What Teachers Should Know Stuttering affects the fluency, or flow, of speech. People who stutter repeat or prolong certain sounds, syllables, or words. These disruptions are called dysfluencies. Dysfluencies aren't necessarily a problem, but they can impair communication if they happen often. Stuttering begins during childhood, usually when a child is around 2 years old. Often, it goes away on its own by age 5. For other people, though, it can last longer, even throughout life. Students who stutter may: feel nervous, embarrassed, and frustrated when they're talking in class have to miss class time to attend speech therapy speak slowly or use relaxation techniques to help them speak more clearly change words for fear of stuttering try to avoid situations that require talking make facial or body movements when they stutter Also keep in mind that students who stutter are at risk for being bullied. What Teachers Can Do Because stuttering can isolate students from their classmates, it's essential that teachers provide help and support. Be patient when students who stutter are speaking. Teach all students the importance of not interrupting and giving everyone the time to express their thoughts and finish their own sentences. Be a role model by speaking clearly yourself in an unhurried way. You may want to ask questions in ways that let students who stutter give brief answers, or consider letting them substitute written work for oral presentations. Allow make-up work for missed assignments due to speech therapy appointments. Check with your student's speech-language pathologist (SLP) and parents or guardians to learn about your student's specific needs. You also can talk privately with the student and get his or her input on what's helpful and what's not. Back to Articles Related Articles Going to a Speech Therapist You might visit a speech therapist if you're having trouble speaking or understanding others. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Speech Problems Do you know someone who stutters or has another speech disorder? Find out how speech disorders are treated, how you can help a friend or classmate cope, and lots more. Read More Speech-Language Therapy Working with a certified speech-language pathologist can help a child with speech or language difficulties. Read More Stuttering Many young kids go through a stage when they stutter. Stuttering usually goes away on its own but in some cases lasts longer. Read More Stuttering and Speech Problems Do you or does someone you know ever have a hard time getting words out? Get the whole story on stuttering and other speech problems in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.