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%u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2023Speech andLanguage Support for 3-5sStammering IcebergStammering is more than what you can see and hear. It can be described as being a bit like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg is the stammering that you can see and hear. The bottom of the iceberg is the child%u2019s thoughts, feelings, behaviours (things a child may do to cope with stammering) and is hidden below the water level. Around the iceberg and within the water is the child%u2019s environment and how others respond to stammering within their environment. This can influence the child%u2019s thoughts, feelings and behaviours and can be either positive or negative. Everyone%u2019s stammering is different and everyone%u2019s iceberg is different. Therapy aims to keep the stammering above the water level and to ensure the environment is a positive place for children to stammer openly and feel safe/comfortable to stammer.Stammering can impact on someone%u2019s thoughts and feelings. Some children who stammer tell us they feel embarrassed, upset, ashamed, alone, or frustrated. This is usually because of the negative reactions they receive from others The reactions can be obvious, such as laughing or imitating, or more subtle for example, someone looking away in discomfort when they stammer. Everyone%u2019s experience of stammering is different.Stammering can be concealed: Some children who stammer may try to hide their stammering from others, often as a response to the negative reactions they receive. They give a message that stammering is not ok. To hide stammering, children may change words or avoid situations. Sometimes, children may avoid talking completely. We know from research, this can be detrimental to wellbeing and quality of life.Stammering between the ages of 3-5s years%u2022 Begins typically between 2-4 years as a child%u2019s language is rapidly developing.%u2022 It%u2019s onset can be sudden or gradual and neither indicate whether a child will or will not continue to stammer.%u2022 An equal number of boys and girls start to stammer but more girls stop stammering and by adulthood the ratio is 4:1.%u2022 About 8% of children will stammer at some point.%u2022 About 1-2% of adults stammer, so many children stop stammering naturally.%u2022 Bilingualism doesn%u2019t cause stammering; non fluency can be a typical part of 2nd language learning.