Information and what to do if your child has just started stammering, or has been stammering for a while.
Is your child speaking differently, but you don't know why? Not sure if it's stammering? What should you do to support them?
All that uncertainty can feel scary at first, and it's okay if you're feeling worried.
On this page, we explain why a child might start stammering. We'll tell you the things you can do next and the support that's available if you need it.
If you still have questions or concerns, phone our free helpline on 0808 802 0002 or start a webchat. We're here to support you.
Is my child stammering?
A child who stammers might do one or more of these things:
- Repeat sounds or words. For example, "M-m-m-mummy".
- Stretch or prolong sounds. For example, "Can you read me a ssssssstory?"
- Have a silent block where a sound gets stuck. For example, "---------Can I have…". A block could last for a few seconds, or it could last longer.
These can happen at any point in a sentence.
They might also:
- appear tense in their mouth, face or body
- change their breathing pattern or feel out of breath
- close their eyes or look away
- use other parts of their body to help get a word out or release tension. For example, they might jerk their head, tap their fingers or stamp their feet
- say "um" or "er" or repeat a word they've already said to help launch into words they find more difficult to say.
Why is it happening?
We don't fully know why children start stammering. But research shows that it's a combination of different things. One of these is that there's a difference in the way their brain is wired. There's also a genetic link and stammering often runs in families.
See What Causes Stammering? for more about what we know.
Learning a second language does not cause stammering. See Stammering & Bilingual Children to learn more.
Is it my fault?
Parents sometimes ask us if they are to blame when their child starts stammering. The answer is categorically NO!
We know that children do not start stammering because:
- they were told off
- a new brother or sister joined the family
- of a big upheaval in their lives, eg, parents separating or moving home
- they are learning more than one language. If you're worried about this, see Stammering & Bilingual Children.
So don't blame yourself. Nothing you have done as a parent or guardian has caused the stammering. If a child starts stammering around the same time as events like these, it's coincidental. See What Causes Stammering? for information.
In the video below, Kirsten from STAMMA talks more about how stammering is not your fault. (Or read a transcript of the video.)
Do children stop stammering?
Stammering in young children is fairly common. Up to 8% of children will stammer for a period of time. It quite often starts between the ages of 2 and 5.
Most young children who start to stammer might stammer for a period of days, weeks or months.
Many will stop stammering over time, but not everyone. At the moment, we can't tell for sure which children will stop and which won't.
Around 1% of people will continue to stammer into adulthood. And that's OK — it's OK to stammer. Many people see their stammer as just another way of talking.
And there are lots of adults who stammer who are living happy, successful lives. See our Influential People Who Stammer page for examples.
Watch Kirsten from STAMMA explain more in the video below. (Or read a transcript of the video.)
What should I do?
Has your child been stammering for a few weeks? If so and they're finding it difficult to talk, or if they're feeling worried about it, there are things you can do to help.
Responding to your child
How you respond to your child is important. It will shape how they see themselves and how much they enjoy talking.
It's OK to feel worried. But if we give our child the message that the way they talk is scary or 'bad', they might start to feel worried too. They might think that it is better to be silent than stammer. They might begin to go to great lengths to hide their stammering. And that tends not to be helpful at all.
Try to stay neutral even if that's not how you're feeling, rather than looking away. And try not to praise them only when they are fluent.
Watch Kirsten explain more in the video below. (Or read a transcript of the video.)
Talking with your child
Give them time and space to finish, focusing on what your child is saying rather than how they speak.
Avoid interrupting, finishing sentences, or offering advice like to "slow down" or "relax”.
We go into a lot more detail about this on our Talking With a Child Who Stammers page. It has a list of easy things you can do at home that can make a huge difference.
What to do if you're still worried
Seeking help: therapy & courses
If you're still worried, speech & language therapy may be helpful. After chatting with you and your child, a therapist can make an assessment and answer any questions you might have.
See how to access Children’s Stammering Therapy.
Or, if your child is a bit older, you could see what stammering group courses are out there. See Children's Stammering Group Courses for details.
Is your child already having therapy but you don't think it's having an effect? See What To Do If Therapy Isn't Working Out.
Our online parent support groups
Come to our 'Parent 2 Parent Online Support Groups. There, you can meet other parents of children who stammer, ask questions and share experiences.
They're a great opportunity to learn what other families have found helpful and not so helpful. Or what factors have made things easier or tougher for them. Maybe you feel confident supporting your child and would like to support others.
Getting support at School
See Stammering At School for details on getting support for your child in the classroom. For example, it has information on how to get extra time in oral or spoken exams if your child stammers.
If you have any questions about stammering and school, get in touch. Call our helpline for free on 0808 802 0002, start a webchat or email help@stamma.org
Resources & more support
Resources
- Watch the videos 'My Stammering Tap' and 'My Stammering Child'. They're made by Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and explore the concerns you might have.
- Watch our video 'Becoming more comfortable with your child's stammering'.
- See a list of Books For Parents & Children. It includes self-help books and children's stories.
- Read articles from parents about their experiences.
- Read our article on Nurturing resilience in children who stammer.
- Plus, we've got an online Minecraft Club, for children aged 7 to 14.
More support
- UK Peer to Peer Support Group for Parents of Children who Stammer Facebook group.
- The STAMMA 'Space For Stammering' Facebook group. Open to anyone, including parents.
- Action for Stammering Children is an informative website on stammering with a focus on children and young people.
Donate & make a difference
Creating this page was only possible thanks to your kind donations. Please consider donating to STAMMA. You'll be helping us to:
- keep our support services running for people who stammer and worried parents
- put on workshops and support groups
- create guides for teachers and employers
- create our award-winning campaigns for change.
Thank you.
