Stutter in the 3 Year Old

My son was very hard to understand, but had never stuttered until he started preschool. There were some big changes going on with my family and a new relationship, and since he had never been to daycare, it was his first experience with a classroom setting and organized instruction. He stuttered and stammered for several weeks and just when I started to seek help and advice I noticed he was doing it less and less. I tried not to make a big deal about (although it was driving me CRAZY!)and he eventually stopped altogether. When his grandfather died several days before this past Christmas he stuttered several times while trying to tell a story, but it did not come back. I would just give it some time and let him adjust to the changes. Good Luck!

I am pretty sure there is a program you can sign up for where speech pathologist come to your home and work with your child, now if I only knew what it was called. Maybe you should check with a school on post. But you have to live on post for them to do it though. I know of some people that have done it and they came to their house once or twice a week. it's worth a try! Hope this helped. M.

Hey L.!
I am a pediatric speech therapist and deal with stuttering all the time. It sounds like your little one has developmental stuttering and will outgrow this if given time. You are very perceptive about the stuttering. I have seen a lot of children who resume stuttering when they have a significant life change such as your moving and dad going to work in a different setting. There are a few recommendations I can make on how to deal with it in the interim.
1. Do not interrupt
2. Watch your facial expressions when he is talking to you. If you have a look of concern, impatience or fear he will read that a might even stutter more.
3. Dont call any attention to the stuttering

The Stuttering Foundation is a WONDERFUL resource and they have tons of info on stuttering at VERY cheap prices. I highly recommend going to their website.
As for therapy, give it some time. If you do decide to pursue therapy, in the state of TN at age three you contact your local school system's dept of special education. I am not sure about NC's process.
Good luck and hang in there!
J. M.
www.jennifermcveyslp.com

www.stutteringhelp.org

My little girl had a defined stutter from age 3-5, and I got a video from her pediatrician about how to help her. The major points of the video were for everyone in the family to slow down and give her time to talk without finishing the words for her. It also said to look at her as she spoke and "look patient" even if you are in a hurry. We also had to slow down our speech. Strangely enough, her stutter developed after a move too, and she wanted to go home also. I started her in an early intervention preschool program by having an evaluation done with a speech pathologist, and she remains in speech therapy weekly at age 7, but the stutter is completely gone now.

I have a 4 year old little girl and she started to stutter at the age of 3 as well. I took her to a hearing doctor and tested her ears and they said the only thing she has, is selective hearing.. (only hearing what she wants to) lol.. but her doctor said that is common in children between the ages 3-5 years old.. I wouldn't really worry with it until he gets older and if he still has it.. If you would like to make sure I would get his hearing checked first, they are soooo gentle with kids.. If he does have a hearing problem then you could go from there.. But like I said it is actually really common in kids at those ages, but good luck and hope it helps...

Hi L.,

I have a son who also took a long time to talk and then had a stutter when he began to talk close to 3 years old. I had no idea what the cause was and hoped it would go away in time. I lived in Newport News, VA and found an elementary school who started all day preschool. The kids had to be tested in order to secure a spot and my son was accepted because of his stutter. He had always been at home care providers up until then. Maybe that was a factor. Anyway, the school also had a speech therapist who would work with my son once or twice a week. That helped and I began to hear a difference, slight but a difference. Unfortunately, not many schools do this and for free. We had to move shortly afterwards and I was very upset about his losing those sessions. However, they helped and now his stutter is almost gone and he is 7 years old. In time, I am sure it will totally disappear. So, maybe you can look into a close by public school that might also have such a program.

A.

Hi there! My son stutters some of the time (he is 4). He started to stutter when he was almost 3-then he stopped and he started again. It isn't constant and the doctor said he would grow out of it. I think it has to do with stress-perhaps with your little man if you give him extra love and positive reassurance will bring him around and the stutter will leave. Oh, if dad can be happy and excited and give one on one attention when he gets home it may make the transition easier-just a thought.

I am in Charlotte and they have speech therapy through the county mental health system-- so it's free for children at risk. Here it's called Child Development Services and it's located at the Watkins Center. If you need info let me know, but it sounds like you are near Raleigh. I would call the county mental health and see if they have a similar program..... helped my friend whose daughter needed speech therapy -- most programs end at age 4 so you might want to call right away since she is 3.

I completely agree with your mother in law. WQe always think about ourselves and how we feel when probs like this arise. But we tend to forget about our little ones and the way they just can't understand why daddy doesn't stay at home anymore and why he can't go sleep in his own bed. I do believe he is under alot of stress right now. Seeing a specialist won't hurt but don't stress about it. Keep him as comfortable as possible for the time being. Try to go out of your way to spend just a little extra time with him right now.

Our son had a stutter at about the same age, and we would just tell him to stop, take a breath, slow down and try again. I agree with your mother in law, it's probably partly stress. Just try and help him to relax as much as possible and don't make too big a deal out of it.

Hi L.,
My son started talking early and was developing fast. However, he to had a stutter by age 2. We were deeply concerned about it. We saw our local pediatrician and he assured us it was a normal dysfluency. It started to fade and shortly after, my husband and I separated and the studder worsened. I called the pediatrician again because I grew concerned, he gave me the name of a speech therapist. We saw her; however, she said at this age and with the circumstances she targeted the studder to the changes. She said that at his age there wasn't much therapy because the language is still developing rapidly. We still have days that there isn't a single studder but if he gets upset then there's a studder. I hope this helps ease your mind.

Is there a preschool/Head Start program in your area? In our county & many surrounding counties, the school system offers a free developmental screening to children ages 3 & 4. It is designed to find any problems in the main developmental areas in children: motor skills, congitive, language & social. If he doesn't pass the screening in the area of speech,he may be eligible for speech services through the school system or through the preschool/Head Start program in your area. I am a preschool teacher & help with the screenings in our school system. Good Luck!! Your child's pediatrician may also be helpful.