Stammering (also called stuttering) is a difference in speech flow where a child repeats sounds or words, prolongs sounds, or gets "stuck" before a word comes out. It is common in the preschool years and many children grow out of it, but a professional assessment is the best way to know whether your child needs support. If you are worried, the team at Bloom Beyond Enabling in Al Jaddaf, Dubai can help through our speech therapy service.
Many parents in Dubai notice a change when their child's speech suddenly becomes bumpy: "I-I-I want that", or a long pause before a word. It can be worrying to hear, especially when your child seems frustrated. This guide explains what stammering is, what you can do at home, and when to seek help.
Stammering can look different from child to child. Common signs include repeating whole words ("go, go, go outside"), repeating parts of words ("ba-ba-ball"), stretching a sound ("sssssun"), or a silent block where the mouth is ready to speak but no sound comes out.
Some children also show tension around the face, blink, look away or change a word at the last moment. These are often signs that the child is working hard to get the word out. It tends to come and go, so a child may speak smoothly for days and then struggle again when tired, excited or upset.
According to the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, roughly 5 to 10 per cent of children stammer at some point, and about three-quarters of them recover. This varies from child to child, and it is not possible to predict which children will.
This is why it is sensible to seek advice early rather than waiting and worrying. A therapist can tell you whether your child's speech looks like typical development or whether support would be helpful.
Stammering is not caused by anxiety, poor parenting or a child "not trying". Current understanding is that it relates to how the brain coordinates the timing of speech, and it often runs in families. Language growth spurts, tiredness, excitement and time pressure can make it more noticeable. Stress does not cause stammering, but it can make existing stammering feel harder.
Small changes to how you listen can make a real difference:
Give your child your full attention and keep eye contact relaxed. Wait until they have finished before you reply, and avoid finishing their sentences. Speak a little more slowly yourself, with natural pauses, rather than telling your child to slow down. Keep questions to a minimum and comment on what your child is doing instead.
Try not to react with worry or correction, and make time for calm one-to-one chat each day, even for five minutes. If your child talks about it, respond kindly: "Sometimes words get stuck, and that's okay. I'm listening."
Consider an assessment if the stammering has lasted more than three to six months, if it is getting more frequent, if your child shows tension, avoids speaking or becomes upset, or if someone in the family still stammers. You do not need to wait for a particular age. Early support in Dubai and across the UAE is gentle and play-based, and it often involves coaching parents as much as working with the child. A speech and language therapist will also check your child's wider language skills.
If your child is also finding school conversations difficult, a clinical psychologist can support confidence and emotional wellbeing alongside speech therapy.
Yes, many young children go through a period of repeating sounds or words while their language is growing quickly. It is still worth seeking advice if it lasts more than a few months, if your child seems tense or upset, or if there is a family history of stammering.
No, this advice usually adds pressure and can make talking feel harder. Slowing down your own speech, pausing before you reply and giving your child time to finish are far more helpful.
Many children do, particularly those who start stammering in the preschool years, but it is not possible to predict which children will. A speech and language therapist can look at your child's pattern and advise whether support would help.
A therapist listens to your child talk in play and conversation, asks about your child's history and your concerns, and then suggests next steps. The aim is to understand how your child speaks and how they feel about it, and the session is relaxed and child-friendly.
Bloom Beyond Enabling offers speech therapy for children at 601, 602 & 701 Al Nastaran Tower, Al Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai. Parents across Dubai can arrange an assessment by calling us.
If you would like to talk through your child's speech, you are welcome to arrange an assessment at Bloom Beyond Enabling. Call +971 4 554 5234 or +971 52 600 4107, email bloom@bloombeyond.me, or visit us at 601, 602 & 701 Al Nastaran Tower, Al Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai.
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