
Does my child need a stuttering evaluation?
Parents are often wondering if their child’s stuttering needs to be evaluated. It can be a tricky question, particularly because a child’s speech might be cyclical; ranging from fairly fluent some days to severe the next. In addition, 75-80% of all children who begin stuttering will stop within 1-2 years without any intervention.
Here are some risk factors we consider when suggesting whether your child would benefit from a stuttering evaluation:
- If there is a family history of stuttering. If there is someone else in your family who stutters, we are more likely to recommend an evaluation.
- We consider the age when stuttering begins. If a child begins stuttering after 3.5 years of age we are more likely to recommend an evaluation.
- We want to know how long since onset. If you child has been stuttering for at least 6-12 months or longer we are more likely to recommend an evaluation.
- We consider the types of stuttering. If your child tenses up during stuttering moments (more tension usually means more severe stuttering) we are more likely to recommend an evaluation.
-Carrie Ravine, Speech Therapist