Stuttering in children and adults

Stuttering often begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Here is what is different at each age, and how it fits our approach.

In children

Stuttering usually starts in early childhood: about 95% of children who stutter begin before the age of four. (ASHA) Between 5% and 10% of all children stutter for a while, and about 3 in 4 stop again on their own. (NIDCD; ASHA) If it lasts longer than about six months, or continues into the teenage years, it is less likely to go away by itself, so early advice is worthwhile. (NIDCD; ASHA; Stuttering Foundation)

Children’s speech is still developing, so we recommend talking to a doctor or a speech-language pathologist if you are worried about a child’s speech. And it is never the fault of the child or the parents. Stuttering is not caused by parenting style or emotional trauma. (ASHA; Stuttering Foundation)

In adults

In our approach, patterns become stronger the more often they are repeated, and coping strategies add further patterns. See how speech patterns form and coping strategies. Adults have had more years of repetition, so their patterns are often well established and more layered. At the same time, the brain stays adaptable throughout life. (Neumann et al., 2005; Kell et al., 2009)

For adults who stutter, training that builds new, easier ways of speaking has the strongest research support. (Brignell et al., 2020; Bothe et al., 2006) Our coaching is open to people of all ages, and it follows the same three parts for everyone: identifying your stuttering patterns, pattern-based training, and re-training your muscle memory.

If stuttering starts suddenly in adulthood, for example after a health event or an injury, please talk to a doctor first.

How to support someone who stutters

A few simple things make conversations easier at any age: (NIDCD; Stuttering Foundation)

• Give them time, and do not finish their words or sentences.
• Listen attentively and focus on what is said, not how it is said.
• Skip advice like “relax” or “slow down”; just keep the conversation going.

More background is on our Understanding Stuttering page.