Cluttering in Children: Causes and Treatment


This disorder is similar to stuttering in children, but with a few differences. In cluttering the thoughts behind the speech are overactive, and the sentences come out cluttered with extra words and information, while in stuttering thoughts are clear but your child’s speech is not.

Tachyphemia is another name for this disorder, and if your child has it he usually does not realize that his speech is cluttered. There are many possible causes, and sometimes prescription medications or illegal drugs can cause this disorder. The cause of cluttering can be different for every person who has this condition.

Treatment for cluttering can vary, depending on your specific cause and the severity of your child’s condition. This is true with any fluency disorder, but there are some common steps that may help. The first step is to visit a speech therapist, so that you are aware of all treatment options.

Speech and language pathology treatments are most effective if you start them as soon as a problem becomes apparent. Delays in treatment can cause some conditions and disorders to become worse, and require more extensive treatment. If this condition is caused by substance abuse or legal prescription medications you can eliminate the source, and this will normally treat the problem.

Cluttering does not have to be an issue for you or your child forever. A speech and language therapist can help you make great strides towards normal speech without any disorders. If the cause of this condition is a medical problem, then resolving this problem may treat the speech disorder. In some cases, such as permanent brain damage a cure may not be possible, but therapy can help minimize the condition.