Stuttering signs and symptoms may include: 
Difficulty starting a word, phrase or sentence
Prolonging a word or sounds within a word
Repetition of a sound, syllable or word
Brief silence for certain syllables or words, or pauses within a word (broken word)
Addition of extra words such as "um" if difficulty moving to the next word is anticipated
Excess tension, tightness, or movement of the face or upper body to produce a word
Anxiety about talking
Limited ability to effectively communicate
 The speech difficulties of stuttering may be accompanied by: 
Rapid eye blinks
Tremors of the lips or jaw
Facial tics
Head jerks
Clenching fists
 Stuttering may be worse when the person is excited, tired or under stress, or when feeling self-conscious, hurried or pressured. Situations such as speaking in front of a group or talking on the phone can be particularly difficult for people who stutter. However, most people who stutter can speak without stuttering when they talk to themselves and when they sing or speak in unison with someone else. When to see a doctor or speech-language pathologist It's common for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years to go through periods when they may stutter. For most children, this is part of learning to speak, and it gets better on its own. However, stuttering that persists may require treatment to improve speech fluency.  Call your doctor for a referral or contact a speech-language pathologist directly for an appointment if stuttering: 
Lasts more than six months
Occurs with other speech or language problems
Becomes more frequent or continues as the child grows older
Occurs with muscle tightening or visibly struggling to speak
Affects the ability to effectively communicate at school, at work or in social interactions
Causes anxiety or emotional problems, such as fear or avoidance of situations where speaking is required
Begins as an adult
