Children at this age often begin to stutter a little. Thier mind is racing faster than their mouth can get the words out. Be patient with him. Just listen. Don't tell him to stop stuttering (I've heard parents do this, so sad). I didn't even tell my kids (yes all 3 did this) to slow down, I just let them get the words out themselves. None have a problem now.

Vickey

Time will tell if it's a stage. If it's not a stage though, then getting help earlier is better in terms of long term benefit.

Stuttering can be a complicated phenomenon. Young children, especially before the age of 5-7 are constantly developing at a relatively quick rate biologically/physiologically. Depending on the cause of the stuttering, it might not be a phase but might be something that is not expressed until verbal communication gets to where your 3 year old is.

Things you can think about which can be worth mentioning or noting when you mention stuttering (at the doctor's appt) would be anything related to his earlier speech/sound-making development; anything related to his general physical coordination; any milestones reached late or not at all so far? Any milestones reached astonishingly early? Notable strengths, weakness, and quirks should be identified.

This page has speech milestones
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/growth.chart/page1.html

This page has one parent's short essay about their child who has some signs of unusual verbal expression strengths; but who needed and who has benefited from therapy and why. It gives specifics about speech patterns in toddlerhood and preschool age. It's clear about how her child's were unusual.
http://www.csld.com/as.html

This is a page from a multipage article. This page has milestones for communication and explains how they interact.

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/slps/councillmilestones.html

it's worth mentioning and ask questions about why or why not if the doctor agrees or doesn't agree that further assessment may be in your child's long term best interests

P.S. This page is a good one about apraxia problems and the kinds of things you would see and some strategies which may be helpful. (This is just one sort of problem which can cause a problem which may cause speech 'symptoms' but not problems in other areas really.)
http://www.apraxia-kids.org/slps/velleman.html

P.P.S. This page has some tips for issues of 'differentness' in the gifted sense. Since your child has expressed frustration in his own efforts and abilities about such a basic function as being able to talk (and since he perceives that he was able to 'better') it might be useful.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/joy.loss.eq.gifted.html

Thank you so much for your quick response. The websites will be very helpful especially if it isn't a stage. My oldest son did have a major speech problem that was corrected through therapy in kindergarten, so I am a little familiar with this. However, what was concerning me is how quickly this seemed to come on. He does talk very fast, like he has to get it all out in one breath. I have told dh and the older kids not to tell him to slow down or say anything about it.
Thanks again for your response and allowing me to worry and vent.
Pam

Pam,
If it helps our DS is about to turn 3 and sometimes he can't get out what he's trying to say either. He didn't have the problem before and I do think it's because he has so much to say and his little brain is going faster than his mouth. I would give it time and see what happens if it just started. It may clear up.

~Leslie~

Our youngest was this way, in part I think, because he wanted to finish his idea before the older kids beat him to the punch. He also was not finishing the ending sounds of words so he could race through his thought. He was sent to speech therapy by his kindergarten teacher. I pointed out that she, as a child in a family of 10, ought to recognize the younger child speech pattern. The theapist agreed with me as to the cause and said he had no speech problem. He is bright and is still a very fast talker and mumbles so often in his calls home from college that I have to ask him to repeat once or twice in our long chats.

My goddaughter started to stutter quite badly around the same age. I was flabbergahsted (I see her about every 2 months) as she normally is quite a profuse chatterbox. We were worried it wouldn't go away. It lasted about 6 months, and disappeared! Found out later it is VERY common @ that age as language pathways are working overtime....

Debbie

My daughter is about 2.5, and went through the same thing. It started all of a sudden with stammering, repeating words and parts of words like she couldn't get past them. "I I I mommy we we we today mommy I I I". Ah, the brain working faster than the mouth. Then it became true stuttering where she literally could NOT spit out words. She got to the point where she would say in exhasperation "I just can't say it!".

Right at the point we were really really really worried....she stopped. And hasn't done it since. I would say it went on for about two months, and the progression from the occasional repeat of a beginning sound to not being able to say a single word in succession was VERY rapid.

{{gwi:336191}}
Still listening though.

My son is around 2 year and 11 month old. He was fluent in speaking. But
last 3-4 days he is stammering while speaking. and it is not related to
any specific word.r he stammer even while speaking Mom and Papa but if
you ask him to stop and speak slowly he can speak the same word without
any problem. sometime after trying for few second he use to close his
mouth by keeping his hand over mouth.

I am worried about this, particularly since he has been a very talkative
boy with absolutely no stammer. This has started suddenly. Please advise.

A period of 'dysfluency' isn't uncommon at all. Just relax, wait patiently for him to get the words out, and try not to comment on it or make him feel anxious.

If it lasts more than a few months, then I'd call a Speech Therapist for an evaluation -- but not yet.