We all have tendencies to use certain phrases such as “uhm” when we speak or pause for a second to think of what we want to say. For people who stutter, these disfluencies occur more often and can have an impact on our interactions with others. People who stutter may also have secondary characteristics such as eye blinking and involuntary body movements that don’t directly impact speech, but do impact the way we interact with others. While there is no instant cure for stuttering, intervention has been proven to be helpful in making progress toward more fluent speech.
Causes of stuttering
There is no single known cause of stuttering, however, there are several theories as to why this occurs in children. Some argue that it may be psychological, while others argue that it is more physiological. For many children, it may be a combination of both. Often times, people who stutter have a family member who has also experienced stuttering at some point in their lives.
Who treats stuttering?
Speech-language pathologists can implement strategies for increasing fluency in children’s speech. They offer both direct and indirect treatment for stuttering. Direct treatment can involve practicing a slower rate of speech and identifying “smooth” versus “bumpy” speech. Indirect treatment involves creating a fluency-enhancing environment, which means reducing time pressures and reducing negative reactions to stuttering. Parents play a crucial role in establishing this fluency-enhancing environment in the natural setting at home as well.
When to be evaluated
Most speech-language pathologists recommend that a child should begin therapy within 3-6 months of the stuttering being noticed. There is no definite timeline, as research has shown that around 70% of children who stutter at a young age resolve the stutter on their own. However, as the child gets older and the stuttering remains persistent, there is a higher chance the stutter will not resolve without speech therapy. The best prevention for stuttering is early intervention, so seeking an evaluation from a speech-language pathologist is always recommended.
Tips for home
Model Slow Speech: Children imitate words they hear, but they also imitate the way we say words. By exaggerating the use of slow speech, children will feel less pressure to talk quickly, which is one strategy for enhancing fluency.
Use Child-Friendly Vocabulary: Instead of calling disfluencies by their technical terms, we can give them fun labels that children will be interested in talking about. When children demonstrate prolongations in their speech, we can say they “slid on the ice.” For blocks, we can say their “engine got stuck.” For part word repetitions, we can say they had the “bumpies.”
Encourage Turn-Taking in Conversations: It is important to make it clear that what your child has to say is important, even if they take slightly longer to say it. By limiting time pressures and giving everyone a chance to speak, we are reducing the pressure that can make stuttering even more apparent.
