When to get professional help? (for my 2-6 year old child who is stuttering)

Follow your gut, especially if you or your child are worried. (Ask yourself, on a scale of 0-10, how concerned are you about their stuttering?) Together, you and a Speech Language Pathologist (aka SLP, aka Speech Therapist) can decide when and what might be helpful for your child. Whether you are greatly concerned or not, if you have questions, it doesn't hurt to get more information.

If your child is feeling stuck or frustrated by their stuttering, it is a good time to get additional support. For example, they might

• Openly have negative attitudes about their own speech

• Giving up on speaking

• Demonstrate secondary behaviors while speaking (e.g. facial twitches or groping, head jerks, etc.)

• Show avoidance behaviors (e.g. avoiding speaking, or avoiding saying certain words)

Wait or Get Help?

General Guidelines:

• Stuttering less than 6 months: you can wait (unless your child has tons of risk factors* and/or you/your child are concerned or want tips).

• Stuttering 6-12 months: you & a speech therapist can decide if waiting or beginning therapy is appropriate, considering the number of risk factors.

• Stuttering 12+ months: good idea to touch base with a speech therapist.

If you have questions, ask! If you or your child are frustrated/worried, get support.

*See below for more information about Risk Factors

Even if it seems appropriate to wait before seeking professional help, it would be good to:

1. Note when your child began stuttering (when did you first notice it?)

2. Regularly track how severe your child's stuttering is on a scale of 0-10 (0 being no stuttering, 10 being the most severe stuttering). Track as often as is realistic at a consistent time, whether that be daily or weekly. You can use a note app, or notebook, or web document.

Keeping track of this information will help you give the SLP great information.

The following are risk factors for persistent stuttering. The more risk factors a child has, the sooner you might consider touching base with a speech therapist.

• Male

• Family history of stuttering

• Begin stuttering after age 3 1/2

• Stutter for 6-12 months or longer

• Stutter with prolongations (ex: "wwwwwwait") and/or blocks (ex: "wait..........for me")

• Sensitive temperament

• Poor articulation or language skills (below their peers, even if not considered severe enough to be diagnosed with a speech sound disorder or developmental language disorder)