Certain factors may place children at risk for stuttering. Knowing these factors will help you decide whether or not your child needs to see a speech pathologist.
Stuttering is characterised by:
- Whole word repetition (can, can, can you)
- Initial syllable or sound repetition (mu. mu, mummy)
- Inability to get a word out (blocking)
| Risk Factor | More likely to continue to stutter | True for my child |
|---|---|---|
| Family history of stuttering | A parent, sibling or family member who still stutters | |
| Age of onset | After 3 years 6 months of age | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Time since onset of stutter | Stutter present for longer than 6 months |
If your child has one or more of the risk factors above, please contact our speech pathologists who can advise you what to do.