Question about stuttering?

[zachsmom]

I have a 4 year old who has been stuttering for about a year now.

I was wondering if it is normal for someone who stutters to get to a point of almost normal fluency for a long period of time (i.e. 3 months) and then all of a sudden have a setback (I don't know what to call it, if there is a proper word, please let me know) where he is back to square one stuttering with every word, having trouble getting a sentence out (he has tension in his voice and he prolongs the words in a hight pitched voice and reapeats some words sometimes 6-10 times)? This "setback" will usually last about 2 weeks and then he gradually gets back to almost normal fluency.

Is this common among most stutterers? Does anyone out there have this situation or know of someone who does?

Thanks,
zachsmom

[mov]

Hi zachsmom,
i have times where im almost perfectly fluent, it lasts until im either stressed, over exited, or even if im asked about my speach, maybe its because its not on my mind and i dont notice it, i cant really give you an answer to why this is, but i will tell you what i know, maybe your childs stutter is triggered in some way, maybe by one of the above, i remember when i was a child my father used to get frustrated with my stutter, i think its because he didnt really understand why i stuttered even though i dont understand either, and used to ask me why i did it, and if i was putting it on, that used to make me worse, it made me worse because i was constantly thinking about it, ive seen my younger brother and some cousins growing up with stutters but now are perfectly fluent, maybe your child will too, you also said your child has tension in his voice and he prolongs the words in a high pitched voice and reapeats some words sometimes 6-10 times, that also reminds me of when i was a child, because when i used to try and force the words out thats what happened to me, as i grew up ive learnt how to control that but it takes time, its mainly a habit,

I hope this can help in some way, ive seen some really good posts on this forum from people who sound like they have alot of knowledge on stuttering, so i hope they can help you better.

[zachsmom]

Thanks for the reply MOV

My son has been in speech theray for the last year and have been working on the stuttering for about 6 months. We are mainly teaching him the difference between slow and fast with stories and music and other examples (not bringing attention to the stuttering of course). I have been told, as you said, certain things can trigger it. Once he stepped on a piece of glass and the doctor had to take it out (while he was stapped down) and it triggered for a couple of weeks. Another time, we went to Las Vegas for a wedding and it was triggered. This time, I don't know what it could be and each time I worry that it won't get better. My fear is that he will be teased (hasn't happened yet) and it will get worse. Right now, I don't think he's too aware of himself doing it because our whole family make a point of not making a big deal of it. We don't want him to feel bad or stress out about it.

Anyway, Thanks for the kind words and for telling your story. I hope the speech therapy will help him learn how to get the words out.

Zachsmom

[Theo Dreiser]

In my experience, stuttering has been cyclical. But I'm also known as a "closet stutterer" i.e. using substitutable words etc. The problem when you're in a technical field means that you have to use precise words and cannot substitute - I hate that.

Back to cycles, I remember a time in my life when things were really well.

[Asif]

Oh yes! Mostly we can bluff our way through things by choosing exactly what we will say, but things like: "What is your name?" and "What is your phone number?"
Questions like that keep us from choosing our words, and then we are undone :(
But as for cycles: well I had a very good day today.
Tomorrow may not be as good...