2 year old stuttering?

[slgt]

Our 2 year-old DD has excellent language skills. She speaks in full sentences, and we can easily understand maybe 80%+ of what she says. She also has a large vocabulary and expresses fairly complex sequences of events.

The past few days, however, we've noticed an increased tendency to stutter. She stutters at least one word in each sentence, it seeems. At first we noticed it just when she was excited, and then I thought it was worse when she was tired, but we're now noticing it more frequently.

Is this something to worry about? When does stuttering start to show up? How long before we contact the doc?

[junipervt]

As a member of a family where there are a lot of stutterers I say it would not hurt to contact your doc to get a referal to a speech & language pathologist. Most states will cover the cost throught some kind of early intervention program if covering the cost is an issue to you. I also know up here that there is a bit of a wait to get to see one, so the sooner one gets on the list the better. They will give you exercises to do. I nannied for a little guy who I had to take to speech therapy each week & it was actually pretty fun He loved going!

I don't think a stutter is something to worry about. My brother had a pretty pronounced stutter & had early intervention. As an adult he does not stutter at all. My grandfather has had a stutter all of his life & he was a successful pharmacist. I have a slight stutter that most people don't even notice until I tell them. I don't think it has adversly affected my life.

[hakeber]

All of the books I have read said this was totally normal. DS went through this (a little later because he started to talk in full sentences a bit later) and sometimes still when he is really excited I have to clap him on his back a bit to get him unstuck.

It's really confusing and difficult for me not to laugh when he starts his sentence again for like the tenth time, but I hear laughing at your children in open mockery is not good for their development so I refrain as best as I can.

From what I understand the more you make a big deal out of it, the worse it is likely to become. Sometimes I've just tried to help give him a nudge by providing the next word for him, or finishing the word he wants to say, and then he seems to move on no problem.

[buttercups.nest]

Originally Posted by hakeber

From what I understand the more you make a big deal out of it, the worse it is likely to become. Sometimes I've just tried to help give him a nudge by providing the next word for him, or finishing the word he wants to say, and then he seems to move on no problem.

I had quite a severe stutter when I was little. I stopped saying certain things and sometimes didn't say anything at all because I was afraid to stutter.

On that note, when I had speech therapy it was always when I was in school or had a friend over (a relative was a therapist and she came over to our house) so it was always embarrassing for me. I remember one time I went after school and my mom came with me...the room we were in was small and cramped. No windows...just a round table and 4 chairs. My mom and the therapist were both at the table with me...looking at me. I was so embarrassed...I sat with my head on the table the whole time...my mom was really angry afterwards but....I never found the therapy helpful.

I despised doing presentations in junior/high school, college was better though. By then I had the attitude that if you didn't like me for me MOVE ON Now at 27 I still sometimes get too overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and have to take a deep breath and start over. A lot of people say that they had no idea until I mentioned something.

I am happily married with 2 kids. I am concerned that my kids will stutter but I can't stress over it.

My husband has ADHD so he sometimes is doing something else when I am trying to talk. That 'stresses' me out and that is one of the times I am prone to stuttering. When he finishes my sentences that actually drives me nuts...I feel like he's telling me I can't do it. What has been the biggest help for me is a reminder to take my time, deep breath, a friendly smile, just be accepting.

Good luck

[welsh]

Hi from your DDC!

A friend's daughter started stuttering last year when she was about 2.5.
It only lasted a few months and disappeared as quickly as it came. Strange.
I think she was acquiring some new skills and was processing alot of information...including her Mama's pregnancy....

[Peony]

DD2 stuttered for several months when she was 2, it cam on suddenly, got really bad for a while, and then just went away. Her mouth just couldn't keep up with everything her brain wanted to say. It is quite common at that age, if it persists then get it checked out but often ti is just a phase.

[4Jet]

That is our situation with DD minus the pregnancy part
It comes and goes. It's worse when she's tired or super excited and can't say all of the things she's thinking. It takes time for the brain to connect everything and then speak- plus the vocabulary they learn everyday is astonishing! I wouldn't worry until she's older.

Originally Posted by welsh

A friend's daughter started stuttering last year when she was about 2.5.
It only lasted a few months and disappeared as quickly as it came. Strange.
I think she was acquiring some new skills and was processing alot of information...including her Mama's pregnancy....

[Tjej]

DS is a little over 2 and he has just recently started getting "stuck" on one word - repeating it. I just let him and wait or I supply the next word. I personally am not worried - I've seen a lot of kids do this. I am sure if my DS is still doing it in 6mo-1yr I would look into it, but he is just so excited about things that he doesn't know how to get it all out fast enough.

Tjej