Stuttering can change from day to day and can affect more than speech fluency. Confidence, speaking situations and how other people respond can all shape a young person’s experience.
Helpful responses at home
- Give the speaker time to finish without completing words or sentences for them
- Keep natural eye contact and focus on the message
- Avoid telling a child or teen to “slow down” or “take a breath”
- Reduce time pressure in conversations where possible
- Make space to talk openly about stuttering if the young person wants to
Therapy is individual
Fluency therapy may include speech strategies, communication confidence, self-advocacy and support for difficult speaking situations. The approach depends on age, needs and the person’s own goals.
When to seek support
An assessment may be useful when stuttering is persistent, increasing, causing visible struggle or tension, or affecting participation, confidence or willingness to speak.
For teens: Therapy should involve the young person in choosing meaningful goals rather than focusing only on “perfect” fluency.