Perhaps your heart sank the first time you heard a “w-w-w-what” or a “sssssays” come out of your 2-to-4-year-old’s mouth. Does your child have a speech stutter or was it just a temporary lapse? Typically, stuttering starts at a very young age and 75% of stuttering preschoolers will stop within a few months, although it is not uncommon for boys to start stuttering in elementary school. Kids who stutter at this age are more cognizant of their speech problems and may react by stopping abruptly, blinking, tensing up or avoiding social contact. These kids will need some form of speech/stuttering therapy to aid in their recovery process and prevent self esteem damage. The first step in getting help is to seek out information about stuttering online.
The Stuttering Foundation (www.stutteringhelp.org) is one place to get information. This nonprofit organization has been around since 1947 and provides quick facts on stuttering, as well as age-appropriate sections for parents of preschoolers, parents of elementary school kids, kids, teens, adults, teachers, employers, doctors and speech pathologists. Parents will find newsletters, videos, books, continuing education, as well as links to news stories and stuttering research. Indy 500 race car driver Leon Duray Sirois recently got involved with this nonprofit, charitable organization, which is based in Memphis, to help others who struggle with speech trouble. He said the foundation offers books and DVDs to 8,000 public libraries around the nation. He adds, “The big difference between self-therapy and professional therapy is economics. My therapy cost in excess of $3,000 for 19 days, 10 years ago. For some families, that is cost-prohibitive.”
Another place to gather speech stutter resources is the National Stuttering Association. This user-friendly website provides a number of research articles, newsletters and study results. NSA also focuses on connecting families with local chapters, support groups and stuttering program directories. Those who stutter often feel alienated and alone, which causes further impediments to their improvement, comfort levels and self-confidence. Members receive a wealth of information, access to workshops and conferences, email group support and answers to any questions they may have. More information can be found at www.nsastutter.org.
The UC Irvine Center for the Medical Treatment of Stuttering is a third valuable resource for those with speech stutter problems. This facility opened in October 2007 to focus on improving speech fluency through pharmacologic and biological treatments. Visitors to the treatment center will receive state-of-the-art speech stuttering therapy and effective medication. “We are tremendously proud to announce the opening of this new center,” said Maureen Zehntner, the CEO of UCI Healthcare. “Patients who come here for treatment will meet experts who understand the complexities of their disorder and who are passionate about patient care.” Recently they began trials for a drug called Pagaclone, which boosts GABA chemicals in the brain and restricts some of the dopamine flow to treat stuttering.
If it is insurance that you need, Rene Lacape is the person to look for. He has been in this field for many years and is still in counting. He has dealt with many clients and is proud to say that all of them are very satisfied. If you need him, check his website so you can call him now.
