General Information On Child Stutters

By Enid Hinton


Stammering or stuttering are terms used to describe a speech disorder. This problem afflicts both children and adults, and can have a negative impact. It is often represented by repetition, prolongation, pauses and difficult making sounds when communicating. Parents or guardians who notice that a child stutters are encouraged to seek help for them promptly.

There are some primary behaviors to look for when identifying this problem. Generally there are observable signs in the breakdown of speech fluency, such as repeating of syllables, sounds, phrases or words, prolongation of sounds, and blocks of silence. These are not commonly seen among those who do not have a stammering problem. The severity of the stutter will vary by person and may not be consistent even for individuals.

Stammering is known to have negative impact on people, particularly kids. Children are often teased if they stutter. People with this type of disorder often have feelings of shame, embarrassment, fear, anger, frustration and even guilt. These feelings can lead to a negative self-image and avoidance of social interactions.

There is no one cause associated with this type of stuttering. Still, there are plenty of theories and hypotheses that consider the contributions to this disorder. There is evidence that supports the theory that it is tied to genetics. However, there is a large group of people who stammer and yet have no family history of it. All situations are different.

Prior to any treatment being offered, a person needs to be assessed to determine his or her condition. Some stuttered speech is not as easy to detect so diagnosing requires the skills of professional speech-language pathologists who are certified and knowledgeable. There is no absolute cure, but several options can help people gain control of their speech.

Most of the solutions are focused on learning new techniques that help reduce stammering. This might include changes in breathing habits, speed reduction, and gradual progression of communication from single syllables up to long words and eventually to complex sentences. Therapies might also focus on lowering anxiety that is often caused by stammering and is also known to make the problem worse.

Speech language pathologists are a powerful resource for support and information. They can provide people with a variety of services, including lessons on how to monitor and control the speed at which one communicates. Those who learn to speak slowly and with less intensity can improve their stammering problems. Some might also learn new ways to regulate or check breathing. Other potential solutions for treatment include: support, medications, diaphragmatic breathing, modification therapy, fluency shaping therapy and electronic fluency devices.

Every individual is different and may require a different approach. It can take time before results are noticeable. People are encouraged to stay optimistic and follow all instructions given for treatment purposes. People who have no control over their stutter can face many obstacles in life because of it. This is why it is highly encouraged for adults to get proper diagnosis and seek help early on for children with this problem.




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