Children who stutter

Stuttering, or stammering, is a speech disorder characterised by interruptions to speech such as hesitating, repeating sounds and words, or prolonging sounds.

Causes of stuttering in children

There are many theories and popular beliefs about what causes stuttering. However, despite considerable scientific research from the second half of the 20th century onwards, the cause of the disorder remains a mystery. All we can say at the dawn of the 21st century is that stuttering is most likely due to some problem with the neural processing (brain activity) that underlies speech production.

Development of stuttering

The progression of stuttering tends to follow the following pattern:

• Stuttering normally begins in children aged two to three years.
• Stuttering may develop gradually or suddenly.
• If stuttering is not treated in the preschool years, it starts to become difficult to treat in later years.
  
  

Natural recovery

Some children appear to recover from stuttering without any intervention. However, it is not possible to predict whether an individual child will recover. Parents should not be advised that their child will ‘grow out of’ stuttering. This will not be true in all cases, for if it were, there would be no such thing as stuttering in adulthood.

There are many problems in measuring the actual rate of natural recovery – estimates have ranged from 30 to 90 per cent of cases. Several recent estimates have been around the 75 per cent mark, but these were population estimates and they cannot be applied to children who come to a clinic for treatment. For reasons unknown, boys seem to be less likely to recover naturally than girls. 

 

Seek professional help

Parents should always seek professional help from a speech pathologist if their child begins to stutter. The speech pathologist will determine whether treatment should occur immediately or whether it is better to wait a while to see if natural recovery occurs. Stuttering children should always be treated at some time during the preschool years.

Treatment for children

The best evidence (from clinical trials) for treating children who stutter is the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention. This is a behaviour modification treatment. The main principles involve praising a child when words are spoken clearly, and occasionally noting when stuttering has occurred.

It’s essential for parents to be trained in the Lidcombe technique to ensure they know how to comment positively about their child’s speech (rather than the child’s behaviour). If parents and carers receive proper training, there is no evidence that correcting a child’s speech will cause the child to become stressed or anxious. In fact, research has shown that the Lidcombe program causes no such adverse psychological events.

Helping a child who stutters

There is a lot you can do as a parent or caregiver to help a child overcome a stutter.

1. Speak with your child in an unhurried way, pausing frequently. Wait a few seconds after your child finishes speaking before you begin to speak. Your own slow, relaxed speech will be far more effective than any criticism or advice such as "slow down" or "try it again slowly."

2. Reduce the number of questions you ask your child. Children speak more freely if they are expressing their own ideas rather than answering an adult's questions. Instead of asking questions, simply comment on what your child has said, thereby letting him know you heard him.

3. Use your facial expressions and other body language to convey to your child that you are listening to the content of her message and not to how she's talking.

4. Set aside a few minutes at a regular time each day when you can give your undivided attention to your child. During this time, let the child choose what he would like to do. Let him direct you in activities and decide himself whether to talk or not. When you talk during this special time, use slow, calm, and relaxed speech, with plenty of pauses. This quiet, calm time can be a confidence-builder for younger children, letting them know that a parent enjoys their company. As the child gets older, it can be a time when the child feels comfortable talking about his feelings and experiences with a parent.

5. Help all members of the family learn to take turns talking and listening. Children, especially those who stutter, find it much easier to talk when there are few interruptions and they have the listeners' attention.

6. Observe the way you interact with your child. Try to increase those times that give your child the message that you are listening to her and she has plenty of time to talk. Try to decrease criticisms, rapid speech patterns, interruptions, and questions.

7. Above all, convey that you accept your child as he is. The most powerful force will be your support, whether your child stutters or not.