My 2 ½ -year-old stutters when she talks. Should I be concerned?
Probably not. Children between 2 and 3 years of age often repeat sounds, hesitate between syllables or have periods of normal non-fluency. This usually disappears in a few months. Sometimes this disruption in speech occurs due to lack of coordination skills and the inability of a child to say things as fast as his brain is able to process them. However, if your child repeats the first sound of every word, seems to get stuck on every word, shows obvious tension in the face, and/or has poor eye contact, you should consult your pediatrician and possibly a speech-language pathologist. In the meantime, slow your own speech down so that your child can hear each syllable, keep stress levels in the home to a minimum, and be patient when talking with your child. A calm, relaxed atmosphere can help a toddler speak more fluently. For more information, visit www.asha.org or www.stutteringhelp.org.