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About Erin E. Maio-Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP
Expertise
I am able to answer questions related to speech, language, cognitive, swallowing disorders in both children and adults. My focus area relates to disorders that are secondary to trauma (i.e., head injury) or disease, (i.e., Dementia) but I am able to answer basic questions (or find more info) about developmental disorders as well.

Experience
I am a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist with 18 years experience primarily in acute care pediatrics and in-pt. rehab. I have also continuously moonlighted in geriatrics, primarily skilled nursing settings and have had private clients of all ages. My focus of practice is neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders.

Organizations
American Speech & Hearing Association, (ASHA) South Carolina Speech/Hearing Association(SCSHA)

Education/Credentials
Masters Degree, Communication Disorders and Speech Science (CU Boulder)

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Parenting Special Needs > Speech Disorders > Toddler Stuttering

Speech Disorders - Toddler Stuttering

Expert: Erin E. Maio-Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP - 9/19/2009

Question
My 2.5 year old has been speaking in sentences for a few months. All of a sudden (a week ago) he woke up one day severely stuttering. He seems to repeat the first word or syllable of the first word up to 10 times before he can finish his sentence. He seems to do this with almost all of his sentences. How could this stutter come on so quickly, and should I wait longer to see if it goes away? Can a speech therapist help one so young? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer
Hello Kylie-

This sounds like normal developmental stuttering (pseudostuttering). Here is are some links:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2144057/stuttering_in_toddlers_a_brief_...
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/preschool/preschoolquicktips/stuttering.html
http://www.stutteringtips.com/ChildhoodStuttering.php

See if what you're seeing matches what you read in these links. If it persists over several months, ask your pediatrician for a referral to a speech/language pathologist.

Good Luck-
Erin E. Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist

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