Helping a Stuttering Child

[Duke]

From the main page:

The first signs of stuttering may be recognized around the time your child is only 18 - 24 months old. It may sometimes seem maddening to you as a parent, or as cause for concern, but it really isn't something you should dwell on at this stage as its quite common. In actual fact, many children that stutter before the age of 5, actually grow out of it without need for a speech/language therapist.

Should your child suffer from a stuttering problem, there are things that you can do as a parent to help them, and yourself, through it such as:

- Don't tell the child to slow down or "relax."

- Speak with the child in an unhurried way, pausing frequently. Wait a few seconds after the child finishes speaking before you begin to speak.

- Use your facial expressions, eye contact and other body language to convey to the child that you are listening to the content of the message and not how he or she is talking.

- Don't complete words for the child or talk for the child.

- Don't make stuttering something to be ashamed of. Talk about stuttering just like any other matter.

When a child starts going to school, they learn more about interaction with their peers, teachers, etc., which will help them further develop their language skills. There is cause for concern should your child reach the age of 5 and/or:

- repetitions of whole words and phrases become excessive

- sound and syllable repetitions begin to happen more frequently

- there is an increase in the prolongations of words

- your child's speech starts to be effortful or strained

- you notice increased facial tension or tightness in the speech muscles

- you notice vocal tension resulting in rising pitch or loudness

- your child chooses to avoid situations where he or she would have to talk

- your child has facial or body movements along with the stuttering

- you have other concerns about your child's speech

One great resource for people of all ages who suffer from stuttering is the national stuttering association.

[Duke]

I've had no experience with myself stuttering or with my child but I did know a couple that had a daughter who suffered terribly from stuttering. I'm not sure if she still does as they moved away but they did nothing to help the situation.

They would pay little to no attention to her most of the time and when she talked, they would always either try and hurry her through the conversation, dwell on her stuttering problem or pay her little attention at all. I felt so bad for her and still do to this day I guess.

Please, if you have a child who stutters, don't try and make them feel bad about it or bring too much focus to the problem. The only thing your helping to do is make your child more aware of it and more self conscious about the problem.

[Stone]

fomr my experience with Speech Therapy with Noah kids that studder do very well singing. Many at his Rehab take singing lessons the melody helps stuttering