How long does stuttering last?

Variable: Stuttering or speech disfluency is a common problem. 5% of children in the USA have a period of stuttering with about 1% going on to have a lasting problem. If your child begins stuttering after age 4, stutters for more than 6 months or is extremely bothered by the stuttering consult your doctor. A helpful website is www.stutteringhelp.org. We do not know what causes stuttering.

Stuttering: For most cases, stuttering will cease in childhood with the intervention of speech patholoogist in school. For others it will persist into adulthood until treatment is instituted by a speech and language therapist.

A few months: Stuttering, is most often noticed in children between 2 and 3 years of age, which may persist a few months. Referral for speech evaluation is recommended if a child has positive family history or demonstrates any of the following: prolonged stuttering over 6 months, avoiding talking, tense pauses in speech, or extrinsic facial or body movements while talking.