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Stuttering In Children |
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When to be Concerned
Stuttering is a communication impairment characterized by excessive,
involuntary disruptions in the rate, rhythm and forward flow of
speech. As most young children (two to five years old) are developing
their speech and language skills, they experience such normal
disfluencies
as repetitions of whole words and phrases, false starts and revisions
in their sentences, and frequent interjections of uh’s and
um’s.
Adults sometimes needlessly react to these normal disfluencies with
alarm and concern that their child is beginning to stutter. Of much
more concern are the following types of disfluencies, which can be
considered danger signs that a stuttering pattern is developing:
- Frequent syllable or sound repetitions ("bi-bi-bi-bicycle" or "t-t-t-t-time")
- Substitution of a weak vowel (called the schwa vowel) for the true
vowel in a repeated syllable ("buh-buh-buh-bicycle")
- Prolongation of sounds ("mmmmmmmmama")
- Tremors in the small muscles around the mouth, eyes or jaw as the
child tries to say a word on which he seems to be stuck
- Visible signs of struggle and tension when a child blocks on a word
(e.g., squeezing the eyes shut, rapidly blinking, distorting the
position of the mouth, tongue or jaw)
- A rise in pitch or loudness level on sounds being prolonged or repeated
- Observable fear or avoidance of speaking (may include specific words,
situations or people)
Finding Help
Children who are experiencing these types of disfluencies should
be evaluated by a speech/language pathologist. The Hearing, Speech & Deafness
Center offers free screenings.
We also offer comprehensive evaluations and therapy. If you live
in the
Seattle area, please feel free to call us to seek more information
or to schedule and appointment.
Direct intervention may or may not be recommended, but, at a minimum,
the parents and/or caretakers of these children should receive information
about the development of stuttering and advice on how to deal with
it. Direct intervention (stuttering therapy) with preschool as well
as school-age children can be very effective when managed by a speech/language
pathologist trained
and experienced in working with stuttering children.
Facts About Childhood Stuttering
Stuttering is more common among boys than girls by a ratio of about
three to one.
The average stuttering child begins stuttering without any obvious
cause.
Most children begin to stutter in the preschool years and virtually
none, unless they suffer brain damage, begin after puberty.
Stuttering is a condition which, at some time, will affect 5% of
children, although it persists in only 1%.
60% of children who have stuttered for less than one year will likely
recover without direct therapy.
The longer a child has been stuttering, the less likely he is to
stop.
Stuttering is particularly common in relatives of stutterers, especially
in sons of stuttering mothers.
(Compiled from Nature and Treatment of Stuttering: New Directions,
edited by Richard Curlee and William Perkins, Little, Brown & Co.,
1984.)
How to Help a Stuttering Child
It is very important to know how to help and react when talking to
a stuttering child. Adults often wonder, "Should I help him
say the word he is stuttering on?" "Should I ignore the
stuttering?" To help answer these and other questions, here
are some do’s and don’ts in interacting with a stuttering
child:
Do:
- Allow the child time to get his thoughts expressed, regardless of
his repetitions and revisions.
- Look at the child when he is talking to you and demonstrate your
interest in what he is saying, not how he is saying it.
- Keep the child interested in talking by making speech fun and rewarding
(use songs, rhymes, games involving speech, etc.).
- Model a calm, slow manner of talking and try to convey a reassuring,
unhurried manner when talking with the child.
- Minimize stress and anxiety provoking situations at home and at school.
- Become aware of any patterns or circumstances that seem related to
a child’s stuttering and modify them if possible.
- Convey understanding, acceptance and reassurance if a child expresses
concern about his stuttering.
- Seek professional help or advice whenever you are concerned about
a stuttering child.
Don’t:
- Finish a sentence or word for him because you know what he is trying
to say.
- Give the impression that you are alarmed or disappointed because
of his stuttering.
- Force a child to speak or recite before strangers or visitors.
- Point out to the child that he is stuttering, tell him to "stop
stuttering" or ask him to "say it again without stuttering."
- Give suggestions that require the child to do something before he
speaks, such as "Stop and think about what you want to say before
you say it," or "Take a deep breath and try it again."
- Suggest that the child substitute an "easy" word for a
word he is having trouble saying.
- Let stuttering become an excuse to avoid responsibilities.
- Allow anyone to tease or mock a child about his stuttering.
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