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][1]. Early intervention is best.

Here is a [website][2] 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][3] mentions that Colin Firth now has trouble.


  [1]: http://www.istar.ualberta.ca/html/s6_1.html
  [2]: http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=17
  [3]: http://www.stutter.ca/whats-new/103-colin-firth-is-now-a-person-who-stutters