Stuttering is an interruption in the forward flow of speech. It is also called stammering or childhood-onset fluency disorder. People who stutter know what they want to say but often have difficulty saying it. This results in repetitions and prolongations of syllables or words. They may block/pause during speech when they reach a problematic sound or word.
Non-fluency is common among children as a normal part of learning to speak. Young children may stutter when their speech and language abilities are not developed enough to keep up with what they want to say; as a way of holding onto the conversation or finding the words necessary. Most outgrow this developmental stuttering.
Sometimes, however, stuttering is a chronic condition that persists int o adulthood. This type of stuttering can negatively impact self-esteem and interactions with others.
When your child is non-fluent speak back to them in a calm, easy, relaxed manner.
· Slow your speech down slightly. This model will encourage the child to speak back to you in the same manner.
· Don’t finish sentences or fill in words for him/her. Even though you think this may assist your child it may discourage them. Rather wait patiently and naturally until the child is finished speaking.
· Maintain eye contact and try not to look embarrassed.
· Try to focus on WHAT the child is saying and not on HOW the child is saying it.
· Avoid teaching him/her tricks that may improve his/her speech e.g. breath deep, clap hands, stamp your foot etc.
· Do not convey your worry or anxiety to the child regarding their speech.
· When a child is excited or upset or tired their speech may worsen. Be mindful of this and do not put pressure on the child to attempt to speak fluently.
· Demystify the stutter. In other words, talk openly to the child about their difficulties if they are aware of their non-fluency.
· Reduce time pressure. Allow the child enough time to finish what he is saying. Do not rush him.
· Reduce competitiveness for an opportunity to speak. Especially with siblings.
· Try to spend some quiet time with your child, when you are just together.
· Build your child’s confidence by encouraging him/her in his/her areas of strength.
UNIQUE ASPECTS OF STUTTERING
· Stutterers can usually sing without stuttering.
· Stutterers find greatly reduced stuttering when talking aloud to themselves alone.
· Most can speak in unison without stuttering.
· Most can talk to animals or non-living things without stuttering or with greatly reduced stuttering.
· Stuttering runs in cycles. It varies in severity from hour to hour, day to day, and month to month.
· Stuttering is highly inconsistent. The stutterer is not always certain if he will stutter on a specific word or in a specific situation.
· Stuttering is greatly reduced under very high noise.
· Many stutterers stutter very little or not at all when role playing.
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