Stuttering usually begins between the ages of 2 and 5, when children are learning how to put their thoughts and ideas into full sentences. Stuttering is a childhood condition and usually only lasts about one to two years. Most children who stutter outgrow it and stop stuttering without any treatment at all.
If your child is 6 years old and has never stuttered, chances are, he never will. Stuttering that begins after the age of 5 is rare. Those older kids who stutter – school age and older – are the minority. They are the ones who did not recover or outgrow the condition. Stuttering begins in girls and boys fairly equally, but girls are more likely to outgrow it.
There are many treatments for children who continue to stutter after age 5 or those whose stuttering is severe. Most treatments involve changing the child’s manner of speaking, such as slowing down when you talk, or taking a break and starting over with what you are trying to say. Treatment is usually done by a speech-language pathologist and requires several sessions. The effectiveness of the treatments varies for each child. Some children, especially older ones, require psychological counselling along with the treatments to help them cope with the social issues that can arise. For many people, if treatments for stuttering were ineffective as a child, the patient can return for treatment as an adult and find that the treatments are much more effective.
Stuttering therapy for adults and teens usually means changing long-standing speech behaviors, emotions and attitudes about talking and general communication. The goals for adult and teen therapy include reducing the amount and frequency of stuttering, decreasing the amount of tension when stuttering occurs and using effective communication such as eye contact and phrasing. A qualified and knowledgeable therapist can help patients find their personal goals.
Sources:
www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/therapy.html