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 
stuttering signs symptoms may include:  difficulty starting word  phrase sentence prolonging word sounds word repetition sound  syllable word brief silence syllables words  pauses word (broken word) addition extra words "um" difficulty moving next word anticipated excess tension  tightness  movement face upper body produce word anxiety talking limited ability effectively communicate  speech difficulties stuttering may accompanied by:  rapid eye blinks tremors lips jaw facial tics head jerks clenching fists  stuttering may worse person excited  tired stress  feeling self-conscious  hurried pressured  situations speaking front group talking phone can difficult people who stutter  however  people who stutter can speak stuttering talk sing speak unison else  see doctor speech-language pathologist it's common children ages 2 5 years periods may stutter  children  part learning speak  own  however  stuttering persists may require treatment improve speech fluency   call doctor referral contact speech-language pathologist directly appointment stuttering:  lasts months occurs speech language problems frequent continues child grows older occurs muscle tightening visibly struggling speak affects ability effectively communicate school  work social interactions causes anxiety emotional problems  fear avoidance situations speaking required begins adult 
stuttering