Children do vary and their stammer will be differently affected by the situation. However these are some of the common factors that may contribute to your child's stammering.

His feelings.

• If he is tired, poorly, worried, frightened or even excited for a happy reason such as a birthday.

The situation.

• A place that he does not know very well, if at all, and is expected to talk to strangers, such as in a shop or at the doctor's surgery. In these circumstances he is particularly likely to stammer when he tries to give information such as saying his name.
• The room seems noisy and rushed and many people are talking at once and he is expected to join in.
• The adults and other children are talking quickly and turn to him for a reply.
• He is talking to an adult who is obviously distracted and is looking away, for example when the parent is driving.
• He is trying to explain something very complicated and is struggling with new or unfamiliar words.
• He has been put on the spot to answer a question or tell a story about an event and is very aware that other children and adults are listening.
• He is trying to describe an event that has upset him, or he needs to explain that he wants to do something urgently, such as go to the toilet.

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Text for this page: What factors will affect your child's fluency?
Text for this whole section: How to help your child who stammers?