Sudden onset of stuttering in a 23 month-old boy

[Icaro]

Hello,

This issues probably gets heard a lot on this forum, but I would like to speak of the specific symptoms my son has in case someone has gone through the same thing and can offer advice.

My boy was a very early talker and by one year could speak in small sentences. About two weeks ago, he went from speaking in flowing, descriptive paragraphs to severe stuttering almost overnight. Many of our friends have said, "oh ours went through the same thing" but then when they see him they are shocked. He can hardly speak. To some extent, he sounds like a person who is freezing cold and most of what makes it out is gibberish. He has gone from saying things like "The computer was broke yesterday, but daddy fixed it...it's not broke anymore now", to only "yes" or "no", most everything else is unintelligible. It's heartbreaking to see him struggle. It's in his face...a word sticks and his face is so somewhere else, he also has some visible tics. When he is playing by himself, unaware of others, it's the same.

There has been no trauma, no meds, and no emotional upheaval in the house. We have made an appt with a speech pathologist but I'd love to hear some feedback.


Thanks,
Michael

[Bruce]

if we assume that his environment at home is free of any trauma, tension, upheavel as you said, etc: is there anyone who takes care of him when you and your husband can't?

is there anyone else in your life who he is in contact with a fair amount, perhaps this is the source.

it sounds from what you said he was speaking alright before and not all of a suddent he has a severe speaking problem so something must have happened to him that has caused this

be honest, be a detective and figure this out for him.

[Nemo]

He should be taught some fluency techniques as soon as possible, to avoid those terribly blocks. My son, now 17, started stuttering very early in life. Fortunately I was in a good position to help him because of my own stutter. At first I just monitored him because his stutter was very intermittent, with long periods of fluency lasting months. However when his stutter became a real problem I taught him the passive airflow technique which I myself use. He immediately benefited from it and used it to manage blocks, and today he is an excellent debater in class, with only some occasional slight dysfluency which no longer bothers him.

[Bill Hargis]

Get him into a diversion program at the nearest university. I know of several small children who have been cured when they entered therapy at a young age. Most univs. have this program. Check it out and don't let the negativity of some people on this forum deter you.

[Thecoherentman]

Michael, Please have him checked immediately by a neurologist. This can be result of zinc poisoning. Does he have access to your medicine cabinet?

[howeee]

Yea I think you need to take him somewhere just to see if its stuttering at all.

Most children have some disfluency period, it is not stuttering.

In the mean time just have patience when he speaks, dont give him any advice like slow down. Just listen to what he has to say. My grandson at 3 started to repeat a few words maybe 2 or three times, it was nothing and went away after a week or so.

I would seek professional advice right away, my inkling is its you that needs it more than him.

[Fredrick]

icaro

where did you go to, many people posted but you haven't been to this site in over two weeks?

[John Woo]

hey, guy. this is nothing important. children always cure themselves. only if they would stutter until their growing up, it need to pay attention.

[frostzjc]

I taught him the passive airflow technique which I myself use. He immediately benefited from it and used it to manage blocks, and today he is an excellent debater in class, with only some occasional slight dysfluency which no longer bothers him.

Can you explain on the passive airflow technique and teach me how to use it?
I really need some techniques to control my stuttering! :)

[Bruce]

hey, guy. This is nothing important. Children always cure themselves. Only if they would stutter until their growing up, it need to pay attention.

i didn't understand your post, please re explain?

[Nemo]

Can you explain on the passive airflow technique and teach me how to use it?
I really need some techniques to control my stuttering! :)

The passive airflow technique is a specialised technique, and requires lots of practice. It's based on the theory that stuttering is the result of stress-sensitive vocal folds that lock when under excessive tension. Basically it involves letting a very slight, passive amount of air escape from your lips BEFORE speaking, in order to open the vocal folds; and also slowing the first syllable(s) of each sentence to further reduce vocal-fold tension. The National Center for Stuttering (NCS) offers a DVD or CD course - you can google them for the website address. It's definitely not a miracle cure if you're an adult such as myself, but it did wonders for my son when young - it seems the younger you are, the easier to learn and apply such fluency techniques. I also use the technique and it definitely works, provided that I use it - but remembering to use it is not always easy, particularly when you are under pressure or highly stressed.

[ruelsantos]

hi, what is passive airflow technique.. can you enlighten me on this.. thanks for the help..

[Nicol]

I have a 3 1/2 year old who started to stutter at 18 months. She was also an early talker, her first words were at 4 months. Clear words like cat, hi, ma ma, up, etc. She had a large vocabulary for such a young baby. At 18 months when she went into large sentences and paragraphs her stutter began. Her doctor said that it was normal for children to go through a period like this. Typically, he said, it will last for a few weeks while they are going through a language growth. But her stutter went on for 18 months and I finally conviced him to refer us to get help.

I stutter so I know that it is more likely that she will.

[Thecoherentman]

I have a 3 1/2 year old who started to stutter at 18 months. She was also an early talker, her first words were at 4 months. Clear words like cat, hi, ma ma, up, etc. She had a large vocabulary for such a young baby. At 18 months when she went into large sentences and paragraphs her stutter began. Her doctor said that it was normal for children to go through a period like this. Typically, he said, it will last for a few weeks while they are going through a language growth. But her stutter went on for 18 months and I finally conviced him to refer us to get help.

I stutter so I know that it is more likely that she will.

Please take several photographs of your face and your husband's face while you are smiling and expressing positive and approving facial expressions. Place these photos where your daughter can see them when she is talking. There is nothing more motivating than a happy face of a parent. Provide her with mobile phone and and allow her to talk as much as she wants. She will grow up to be an extraordinary fluent speaker.

[Steven]

Please take several photographs of your face and your husband's face while you are smiling and expressing positive and approving facial expressions. Place these photos where your daughter can see them when she is talking. There is nothing more motivating than a happy face of a parent. Provide her with mobile phone and and allow her to talk as much as she wants. She will grow up to be an extraordinary fluent speaker.

Coherentman,

Sounds like reasonably good advice but can you tell us what kind of work you do and your educational learning experiences so we can know how much of yor advice is opinion and how much is professional.

I think if you don't do that that your comments should not be allowed at this site until you do.