Below is an excerpt from a larger text. For a complete read on both stuttering and cluttering, visit the ASHA website at http://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935336§ion=Overview
Stuttering
Stuttering typically has its origins in childhood. Most children who stutter, begin to do so around 2 ½ years of age (e.g., Mansson, 2007; Yairi & Ambrose, 2005; Yaruss, LaSalle, & Conture, 1998). Approximately 95% of children who stutter start to do so before the age of 5 years (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005).
Emotional problems and parenting style do not cause stuttering. However, coping with stuttering can result in significant emotional reactions and avoidance behavior. Specifically, emotional reactivity/regulation and behavioral disinhibition have been found to be associated with stuttering and may affect the child’s ability to cope with disfluencies (Choi, Conture, Walden, Lambert, & Tumanova, 2013; Jones, Conture, & Walden, 2014; Ntourou, Conture, & Walden, 2013). Furthermore, although not considered a cause of stuttering, environmental factors may exacerbate disfluency. These factors can include family dynamics, fast-paced lifestyle, stress and anxiety, and the child’s temperament (Anderson, Pellowski, Conture, & Kelly, 2003).
Risk Factors For Persistent Stuttering
It is not possible to determine with certainty which children will continue to stutter, but there are some factors that indicate a greater likelihood of chronicity. Risk factors that may be associated with persistent stuttering include
- sex of child, as boys are at higher risk for persistence of stuttering than girls (Craig et al., 2002; Yairi & Ambrose, 2013);
- family history of persistent stuttering (Kraft & Yairi, 2011);
- time duration since onset of greater than 6 to 12 months or no improvement over several months (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005);
- age of onset-children who start stuttering at age 3½ or later (Yairi & Ambrose, 2005);
- co-occurring speech and language impairment (Ntourou, et al., 2011; Yaruss et al., 1998).
If you feel your child may require intervention for stuttering please contact us for a no-charge phone consult and speak to one of our speech-language pathologists!