Cycle of Childhood Stuttering 1. Child learns language rapidly. Child tries to formulate a message with the right words. If the child is nervous or excited there is an increased chance of dysfluency. Child develops struggle behaviors to get through dysfluencies.
Child receives a negative reaction for the struggle behaviors.
Child develops increased anxiety. Increased anxiety causes increased stuttering. The Psychological Theory of stuttering development was proposed by Lee Travis. This is an older theory that portrays stuttering as an underlying problem and states that stuttering is a symptom of hostility. This theory recommends psychotherapy as treatment.