Stuttering
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which sounds, syllables, or words are repeated or last longer than normal. These problems cause a break in the flow of speech (called disfluency).
Treatment
There is no one best treatment for stuttering. Most early cases are short-term and resolve on their own. Speech therapy may be helpful if:
- Stuttering has lasted more than 3 - 6 months, or the "blocked" speech lasts several seconds
- The child appears to be struggling when stuttering, or is embarrassed
- There is a family history of stuttering
Speech therapy can help make the speech more fluent or smooth, and can help the child feel better about the stuttering. Parents are encouraged to:
- Avoid expressing too much concern about the stuttering, which can actually make matters worse by making the child more self-conscious
- Avoid stressful social situations whenever possible
- Listen patiently to the child, make eye contact, don't interrupt, and show love and acceptance. Avoid finishing sentences for them.
- Set aside time for talking
- Talk openly about stuttering when the child brings it up, letting them know you understand their frustration
- Talk with the speech therapist about when to gently correct the stuttering
Drug therapy has NOT been shown to be helpful for stuttering. It is not clear whether electronic devices help with stuttering. Self-help groups are often helpful for both the child and family.
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