Stuttering….Myths, Facts and Strategies

Stuttering……The Myths, The Fact and Strategies…….everyone ‘stutters’ a little..… when you’re tired, when you’re nervous, when you just can’t think of exactly what you want to say! Sometimes it can be quite difficult to tell the difference between a ‘normal dysfluency’ and a ‘stutter’, but there are certainly some things to look out for and plenty of strategies to try with little ones.

Firstly I would like to clear up a couple of myths and confirm a few facts…

1. Stuttering is a psychological or ‘nervous disorder’. Myth! While the exact cause of stuttering is unknown, stuttering is thought to be caused by differences in brain activity related to speech production, and is characterised by various interruptions to the smooth production of speech. Of course someone who stutters may become nervous or anxious about speaking.

2. Stuttering can run in families. Fact! There appears to be a genetic link with stuttering. TheThings to do in Bundabergre is an increased likelihood of a child stuttering if a parent or relative stutters.

3. If you ignore a child’s stutter it will go away. Myth! It is true that many children will stop stuttering without treatment, however it is impossible to predict which children this will be true for. Generally, the longer a child stutters, the less likely they are to spontaneously recover.

4. Don’t talk about a child’s stutter to them, or it will make it worse. Myth! It is okay to talk to your child about how tricky a word is to say, and of course give them praise for ‘great talking’. Sometimes there are particular words or speech sounds that a child stutters on.

5. More boys than girls stutter. True! Communication disorders in general are more prevalent in boys than girls, with some research indicating that stuttering is twice as common in boys.

6. Early intervention is best. True! Early intervention for any communication difficulty is best! Therapy for stuttering is most effective if commenced early.

Stuttering Behaviours to Look Out For:

Stuttering often starts between 2 – 5 years of age, and often the dysfluency will fluctuate, sometimes with months of fluent speech in between. Stuttering or dysfluency may include word or phrase repetition (I want… I want… I want) or hesitations (umm), and can be particularly evident after a burst of language development, as a child’s speech system learns to cope with the increased load. Of more concern are sound repetitions or prolongations (mmmmmummy), blocking (where a child may appear to be stuck on a sound, with no sound coming out) and any signs of grimacing, tension or body/facial movements accompanying the stuttering.

Some Strategies to Help a Stuttering Child:

These are some of the strategies I have found useful in helping little people who stutter. But do remember that every child is different and may respond better to some strategies than others. My general rule of thumb is ‘if your child doesn’t respond well, don’t do it’…

• Create an easy talking environment by slowing down your speech (which will encourage your child to slow down), be attentive, and structure talking time by taking turns (especially with brothers and sisters competing to talk)

• If your child is stuttering while trying to tell a story, try asking specific questions eg “Who did you play with?”, “Did you play on the swing or the slide?”. Children are more likely to stutter when initiating a conversation and speaking in long sentences.

• Comment on the content of what your child is saying eg“That sounds like fun”.

• Try not to become anxious when your child’s stuttering increases. Stuttering often fluctuates and some days will be better than others. Be patient and continue to model slow, relaxed speech.

• Don’t be afraid to talk to your child about their stutteringeg “That was a tricky word to say, wasn’t it”.

• Praise your child when they speak without stuttering. This is probably the most important strategy of all! Be specific about what you are praising eg “That was great talking!”Things to do in Bundaberg

Speech pathologists are trained to diagnose and treat stuttering. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s fluency, make an appointment to see your local speech pathologist who will guide you in appropriate treatment.Stuttering is the one communication disorder that may not improve naturally and can become worse, so please seek help. Sometimes a few strategies can make all the difference!

Oh, and the last myth I would like to bust… Tickling your child’s feet will NOT cause them to stutter! J

Happy Chatting

This blog post was written for us by Speech Pathologist Alison March from, Alison Marsh Speech Pathology. Thanks so much for sharing with us Alison.