Stuttering factsheet

Introduction 

Stuttering is a speech disorder that makes it hard to speak smoothly. Children who stutter know what they want to say but have difficulty saying it clearly. 

Stuttering usually begins in childhood between the ages of 2 and 5. This is when children are learning to put words together into short sentences. 

Stuttering can develop suddenly or slowly and can be more common in boys during early childhood.

Around 1 in 100 people stutter and it can affect people of all languages. 

 Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of stuttering can include:

  • repetition: repeating sounds, words, or phrases - “I I I can do it”
  • prolongation: stretching out sounds - “where’s my sssssister?”
  • blocking: getting stuck on words where no sound comes out
  • physical movements: face or body movements, like blinking, head jerking, or unusual facial expressions, when trying to speak.

Stuttering can vary in how severe it is, depending on the situation, environment or time of day. 

It may be more noticeable when your child is:

  • anxious or nervous
  • stressed or excited
  • tired or arguing
  • not given enough time to speak
  • using complicated language
  • competing to be heard.

Some children’s stuttering improves when they:

  • sing
  • whisper
  • read aloud with someone.

Diagnosis

If you're concerned about your child’s speech, talk to your local doctor or child and family health nurse, or contact a speech pathologist for further help.

Getting help for stuttering as early as possible is important because it can be harder to treat as children get older.

A speech pathologist will assess your child’s speech and ask if anyone else in your family has had a stutter.

Stuttering is graded based on how much of your child’s speech is affected. The speech pathologist will count the number of stuttered syllables and compare it to the total number of syllables your child speaks. 

A syllable is one unit of sound in a word. For example, “ap-ple” has two syllables.

Stuttering is usually classified as:

  • mild – less than 5% of syllables stuttered
  • mild to moderate – 5-10% of syllables stuttered
  • moderate – 10-15% of syllables stuttered
  • moderate to severe – 15-20% of syllables stuttered
  • severe – more than 20% of syllables stuttered

Treatment

The type of treatment your child needs depends on their age and how severe their stutter is. Treatment generally focuses on helping your child speak more clearly and confidently.

It’s hard to know which children will outgrow stuttering, so it's important to get help early.

Younger children

The best treatment for preschool-aged children who stutter is the Lidcombe Program. This is a behavioural program where parents and carers are trained to help treat the stutter at home. 

Children attend therapy once a week and practice speech tasks at home with their parents or carers. Parents and carers are taught how to give helpful feedback and track the stuttering.

Older children

For older children who stutter, speech pathology treatment may focus on things like:

  • breathing techniques to help produce sounds more slowly and with less anxiety
  • controlling and monitoring speech to improve speech flow
  • practising speech in different situations and at different language levels
  • education to help your child and family understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how your child may be affected in other areas
  • managing anxiety and stress related to stuttering
  • school support 
  • speech and language assessments to understand which areas need support, like language understanding, pronunciation, social skills, attention and communication.

 Management

Causes of stuttering

The exact cause of stuttering is not fully understood, but it may be linked to how the brain controls speech. 

Some facts about stuttering include:

  • stuttering is not caused by anxiety, low intelligence, or parenting styles
  • stress or excitement can make stuttering worse but do not cause it to develop
  • boys are more likely to stutter
  • stuttering cannot be learned or “caught” from others.

Supporting your child at home

Positive support can help build your child’s confidence and make therapy more effective. 

Below are some helpful tips for supporting your child at home.

  • Let your child finish: Give them time to speak without interrupting or finishing their sentences
  • Focus on what they are saying: Listen to the content of their message, not just how they say it. This shows you value their thoughts and understand what they’re communicating.
  • Create a calm environment: Minimise distractions when your child is speaking. This helps them feel less rushed and more confident.
  • Be patient and understanding: Stay calm and patient if your child struggles with speech. Don’t show frustration or upset. Remember, children who stutter aren’t doing it on purpose.
  • Avoid giving advice that could increase anxiety: Comments like "slow down" or "take a breath" can make your child feel more self-conscious. Instead, reassure them that it’s okay to stutter and that you’re listening.
  • Speak to your child normally: Keep your speech natural. Avoid slowing down or changing how you talk.
  • Don’t criticise or tease your child about their stutter: Offer positive reinforcement and focus on the message, not the stutter.
  • Protect your child from others commenting on or trying to fix their speech: avoiding unwanted attention or correction can help build your child’s confidence and self-esteem.

Disclaimer

This factsheet is provided for general information only. It does not constitute health advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition.

Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for you and/or your child.

The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network does not accept responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions, the interpretation of the information, or for success or appropriateness of any treatment described in the factsheet.

© Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network 2025


This factsheet was produced with support from John Hunter Children's Hospital.