The average stuttering child begins suddenly, with no apparent cause; yet as quickly as he started, he stops. It is common for several members of the family to have speech disorders at some point. Stuttering is 3 to 4 times’ more likely in boys than girls and may persist throughout elementary school, although rare. The longer a child has been stuttering, the harder it is for him to stop. Parents should be concerned if the child appears to be really struggling with language or if the condition persists for more than six months.
One of the most important things when dealing with a stuttering child is to monitor his or her emotions. Often, childhood stuttering will lead to low self-esteem, alienation, guilt and depression. The parent’s role should be to explain what causes speech problems and ensure the child does not feel like he or she is responsible or somehow “deserves” this outcome. It’s important for parents to take the time to speak to the child each and every day. Parents must not let on even if they feel disappointed because only encouragement and support can assuage a child’s anxiety and stuttering. Because children learn by example, parents should make direct eye contact, speak slowly and deliberately, use age-appropriate vocabulary and spend time listening.
There are also some things that parents should not do with a child who stutters. A common mistake is to finish the sentence for the child, which will make him feel inferior and confused. Forcing children to speak or recite something in front of visitors is also a huge embarrassment. Cruel comments like “stop stuttering” or “say it again without stuttering” will only demean the child and prohibit any sort of recovery. Even nicer prompts like “think about what you want to say before you say it” or “focus and try again” — can be troublesome and frustrating. Parents must not convey disappointment in the child’s efforts; only encouragement. The schoolyard can be a cold and lonely place for kids who are perceived as being different. Be aware of the school situation and try to ensure that no one is teasing your child about his stuttering problem.
Knowing the “dos” and “donts” of coping with a stuttering child can be extremely beneficial. Speech therapy is important for middle-school-aged children, but so is positive reinforcement at home. The best approach is to treat the child as though he or she is normal and just encountering a temporary road block. It’s important for the child to understand that speech problems can be overcome with time and persistence. There are a number of local community resources for parents to choose from, which can help them to communicate more naturally and aid in their child’s recovery.
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