Psychiatric Technician Practice Exam

At what stage of development does stuttering commonly first appear?

1. Infancy

2. Preschool years

3. Early childhood

4. Adolescence

The correct answer is: Preschool years

Stuttering commonly first appears during the preschool years, typically between the ages of 2 and 5. This developmental stage is characterized by rapid language acquisition as children begin to form more complex sentences and express themselves verbally. The demands of speech and language development during this time can reveal or exacerbate issues related to fluency. Children in this age group are also still mastering the rhythm and flow of speech, which can lead to instances of stuttering as they try to communicate their thoughts and feelings. It's a critical period where many children may experience disfluencies as their language skills develop. Some may outgrow these stuttering episodes as they become more fluent in their communication abilities. Understanding this timing is essential for parents, educators, and healthcare providers for early identification and potential intervention strategies.