Stuttering in children can often leave both parents and kids feeling frustrated or misunderstood. This speech disorder affects 5-10% of children at some point in their early years, but with the right support, kids who stutter can thrive!

Perth Speech Therapy are trained in the Lidcombe programme, which is considered gold standard.

💡 What causes stuttering?
While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, it’s believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Stress and anxiety can sometimes be linked with stuttering, but they aren’t the sole cause.

❤️ Signs to look for:

• Repetition of sounds or words (e.g., “I I I want to play”)
• Prolonged sounds (e.g., “sssssschool”)
• Tension or struggle while speaking

🤝 What can we do?

• Consult a speech pathologist for a stuttering assessment to determine the severity of the condition.
• Encourage slow, relaxed speech at home.
• Celebrate their efforts and progress with positive reinforcement.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦If a child is suspected of having a stutter, it is strongly recommended that the child has an assessment. An stutter assessment will determine the level of severity, which sounds and words trigger the stutter and if the child has any secondary behaviours. A secondary behaviour may be eye blinking, body jerking etc.

A child only has till they are 8 years of age before it becomes a life long disability.