What Causes Stuttering?
Experts think that a variety of factors contribute to stuttering,
including:
Genetics: About 60% of those who stutter have a close
family member who stutters.
Other speech and language problems or developmental delays.
Differences in the brain's processing of language: People who stutter process language in different areas of the brain. And there's a problem with the way the brain's messages interact with the muscles and body parts needed for speaking.
Early Signs of Stuttering
The first signs of stuttering tend to appear when a child is about 18 to 24 months old and starting to put words together to form sentences. To parents, the stuttering may be upsetting and frustrating, but it is natural for kids to do some stuttering at this stage of development. It's important to be as patient with your child as possible.
The School Years
Usually, stuttering drops to very low levels when kids enter elementary school and start sharpening their communication skills. If your school-age child continues to stutter, he or she is likely aware of the problem and may be embarrassed by it. Classmates and friends may draw attention to it or even tease your child.
If this happens, talk to your child's teacher, who can address this in the classroom with the kids. The teacher also may be able to decrease the number of stressful speaking situations for your child until his or her speech therapy begins.
When to Seek Help
If your child is 5 years old and still stuttering, talk to your child's doctor and, possibly, a speech-language therapist. You also may want to consult with a speech therapist if:
repetitions of whole words and phrases become excessive
sound and syllable repetitions begin to happen more frequently
there is an increase in the prolongations of words
your child's speech starts to be effortful or strained
you notice increased facial tension or tightness in the speech muscles
you notice vocal tension resulting in rising pitch or loudness
your child chooses to avoid situations where he or she would have to talk
your child has facial or body movements along with the stuttering
you have other concerns about your child's speech
Most schools will offer testing and appropriate therapy if you have been concerned about the stuttering for 6 months or more.
What Parents Can Do
Try these steps to provide a nurturing environment for your child:
Don't require your child to speak precisely or correctly at all times. Allow talking to be fun and enjoyable.
Use family meals as a conversation time. Avoid distractions such as radio or television.
Avoid corrections or criticisms such as "slow down," "take your time," or "take a deep breath." These comments, however well-intentioned, will only make your child feel more self-conscious about the way that he or she is speaking.
Avoid having your child speak or read aloud when he or she is uncomfortable or when the stuttering increases. Instead, during these times encourage activities that do not require a lot of talking.
Don't tell your child to start over.
Don't tell your child to think before speaking.
Provide a calm atmosphere in the home. Try to slow down the pace of family life.
Speak slowly and clearly when talking to your child or others in his or her presence.
Maintain natural eye contact with your child. Try not to look away or show signs of being upset.
Let your child speak for himself or herself, and allow your child to finish thoughts and sentences. Pause before responding to your child's questions or comments.
Talk slowly to your child. This takes practice! Modeling a slow rate of speech will help with your child's fluency.
