Stammering or stuttering (dysfluency) in children is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables or words, and involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the stutterer/stammerer is unable to produce sounds. Dysfluency is generally a developmental disorder with a mean onset around 30 months. Most children experience some dysfluency and 65% of preschoolers who stammer, spontaneously recover, but beyond the age of 6 the child is unlikely to recover without speech therapy intervention.

There are believed to be a number of causes of dysfluency. It is believed that some children may have a genetic predisposition to the disorder, but other causes may include pyschological trauma or the communication environment in the home. Another theory presents a demands and capacities model where the capacity of the child to communicate appropriately in a given situation is unable to match the demands made on the child by himself, the environment and his ability to use speech and language.

Dysfluency can produce anxiety, tension, stress, embarrasment, and a feeling of "loss of control" during speech. The emotional state of the stammerer is often the most serious effect of the disorder.  These emotions will cause anxiety which in itself makes the stutter/stammer worse. The stammerer may also develop secondary behaviours such as physical movements (also known as concomitant movements) or avoidance strategies. These physical movements may manifest as loss of eye contact, eye-blinking, head jerks, hand tapping, interjected "starter" sounds and words, such as "um," "ah," "you know". Secondary behaviors also describe avoidance strategies such as avoiding specific words, people or situations that the person finds difficult. Some stammerers become so successful at using avoidance strategies that they present with few primary stammering behaviours, however, they are constantly working hard to avoid certain words and/or situations.  

If the dysfluency does not spontaneously recover in early childhood and is left untreated it is likley to continue into adulthood and cause the individual to be very embarrassed and self aware when they communicate. Many adult stammer’s claim that the disorder has affected their lives making them avoid many social situations and reducing their confidence. 

Many children stammer for a period as their early speech and language is developing so parents should not be initially over anxious if they hear their young child stammer. However, there are many things as parents and carers that we can do to make things easier for our children and lessen the risk of the stammer becoming more serious. Parents can change their own communication and the general communication environment to make it easier for the child. If you are concerned that your child may be developing a dysfluency and you require treatment, visit your local speech and language therapist / pathologist for an assessment and advice.