Stuttering

Today I am going to discuss the communication disorder known as stuttering. According to The Stuttering Foundation, “Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables”. In American alone there are about 3 million people who stutter. Of those 3 million people approximately 70% are children. 5% of all children will experience stuttering at some point in their lives, but most cases of stuttering last only 6-12 months. Stuttering affects boys four times more than it affects girls and can be the result of genetics, neurophysiology, family dynamics, and/or child development (The Stuttering Foundation). Stuttering can negatively affect children’s abilities to effectively communicate, their self-esteem and confidence, and the development of social relationships. Family members of children who stutter are also affected by the disorder as they feel pressure to correct their child’s stuttering and sometimes feel that they are the cause of their child’s stuttering. This can add stress to the family in the form of guilt, frustration, strained relationships, etc., as some parents find it hard to listen to their child when s/he is stuttering. It has been found that stuttering is not an emotional or psychological problem and is not caused by parents or family members (The Stuttering Foundation).

To help a child who stutters early intervention and support is key. Parents should not correct their child while she/he is speaking, as this only draws attention to the inaccurate fact that something is wrong with the child or the way he/she speaks. Parents should be good listeners, talk slowly and concisely so children can imitate this speech, and make time for each child. Speech Language Pathology is especially helpful in teaching children how to manage their stuttering and develop more fluency in their speech. For additional information on stuttering and tips, videos, and resources on how parents can help their children who stutter visit:   http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=151,  http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4, or http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Parents/childwhostutters.htmlm.