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Conclusion

Pediatricians, family physicians, and other healthcare providers are often the first professionals to whom parents turn for advice about their child's disfluencies. These professionals can help in the prevention of stuttering. Early identification of children at risk for chronic stuttering and appropriate referral is critical. Moreover, effective parent counseling can often create an environment conducive for children to outgrow their disfluencies.

The authors of this booklet too often meet severe adult stutterers whose parents were told "Don't worry, he'll outgrow it" so that the opportunity for therapy when the disorder is most treatable has been missed. We have repeatedly found that when children are referred early, treatment is most effective, even in cases of severe stuttering. Early intervention prevents the development of lifelong habits that interfere with social, academic, and occupational success.

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