I was at the University of Alberta while they were doing a 2-week clinic for people (adults) who stutter. The participants that I spoke to said they had made huge progress in that short time. While we were talking, there was very little evidence of a stutter. Some had come to the clinic virtually unable to talk. So, if your child is developing a stutter, take heart; it is treatable. They have some great resources. Early intervention is best.
Here is a website that talks about the causes and some solutions. I was surprised to read that some causes are:
- genetics (approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also);
- child development (children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter);
- neurophysiology (recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter); and
- family dynamics (high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering)
- and it can be a combination of factors.
There is a section for kids with a video for kids by kids! One child describes stuttering exactly the way you do: his brain talks faster than his mouth can go.
For parents, they suggest:
- talking slowly with frequent pauses
- making comments rather than asking questions
- show you are listening by with your body and facial expressions
- giving your child undivided attention for a few minutes each day
- teach ach family member to take turns speaking and not interrupt
- look at how you interact with your child and try to convey that they have plenty of time to talk
- show that you accept who your child is, whether they stutter or not
They also share some famous people who stuttered. Another site mentions that Colin Firth now has trouble.