep stuttering. Please get in touch with any Speech Therapists at the CDC for further information.

References:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). Characteristics of typical disfluency and stuttering. https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/fluency-disorders/characteristics-of-typical-disfluency-and-stuttering/
• Larrazabal, M. (2023). Stuttering and typical disfluency: How to differentiate. Better Speech. https://www.betterspeech.com/post/stuttering-and-typical-disfluency-how-to-differentiate