Dr. Piyush Jain
Dr. Piyush Jain provides pediatric clinical guidance for developmental and neurodevelopmental concerns where appropriate.
Genesis Neurogen Blog
My Child's Stammering Comes With Eye Blinking or Head Jerks - Is This Different From Normal Stammering?
संक्षेप में: अगर हकलाते समय आपके बच्चे की आंखें ज़ोर से झपकती हैं, सिर झटका खाता है या चेहरा तन जाता है, तो ये 'सेकंडरी बिहेवियर' कहलाने वाले अतिरिक्त लक्षण हो सकते हैं। ये बताते हैं कि बच्चा बोलने में आ रही रुकावट से जूझ रहा है। इस स्थिति में जल्दी फ्लुएंसी थेरेपिस्ट से मिलना मददगार हो सकता है।
Short answer: When stammering is accompanied by visible physical strain - such as hard eye blinking, head jerking, lip tremors or facial tension at the moment of getting stuck on a word - these are often called secondary behaviours. They usually develop as a child's unconscious way of trying to push through a block, and their presence is a useful sign that a fluency assessment would help sooner rather than later, since these patterns can become more established with time.
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What secondary behaviours are
Stammering itself usually involves repeated sounds, prolonged sounds, or silent blocks where a child gets stuck before a word comes out. Secondary behaviours are the additional physical movements some children develop around these moments - hard blinking, head jerking, tapping, or visible tension in the face or jaw - as an unconscious attempt to 'force' the word out or cope with the frustration of being stuck.
Why these are worth noticing specifically
Secondary behaviours are a sign that stammering has become more effortful for the child, and they can also draw extra attention from peers, which sometimes adds to a child's self-consciousness about speaking. A speech therapist colleague working with a family near Dayalpur noted this pattern clearly - a child whose stammering had been mild and easy to overlook a year earlier had, over time, developed a noticeable head jerk each time a word got stuck, which the parents had not initially connected to the stammering itself.
What a fluency assessment and early support involve
An assessment looks at the type and frequency of disfluencies along with any secondary behaviours present, to understand how established the pattern has become and guide the right level of support. Addressing stammering earlier, before secondary behaviours become deeply ingrained habits, is generally considered more effective. Our stammering and fluency therapy team can advise on next steps.
Book a stammering and fluency assessment for your child with our stammering and fluency therapy team. Call 7481909090 or message us on WhatsApp to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are secondary behaviours a sign that stammering is getting worse?
Not necessarily worse in every sense, but their appearance does usually mean the child is finding it more effortful to get words out, which is a useful reason to seek an assessment rather than wait.
Can secondary behaviours be reduced with therapy?
Yes, fluency therapy often addresses both the stammering itself and the physical tension or movements that have developed around it, usually with better results the earlier support begins.
Should we point out the blinking or head jerk to our child?
Generally, drawing direct attention to secondary behaviours is not recommended, as it can increase self-consciousness. A speech therapist can advise on a more effective, supportive approach.
Is this still just normal childhood stammering or something more serious?
Many young children go through a phase of disfluency that resolves on its own, but the presence of secondary behaviours is one of the signs that professional guidance is worth seeking rather than assuming it will pass.
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Meet the doctors
Useful context about the Genesis Neurogen doctors, so you can understand the wider clinical practice while reading this article.
Dr. Radha Jain
Dr. Radha Jain is the Senior Consultant Gynecologist & Obstetrician within the wider Genesis Neurogen clinical practice. Her women’s-health services are detailed on the main Genesis Neurogen Delhi website.
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