Some questions: 1. Is he avoiding communicating with friends? 2. Is he avoiding communicating with teachers? 3. Does he exhibit avoidance behaviors such as switching words or not talking? 4. Is there struggle and muscle tension when trying to get a word out? If the answer is, "NO" to all of these, then as a parent, I would leave it alone. Additionally, public schools in the U.S. have DIFFERENT eligibility criteria than private clinics for speech therapy. If a student's communication skills are functional in both the academic and social setting throughout the school day, there is no educational need for speech therapy services. If the classroom teacher sees a problem, they can refer the student to begin the process for a speech evaluation. Speech therapy for stuttering has shifted to fostering the love of communication, educating others on stuttering, and self esteem. If your child is happily communicating successfully while stuttering, you are already ahead of the game. Make sure this continues. I am a parent, person who stutters, and speech-language pathologist. I completely understand your feelings that stem from a place of both fear and love. I recommend you seek out support organizations. The National Stuttering Association: [www.westutter.org](https://www.westutter.org) Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter: [www.friendswhostutter.org](https://www.friendswhostutter.org) Both organizations have amazing resources for both the child and parents. If you want more information of would like to discuss more in depth, please send me a private message. #