Stuttering in two-year-olds is largely attributed to child development. Stuttering is a common occurrence among children 2 to 5 years of age and should last 5 to 6 months. About 60 percent of children who stutter suffer from a simple disfluency and will recover in due course. Those whose stuttering persists after a prolonged period should undergo speech therapy to correct this problem.
There are numerous factors that contribute to childhood stuttering. Common suspects are genes (if a parent stutters, the child likely is too), gender (boys are more likely to stutter than girls), and stress (a sudden change in a child’s life like the birth of a new baby). in the family can cause stuttering). Few people are aware that stuttering can also be caused by the food they eat. Just as some medications can induce it, ingredients in food can trigger stuttering. According to studies, chemicals found in some processed foods may be the reason behind the development of childhood stuttering. These chemicals include:
Nitrates
Commonly used as preservatives, nitrates play a role in delaying children’s development. Since stuttering in two-year-olds is a manifestation of a developmental disorder, processed foods such as hot dogs, hams, and other cold cuts should be avoided.
Salicylates
Salicylates are found in plant foods and are used in the production of medicines, preservatives, and flavorings. Parents have reported incidents of stuttering in children that worsens after consuming certain fruits or vegetables and other foods that contain salicylates.
Sulphites
Sulfites are used as preservatives in many processed foods. According to some parents, stuttering in two-year-olds worsened after consuming foods that contain sulfite, such as hot dogs and bacon. When the sulfites were eliminated from the diet, the stuttering stopped.
Benzoates in medication
Benzoates in medications such as cough and asthma medications have been found to increase stuttering in two-year-olds and other young children. Parents also report that children become unusually slow, withdrawn, and silent while taking these medications. Normal behavior and speech return after benzoate-containing medications are stopped.
Although many parents report that their children’s stuttering was caused or aggravated by certain foods or food chemicals such as dairy, wheat, nitrates, and salicylates, current medical literature does not confirm this. The effects of these food components also vary with each individual. Using the chemicals listed above can induce stuttering in two-year-olds, as well as worsen a child’s behavior, some parents confirm. Therefore, to prevent this, it is recommended to eliminate food or chemical triggers from food from the child’s diet.
