Stuttering is a speech disorder that involves involuntary hesitation, repetition ("ca-ca-ca-can"), or prolongations ("llllllike") while speaking.

About 5% of children aged 2 - 5 go through a short period of stuttering, but this phase is very brief. For a small percentage (less than 1%), the stuttering progresses from simple repetition of consonants to repetition of words and phrases. Later, vocal spasms develop with a forced, almost explosive sound to the speech.

Stuttering tends to run in families, but it is unclear to what extent genetic factors are important. There is also evidence that stuttering may be associated with some neurological events, such as stroke or traumatic brain injuries. Psychological components tend to make the symptoms worse or better within each case.

Stuttering is rarely considered a psychological problem. Stressful social situations and anxiety, however, can make symptoms worse. Surprisingly, people with significant speech difficulty often don't stutter when singing or when they are alone talking to themselves. Stuttering tends to persist into adulthood more frequently in boys than in girls.

Symptoms of stuttering may include:

• Hesitancy in starting sentences or phrases
• Prolonged pauses while speaking
• Repeating sounds, syllables, or words
• Very long sounds within words

Other symptoms that might be seen with stuttering include:

• Eye blinking
• Involuntary movements of the head or other body parts
• Jaw jerking

Children with mild stuttering are often unaware of their stuttering. In more severe cases, children may show greater awareness, accompanied by facial movements, anxiety, and increased stuttering when they are asked to speak.

No testing is usually necessary. The diagnosis of stuttering may require consultation with a speech pathologist.

There is no one best treatment for stuttering. Most early cases are short-term and resolve on their own. In persistent cases, speech therapy may help. Research on therapies is ongoing and should be investigated to determine what kinds of help may be most useful.

Drug therapy for stuttering has NOT been shown to be helpful.

Speech therapy may be helpful in the following if:

• Stuttering has lasted more than 6 - 12 months
• Stuttering happens most of the time the child is speaking
• The child or the family are very embarrassed by the stuttering or the child is afraid to speak

Research into therapies for stuttering is ongoing and should be investigated to determine what kinds of speech therapy may be most useful.

The way that family, friends, and teachers respond to a child's stuttering is very important:

• Avoid stressful social situations, whenever possible.
• Encourage slow speech by allowing the child plenty of time to talk.
• Use slow and relaxed speech when talking to the child.
• When the child appears frustrated, it is okay to gently acknowledge the stuttering and the frustration.

Some people who stutter find that they don't stutter when they read aloud or sing.

In the majority of children who stutter, the phase passes and speech returns to normal within 3 or 4 years. Stuttering that begins after a child is 8 - 10 years old is more likely to last into adulthood.

Stuttering is most common between ages 3 and 5. Parents should avoid expressing too much concern or commenting too much, which can actually make matters worse by making the child more self-conscious.

Possible complications of stuttering include social problems caused by the fear of ridicule, which may make a child avoid speaking entirely.

Call your provider if stuttering is interfering with your child's school work or emotional development, if the child seems anxious or embarrassed about speaking, or if the symptoms last for more than 3 - 6 months.

There is no known prevention for stuttering.

Gentle attention from the parents without emphasis on the stuttering may help the child feel better about the problem.

Listen patiently to the child, make eye contact, don't interrupt, ignore the stuttering, and show love and acceptance. If the stuttering continues longer than 6 months, the "blocked" speech lasts several seconds, or the child shows obvious facial tensions when stuttering, seek professional help.

Prasse JE, Kikano GE. Stuttering: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77(9):1271-1276.