Stuttering

It’s normal to stumble over a word or two every once in a while—we all do it. Children, in particular, stutter as they struggle to combine words or find the right words to express their thoughts. But if you feel your child is stuttering more often than his or her peers, it’s important to seek support from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) sooner rather than later—because the sooner your child gets help, the less impacted she’ll be. Most children will outgrow stuttering and have normal speech as they get older.

Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is interrupted when a person repeats or prolongs sounds or hesitates for an unusually long time between sounds. For example: “Wha-Wha-Wha-What are you doing? (Part word repetition) “LLLLet’s share.” (Sound prolongation) and “I saw him at the um-um-um you know the park.” (A series of interjections). A person who stutters may also exhibit other behaviours such as facial contortions and unusual body postures or movements (caslpa.ca).

• Allow her to finish her sentences when she is speaking.
• Avoid comments such as “slow down” or “think about what you want to say first.”
• Set up family rules for turn-taking so everyone has a chance to speak without
interruptions.
• Take time to talk with your child alone. Use language at your child’s level so she
can understand.
• Make talking enjoyable. Keep it easy and fun.
• Accept her for who she is.

Stuttering usually resolves itself when it’s ignored. It’s important as a parent not to make a big deal out of your child’s stuttering.

Your child should have a screening assessment with an SLP if she:
• Repeats a sound in a word five or more times (c-c-c-c-c-c-cat).
• Prolongs sounds (shhhhhhare).
• Is self-conscious, irritated, frustrated, or embarrassed when talking.
• Shows physical signs of struggle when speaking – facial tics or upper body
movement.
• Comes from a family where there is a history of stuttering.
• Has difficulty speaking for more than six months.
Professional therapy for stuttering usually involves helping your child learn an
easier way to talk, and learning to use these skills in many different places such
as home or school.

For more information please visit www.stutter.ca