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Note: These questions are listed in order of the seriousness of the problem. If a parent answers 'yes' to any question other than number 1, it suggests the possibility of stuttering rather than normal disfluency.

Does the child repeat parts of words rather than whole words or entire phrases? (For example, 'a-a-a-apple')
Does the child repeat sounds more than once every 8 to 10 sentences?
Does the child have more than two repetitions? ('a-a-a-a-apple' instead of 'a-a-apple')
Does the child seem frustrated or embarrassed when he has trouble with a word?
Has the child been stuttering more than six months?
Does the child raise the pitch of his voice, blink his eyes, look to the side, or show physical tension in his face when he stutters?
Does the child use extra words or sounds like 'uh' or 'um' or 'well' to get a word started?
Does the child sometimes get stuck so badly that no sound at all comes out for several seconds when he's trying to talk?
Does the child sometimes use extra body movements, like tapping his finger, to get sounds out?
Does the child avoid talking or use substitute words or quit talking in the middle of a sentence because he might stutter?

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Jack Paar

While Jack Paar is among the most prominent of the entertainers on the Stuttering Foundation’s list of Famous People Who Stutter, he deserves special recognition as he was among the first to openly address his stuttering in public. As host of The Tonight Show from 1957-1962, he spoke of his difficulties as a stuttering child and teenager, giving hope to young people.

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

Questions for Parents