How do I know if my child needs help?

Everyone has normal disfluencies. These include:

* repeating whole words twice without tension 
* thinking "ums" 
* repeating a phrase more than once without tension
* restarting a thought or changing your mind

If these are the only behaviors you are hearing in your child, they may be going through a period of normal disfluency which may resolve without treatment (which is the case for ~65-80% of children who stutter). 

What are risk factors for stuttering?

Risk factors include:
* gender (more boys stutter than girls)
* family history of persistent stuttering
* stuttering for more than 6 months without a drop in severity
* having other speech or language difficulties
* child's negative awareness and reaction to their stuttering

Contact VST if . . . 

* You want tools to help manage your stuttering
* You are concerned about your child's speech and wonder if
   therapy is appropriate
* Your child is reacting negatively to their speech
* The stuttering has continued for at least 6 months
* The stuttering has changed from easy repetitions to more
   prolongations or blocks with more noticeable tension
​* Your child has some of the stuttering behaviors listed below

Stuttering Behaviors

* More than 2 whole-word repetitions (I-I-I)         
* Part-word repetitions (ba-baby, b-b-baby)
* Prolongations (mooommy, mmmmommy)
* Blocks (trying to speak, but no sound comes out)
* Body movements or visible frustration/tension
* Changing a word when stuck
* Avoiding certain sounds/situations

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