Stuttering can be a highly embarrassing condition. Most children who stutter begin doing so as soon as they learn to talk, and about 20% of all kids go through some stage of impaired speech, with 5% of them stuttering for at least six months. The majority of the cases are overcome before adulthood, but it may not be an easy feat. This is because there is no quick stuttering cure. The only way to rid a child of their speech impairment is to work with them consistently. The first step in assisting a child who stutters is recognizing the problem. Not all disfluency (impaired speech) will lead to stuttering, and many cases are normal ways in which children between the ages of one and five are learning how to use the language they are quickly acquiring. They may repeat syllables and use filler sounds such as "um." These impairments tend to come and go, and as I said, are simply normal techniques the child is using to develop his language skills. However, there are some cases in which stuttering is becoming an obvious concern. Stutterers may show signs of frustration in their voice and facial muscles when they try to pronounce words. They may also fill their conversation with blocks, or dead air, between syllables or words. To help these children, talk to them in a slow and relaxed manner. Do not get upset with their speech problems, as this will only get more frustrated. Foster a relaxed environment for communication, so the child will feel calmer, which can help words flow better. For severe cases of stuttering, the use of a speech specialist would be beneficial. Severe cases include more than 10% of a child's speech becoming impaired, beginning alternate words to avoid stuttering, or becoming extremely tense and frustrated at the inability to speak correctly. Most schools have speech teachers that will work with children on a weekly basis. Also, utilize the methods above for mild cases of stuttering, such as the slow and relaxed tones while communicating. Stuttering is an unpleasant experience that cannot be stopped or controlled. However, it can be overcome. Unfortunately for the children and adults that suffer from problems, there is not an instant stuttering cure. Instead, hard work and dedication are needed to reduce the impaired speech and promote correctly pronounced words. Realize when a child is speaking differently, and when to either help or seek aid when the difference is above the normal disfluencies that many children go through. Related: Why Do I Stutter When I Talk to Someone and Not When Reading Something Alone?
Related Articles -
Stuttering,
|