My preschool child is stuttering, what should I do?

When your preschool child suddenly begins to stutter it can be alarming. One day they are talking just fine and then next, they can’t seem to get their words or sentences out. Most preschoolers go through a period of stuttering as they learn to speak. The amount of stuttering that a child has is not a sign that they will keep stuttering.So before you panic, here are some of the risk factors that a Speech Language Pathologist will look at to determine if therapy is warranted. 

  1. Is there a family member who stutters? 
  2. Are there other speech or language issues? 
  3. Does the child avoid certain words or talking?
  4. Is the child is showing signs of facial grimacing, arm and leg movement, or other movements of their body when stuttering?
  5. Is the child repeating parts of a word (e.g., “Ge-ge-get some”)?
  6. Has the child been stuttering for longer than 6 months?

What causes stuttering? 

Genetics: 50% of people who stutter have family members who also stutter

Brain Wiring: People who stutter as adults process language differently using both sides of the brain rather than one.

Language Development: Children whose language skills are higher than their motor speech skills are more likely to stutter.

Speech and Language Disorders: Children who have other articulation or language delays are more likely to stutter.

Medications: some allergy medications have been associated with stuttering

Our Programs

Therapy Services

Therapy Services

RLLC not only offers typical speech and language therapy services but we also specialize in reading, testing, and dyslexia intervention. Our services are individualized to meet your child’s needs. Once we evaluate your child we create a treatment plan and begin the therapy process.
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Summer Programs

Summer Programs

Intensive therapy works best! We all know that consistency and frequency makes all the difference when trying to reach our goals. RLLC takes this same approach for therapy. We offer intensive therapy during the school year as well as during the summer months. In the summertime, we are able to offer small group programs and camps.
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Parent Seminars

Parent Seminars

Embarking on the journey to find the right programs and therapists can be a daunting task. At RLLC we offer free parent seminars that help the parents gain a better understanding of their child’s needs, the IEP process and how best to advocate.
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