Stuttering may be more common than previously thought, but
preschool stutterers fair better than first thought, a study by
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The University of Sydney and
The University of Melbourne has found.
A study of over 1600 children, which followed the children from
infancy to four years old, found the cumulative incidence of
stuttering by four years old was 11%, which is more than twice what
has previously been reported.
However, the study refutes the long held view that suggests
developmental stuttering is associated with a range of poorer
outcomes in the preschool period. Interestingly, the study
found the reverse was true, with stuttering associated with better
language development, non-verbal skills with no identifiable effect
on the child's mental health or temperament at four years
Surprisingly, researchers found that recovery from stuttering
was low, 6.3%, 12 months after onset. Rates of recovery were
higher in boys than girls, and in those who did not repeat whole
words at onset than those who did. The study boys were more
likely to develop stuttering.
Lead researcher, Professor Sheena Reilly said parents could be
happy in knowing that they can take a 'watch and wait' approach to
their child's stuttering and it won't be causing harm to their
child's language skills or social and emotional development.
"Current best practice recommends waiting for 12 months before
commencing treatment, unless the child is distressed, there is
parental concern, or the child becomes reluctant to communicate. It
may be that for many children treatment could be deferred slightly
further," she said.
"Treatment is effective but is intensive and expensive, this
watchful recommendation would therefore help target allocation of
scarce resources to the small number of children who do not resolve
and experience adverse outcomes, secure in the knowledge that
delaying treatment for a year or slightly longer has been shown not
to compromise treatment efficacy."
Due to the low rates of recovery in the study, researchers were
unable to determine what predicts which kids will recover from
stuttering, but say this will be the focus of research moving
The study was published in Pediatrics.