Stop Stuttering

When your child is already five and continues to stutter then you must seriously consider consulting a specialist.  Most children will naturaly stop stuttering by this time without help.

When your child repeats whole words or phrases, prolongs syllables and words and if these occurrences are becoming frequent then it is time to consult an expert. More serious signs are strained speech, tightening of facial and vocal muscles, vocal tension causing loudness or high pitch, disturbing facial and body movements and when your child suddenly starts to totally avoid speaking, rather than just stop stuttering.

A speech language pathologist is the specialist who will check your child’s condition. This person studied and trained in human communication, its development and disorders. Most of these specialists have a master’s degree and must pass a licensure or state certification exam in order for them to practice this profession. They must also have a certificate from the ASHA or American Speech Language Hearing Association. A speech assistant can help out in the absence of the doctor.

If you are having difficulties looking for a legit speech language pathologist, you can seek assistance from the Stuttering Foundation of America. Also, you may check nearby hospitals, clinic, and universities for referrals. Usually these places will conduct testing and therapy for stutterers.

Make sure you provide the appropriate environment for your child at home. All family members should be very understanding of the child’s condition. Encourage the child to talk and in return talk to him or her slowly. Provide quality time so the child can ask questions and never cut their sentences. Just do not exaggerate when you speak in a moderate pace since it will just sound unusual and strange.

The most challenging aspect of this ordeal is controlling your emotions especially when the stuttering becomes more frequent. Always keep in mind that you have sought help already and there are no quick fixes. Allow your child to learn at his or her own pace and triumph over this condition.

Constantly reassure your child that it is ok to have this speech disorder. Do not show your frustration. Keep a positive outlook on this situation.

There are three types of stuttering. The last two types will require the expertise and experience of a professional trained to handle these conditions.

Parents should take this speech disorder seriously. Do not delay what you can do to your child’s well being. You can start by conducting a simple test by observing your child talk for about ten minutes. If your child stutters for more than three times and if you have a family history of this speech impediment then you really need to seek the help of a speech language pathologist.

Remember that there is still no cure for stuttering. The best things professionals can do are treating or minimize it. Do not be misled by people who claim they have a miracle drug to cure it. Do not give up easily; always remember the process of elimination to ensure that your child is getting the most appropriate therapy.

Do not take this condition for granted. Some children outgrew it, others did not. Always prioritize your child’s need for a healthy and normal life and help them stop stuttering.

Stuttering ASHA, Children, Specialist

How the Lidcombe Program Can Help Treat Stuttering During the Pre-School Years.

One of the techniques that can help children who stutter is the Lidcombe Program.

The Lidcombe program was developed to treat stuttering in children below the age of 6. It is based on a body of laboratory-operant condition research and is done in two stages. In the first stage the objective is to stop the child from stuttering. The second is to reinforce the first so this can be maintained for a longer period.

This program was developed in Australia and is widely used in Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand. Some are already using the Lidcombe program in South Africa, United States and several non-English speaking nations.

What makes the Lidcombe program unique from the other therapies available is the fact that it is being conducted by parents and not the speech language pathologist. The SLP is still there but his or her job is to simply teach the parents how to do this treatment even in their absence.

The use of Lidcombe program is a very direct one. This would mean that feedbacks are immediately given to the child about their speech. There are no negative feedbacks given to the child. If a child did not make any mistakes, the parents will just say “that was smooth talking” or ” bumps free”. On the other hand, if the child stutters, the parents will acknowledge it and say “try it again without the word getting stuck” or “that’s a stuck word”. Feedback does not have to be given each time the child speaks. The parent can choose specific times in giving appropriate and significant feedback.

A log book or a diary should be used by the parents. This will help measure the child’s progress. One can use a scale of 0 to 10. If it’s a 0, that means the child did not stutter for that day. If the child scores a 10, then severe stuttering occurred that day.

Assessment will be made by the child, parent and speech language pathologist every week. The scores of the previous week will be monitored and analyzed.

The Lidcombe program consisted of two stages. When the child continues to maintain a low stutter score that is the only time that stage 2 of this program starts.

The treatment for the Lidcombe program differs and this depends on the child’s progress. On the average, most kids move to stage 2 after 11 visits to the clinic.

The key to the success of the Lidcombe program is the positive support of both parents and children. Since the treatment is done in a relaxed and comfortable environment which are the home and the person involved in the treatment is either the mother or father.

Parents who want to the Lidcombe program should keep in mind that this treatment must not interfere with the kid’s communication. It should be perceived as a normal routine or just a part of a child’s everyday life. There is no need to set a specific place and time.

Practice makes permanent. Learning this technique may take some time. It is permissible for the speech language pathologist to visit the home to check if parents are doing it properly.

The Lidcombe program’s success lies in the hands of the parents. Once the parents mastered the skills that are being taught to them, then that’s the time the child will be able to minimize the occurrence of stuttering. If one has a child who stutters beyond the age of six, a different program has to be used and considered because this program can only work best for children in their pre-school years.

Stuttering Children, Lidcombe, Pre-School

Stuttering occurs to child whose age ranges from two to five. Usually this speech disorder disappear as they child grows older and develop his or her speech. This should not make parents be complacent and just take this condition for granted. The following are just few things that can help parents and the child handle this condition.

1. When speaking, make sure you say things slowly and with frequent pauses. Studies show that this approach is very effective as compared to criticizing your child. Remember that having this condition is not your child’s fault.

2. Never finish your child’s sentence even if you already know what he or she wants to say or ask. Give them time to finish what they have to say. The keyword here is listening to your child not evaluating his expression.

3. Minimize the number of questions you ask your child. Give them more time to speak freely. In this manner, you allow your child to express his or her own ideas. Always acknowledge what your child said so that he or she will know that you heard and understood well. Use facial expressions or other body language. Maintain eye contact because this assures your child that you are actively participating and supporting his or her battle with this speech disorder.

4. Encourage your child to speak daily. A good example of this is when your family is eating. Since everyone is present at the dinner table it allows your child to practice and express himself or herself freely. Make sure there are no distractions such as radio or television.

5. Devote a time to your child’s needs. Set a certain time in the morning, afternoon or evening that you join in his or her activities. This helps in building self esteem and confidence in your child since they can converse with you freely with no hints of rejection.

6. You should share the responsibilities of handling your child’s condition properly with all the family members. The more your child is talking the faster it is to improve his or her condition.

7. Reinforcement if necessary. It is not necessary to correct every mispronounced word your child utters. What is important is for your child to enjoy talking. If a parent is constantly correcting his or her child’s mistake that is where fear, anxiety and stress sets in.

These are the things that a parent or a family member can do to support a stutterer with his or her plight. A family member can only do and give so much of his or her time. If the condition is not improving or has worsened, it is best to seek help from a specialist. An expert of the various techniques that can treat this disorder is known as a speech language pathologist.

The SLP will conduct a series of diagnostic exams. You will be asked several questions and you will have one on one interaction with the SLP and your child. You will also have to keep a journal to track the frequency of your child’s stuttering. This is a trial and error procedure to help eliminate the inappropriate treatments and come up with the best therapies.

In looking for a speech language pathologist, make sure that he or she is professional licensed and certified by the state and by the American Speech Language Hearing Association. If still unsure, it is best to get a referral from a clinic or hospital, nearby university or from the Stuttering Foundation of America.

Stuttering Children

Many people don’t realize it but stuttering greatly affects the emotional state of a person, especially that of a child. The emotional effects of stuttering on children alone are very much devastating on his or her emotional health. Not only that, stuttering unfavorably affects not just a child’s social skills but his or her communication skills as well.  

Because of stuttering, many kids think that making friends and building relationships become very disappointing and sometimes traumatizing. Having to live through stuttering at this stage in a person’s life is very awkward and painful. Friends also don’t come easy for children with stutters according to research kids with a stutter often have to cope up with bullying from peers and classmates.  

Studies say that 40 percent of school-aged kids who suffer from stuttering reveal that they been a victim of teasing, bullying, name-calling and worst of all, experienced physical harassment because of their condition. They confess that just because they don’t speak too well, other kids simply don’t respect them and don’t listen when they try to say something. The tendency of this inability to express one’s self is for stuttering kids to be introverts, always veering away from crowds who might judge and tease them.  

The majority of school administrators also agrees that children that stutter are bullied 82 percent of the time inside the classroom, within the school vicinity, and even outside the school premises. This is because many kids without speech problems try to make fun of them especially when there’s no adult nearby.  

Kids get their self-confidence and esteem from the people around them, people like their families, authority figures or people outside their family unit that they look up to and of course their localized peer group.  As children become more mature, the influence that their friends have on them steadily increases and the need to be part of a bigger stratum in society becomes more prevalent.   

Children suffering from stuttering are often set aside and picked last or not picked at all to join any of the related activities of a certain group. This makes them feel that they are unwanted, resulting to low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, mood swings, lack of initiative, depression attacks, and a weak personality in the long run.  

What can be done? 

Parents and teachers can greatly help a lot to lessen the emotional effects on shuttering on children. This is because they can directly affect how the child with stuttering problems think and socialize with others.  

For parents, they should always give their full support to their kids that suffer from stuttering no matter what. They should be able to explain to their kids what is their condition, its causes, how it happens, and what could be done about it to make kids feel that they are not alone in dealing with the problem. Parents must always provide their kids an environment that where they can feel safe, loved, and nurtured for them to overcome the condition at their own pace.  

Teachers can also play a big role in helping minimize the effects of stuttering on kids. This is by extending a helping hand and more patience to child in the school setting. Teachers must realize that kids who stutter tend to lose self esteem quickly so they must do something to make the child understand that he or she is not inferior compared to other classmates.

Stuttering Children, Emotiona

The treatment for preschoolers who stutter is different from those school aged kids. This is because both have different objectives. For preschoolers, the goal is to help the child develop normal speech. As for school aged children, the goal is to treat the causes of stuttering.

School aged kids should learn to control their physical behavior whenever they stutter. Their eyes usually blink while their bodies or heads shake. These are the physical manifestations that school aged children need to control so that their chosen therapy do not just focus on fluency.

In this manner, you will have to bring your child to a speech language pathologist. These professional are trained to work comfortably with kids at varying ages. Make sure that you are consulting a certified and licensed speech language pathologist. If you are not sure where to find one, you can always check online or phone directories. Prioritize on checking the website of the Stuttering Foundation of America.

Currently, there is no known cure yet for stuttering. Each case is unique that is why treatment for school aged kids has to be customized and personalized. You need to bring your child first to a speech language pathologist so that diagnostic exams can be done.

The therapy will vary depending on the result of the diagnostic exams. The main goal is to make sure that kids who stutter will be able to communicate freely and effectively. Since there is permanent cure yet for stuttering, you cannot expect 100% improvement in fluency to your child’s condition.

What you can expect from all these therapies is that your child can effectively deal with this speech disorder. Also, that stuttering will not in any manner inhibit them from communicating.

How does the treatment for stuttering work for kids? The process involves a number of components. Examples that are very common for kids who stutter are the physical disruptions and tension in their bodies.

If there are physical tensions in the body, a speech language pathologist can use one of several techniques such as easy starts, slow speech, easy onsets, smooth movements and easy speech. Keep in mind that it’s a trial and error stage. This will help in finding out the most effective therapy to your child’s condition.

It is common for any person who feels stuck or trapped to experience physical tension. The best thing to do is to relax. This is easier said than done though since it’s very different when a child is in the moment of stuttering. One effective technique is to let the child understand that this speech disorder is not disappearing. He or she should not fight it instead find a way to work with it in a harmonious manner possible.

This technique may sound strange, but this strategy works because the child is relaxed and more knowledgeable of his or her condition. A number of studies show that this approach lessens the stuttering and improves communication.

It takes time to treat school aged kids with this speech impediment. The specialist has to do many tests before recommending the most appropriate treatment or therapy. As a parent, the best thing you can do is cooperate with the specialist and help in the reinforcement of the lessons from each therapy learned. Unconditional love and support helps in the fast improvement of your child’s condition.

Stuttering school aged kids who do not get proper help for their conditions will definitely have problems in their adult lives. The will not be able to socialize properly. They will always lose good opportunities that will allow them to speak or share their ideas. Their development as a human being will be stunted. They will miss out a lot of things life has to offer.

Stuttering Children, Kids, School

Adults who suffer from stuttering are faced with various difficulties in their daily lives. Since most of them have poor self-esteem they are constantly struggling when it comes to human interaction. They cannot get their dream jobs nor can the present themselves properly in interviews. Their inability to express themselves hampers their career as well as their personal growth. So just imagine how kids are handling this condition. They are still developing their ability to speak and social skills and they are being judged unfairly by some people in the society.

On Your Mind

It would be bliss for stutterers to see themselves one day free from this speech disorder. That they can just talk their hearts out and enjoy the simple pleasures of talking. Currently, studies are being conducted to substantiate their claims. Once they have gathered enough proof then they can conclude that this condition is strongly connected to the brain.

Is this condition a result of someone’s active imagination? In Minnesota, researchers have proven that although emotional anxieties trigger stuttering, what strongly affects this condition are the irregularities in the anatomical function of their brain areas that are solely responsible to speech and language pattern.

Neurology, a scientific journal owned by the American Academy of Neurology published an article showing evidences leading to the conclusion that the brain greatly affects the speech patterns of people. They published the first findings about how specific areas of the brain are responsible to patterns of speech and this puts a person at great risks in developing this condition.

Different Studies

There are on-going studies and researches being conducted to find the real explanation and solution to this condition. Anne Foundas, MD of Tulane University in New Orleans conducted a study on this speech disorder. In her research, she tested 16 patients with controlled cases of stuttering and tested 16 patients with unrelenting PDS or persistent developmental stuttering. She used MRI scans to measure these individual’s brains. She found out that all patients with PDS have significantly bigger right and left temporal lobes and the shapes of their brains contain anomalies and irregularities than those who can control their condition.

Your Call

If one has a child who has a stuttering condition, one cannot just be complacent and sit comfortably at home waiting for all the studies to be completed. The results of the studies can provide enough evidence or might just strengthen the beliefs that one has on his or her child’s condition. The best thing one can do is to observe and determine other factors that can worsen his or her child’s conditions.

1. Look at your environment. Where do you usually go with your child? How do people react to your kid’s condition? People’s reaction to your child can greatly affect your child’s response to them. As parents, it is your right to intervene in your child’s social interaction. Inform your child of their condition so that he or she will be able to handle different reactions of people to their condition. In this manner, you are creating a better and loving environment to your child.

2. Always observe your child’s social skills. Make them realize and understand that in the real world there are strong personalities who might intimidate them or make fun of their condition. What you can do is to do some role plays that will help your child be more prepared and pro-active with their condition.

3. If studies about this speech disorder have not progressed yet, be open to other treatments. You might as well consult a speech language pathologist who can help you with various speech therapies suitable to your child’s condition. Never lose hope.

Stuttering brain, Child, Children

Man is always in a constant search for the ultimate wonder drug. Many are still fascinated with the existence of the fountain of youth. Most of us want quick fixes as we got used to fast food meals. There have been a number of scientific advancements but there are diseases that have no known cure yet. Dementia, Alzheimer’s, AIDS are just some of those diseases that are still incurable. Stuttering has not perfect cure yet. Therapies and medical innovations help alleviate this speech impediment.

Stuttering is a speech disorder that causes a person to repeat or prolong the syllables, word or phrase in his or her statement. This is often caused by anxiety, self consciousness, over excitement, stress, and even embarrassment. Individuals who are put in a hot seat situation often times stammer and stutter with the words they want to say. The stuttering of some people can also be considered as a form of defense mechanism. Adults who have developed stuttering may also suffer from lack of self confidence, poor self-esteem, weak personality and weak communication skills.

Usually children who have developed stuttering outgrow it in their early childhood years. They may have developed stuttering at the time when they were just about to learn how to speak. The rationale behind is that they are yet to familiarize themselves with the various textures of sound. Also, they are still in the process of becoming comfortable in reciting syllables, phrases or words that they find most convenient and appealing to them.

Children who are given special guidance and attention with their condition can easily outgrow stuttering without any complications. Those children who do not get the right support from their parents and other family members usually have the most difficulties improving their disorder. The other aspects being considered that may cause stuttering are children who have multi-lingual families. Just when they are about to learn a language, they are exposed to complex words, accents and etymologies. This can be very confusing for their minds. This gives them a lot of stress and anxiety.

Parents and siblings should play an active role in the improvement of stutterer’s condition. A child who has this condition who constantly receives positive feedback, reinforcements and encouragements can quickly improve and accept this disorder. The child will be more motivated in conquering this flaw. On the other hand, unloved and ignored kids with this condition will more likely develop insecurities. This will result to poor social and communication skills. They will be more recluse and introverted even in their adult life.

Parents and siblings should exert more effort in spending time with a child that stutters. They should be able to provide activities that will help stimulate and motivate the child’s social and communication skills. In this manner, the child will develop a healthy self-esteem and will learn how to talk in a normal manner.

Parents should always keep an open mind to all possible treatments available to their child. Never deprive your child of his or her right to get well. Parents should love their child unconditionally. Never be ashamed of your child’s disorder. Remember that it is not a disease.

Parents should not rely on quack doctors or any mystical belief that it is their child’s karma to have a speech disorder. There have been medical advancements and there have been scientific approaches that can help improve this condition. Do not be afraid to ask for professional help. Various facilities and speech language pathologists are trained to handle this disorder. You just have to conquer fear itself.  Once done, the healing begins.

Stuttering Children, Cure, Parents

Parents are the most influential people in a child’s life. They are accountable for their child’s life. Habits and values are instilled at a very young age. The experiences that a child goes through in childhood with his or her parents mold his or her character. It is vital for parents to rear a healthy child even with stuttering issues.

Tips for Parents

It is very important for parents to realize the serious repercussions of the emotional traumas that their children are dealing. They must work quickly and must not take things for granted. Remember that having emotionally and mentally healthy kids are parents’ major accomplishments. Here are some valuable tips that parents can definitely use in helping their kids grapple with their condition:

1. Educate your child on the real meaning of his or her condition. Explain to him or her in the most simple and understandable manner what causes stuttering. Present to them the facts in the most scientific way possible. Make them understand that it’s a speech impediment that occurs to millions of people. Make them realize that their condition can improve in time with proper therapy and practice. In this manner, the child will have an easy task of self acceptance. That it’s not the end of the world. That there is hope and he or she must just keep a positive outlook in life.

2. Maintain a positive outlook in life. Make sure you are consistently practicing positive reinforcements in your child. Kids are normally happy individuals but there are outside forces that can distract them. They can be easily consumed with the negativity that they hear from other kids. Once they allow these negativities to consume their existence it is a spiral case to self pity and depression. If your child is in this state, it will be very difficult for a parent to pull him or her out in this state of hopelessness.

Parents must constantly instill in their child that there nothing to be ashamed of if he or she stutters. Millions experience this speech impediment. Educate your child and the acceptance of his or her condition will be faster and easier. The child will be able to cope with the harsh reality of bullying and teasing. The child will be confident in knowing that there is more to life than sulking in depression.

3. Be truthful to your child’s condition. A parent should stress on what his or her child can do to improve his or her condition. This condition is not an embarrassing one that will destroy his or her future. There is no need to feel inferior. The parent should instill in the child that he or she is with him or her every step of the way.

4. Focus on your child’s strengths. Learn his or her talents and special abilities. Stuttering is just one of those hurdles your child has to go through in life. Encourage your child to socialize and observe the good social skills he or she has in social contacts. Instill in your child the importance of overcoming this speech impediment and that he or she can still do more productive things and triumph over this situation.

5. Give your full support to your child. Parents should be the best support group a child can have with a stuttering condition. A child might have this speech disorder but he or she can still live a full and healthy life. Let your child know that he or she is loved unconditionally. Let your child realize that he or she is meant for greater things.

Stuttering Children, Parents, Tips

It is very important to know that stuttering is a speech disorder not a disease. There are no exact causes of its occurrence. It is good to know that a number of famous personalities are stutterers or have once stuttered. Stuttering can occur in childhood and in other cases, in the adult stage of life. In this case, what can an adult do to overcome this disorder?

If a child suffers from this disorder, it is permissible that the parents are the ones actively seeking solutions. Now if one is an adult and is just experiencing this disorder, be accountable and do not rely on your parents’ help. You may need to get professional assistance which was not made available years ago. You will have to exhaust all resources possible to improve on your speech abilities.
Now the professional you need to consult is what we call a speech language pathologist. An SLP studied and trained to handle any speech disorder. In looking for this kind of professional, make sure to check if he or she has a certificate from ASHA or American Speech Language Hearing Association and has passed the state licensure exam.  The SLP will conduct diagnostic exams to be able to provide the patient with the appropriate treatment and therapy.
Seeking professional help can be scary. Do not be consumed with fear. Always keep in mind that stuttering is not a disease. It is a speech disorder that can be treated. Keep an open mind and be positive. This is for your own personal development which is always a good thing.

Set realistic goals for yourself if you are still undergoing treatment. Do not expect to be cured overnight. Practice the drills and techniques that will help you overcome if not minimize stuttering. Keep a moderate pace in talking. This will help minimize repetition of words. When panic sets in, remember to breathe properly. This will calm your nerves and facial muscles.

Observe and learn from your drills. One therapy may not be effective to you. If this is the case then you must discuss this concern to your SLP so that he or she can try other drills and therapies that will suit your condition. Be open to other solutions.

Patience is indeed a virtue that is essential to the treatment of this disorder. No pain - No gain. Nothing was ever achieved overnight. You have to sweat it out. Perseverance and determination are your traits for success. Whenever you encounter setbacks use them to motivate yourself. Remember that you have to please yourself first before others.

They say that beauty is within. Stuttering is not something that will take away the beauty that is innate in you. There are other traits that can outweigh this speech disorder. Your determination, perseverance and patience to overcome this flaw are determinants on what is your character is truly made of. You can still be a successful person even when you have it.

We are not perfect beings. In fact, our flaws and deficiencies make us beautiful and unique beings. We have a choice to be happy or sorrowful or even be remorseful to life. We should not take life too seriously. Learn to laugh at your flaws and do not be too hard on yourself. Love yourself! Embrace your flaws!

Stuttering Children, Stuttering, Tips

A child’s basic necessities in life are provided by their parents. Parenting entails a lot of responsibility and accountability. What happens when a child has a speech disorder like stuttering? In this case, parents are expected to give more than what is expected from them. Love should transcend this challenge and these tips can immensely help those parents experiencing the same concern.

1. Parents should serve as the foundation and pillars of the emotional and moral support of children with stuttering problems. This is where their patience is being tested. They are expected to embrace and improve the current condition of their child. Their support can influence the quick response to therapy or even improvement in their child’s condition.

2. You must learn to create an environment of mutualism - give and take. If somebody talks, the rest listens. This is essential for a stutterer so that he or she can speak freely even if it takes longer as compared to a normal person. This will allow the stutterer to develop self-esteem and respect.

3. Simplify your language. The words or phrases you use in asking questions should be short and simple. This will help your child to express himself or herself freely. Let your child finish his or her sentences before proceeding to your next question. In this manner, anxiety and frustration are being eliminated.

4. Listen well to the messages being conveyed by your child. This will help you understand your child’s thought patterns. Do not be indifferent to your child. Your response should be the same as that of your usual conversation with a normal kid. You do not want to alienate your child. Just let him or her do his or her usual conversational practices.

5. As a parent of a child with speech disorder, do not be in a hurry in exposing your child to activities that will deflate his or her self-esteem. A stage mother or father image is not a good idea to begin with in the real world, there are bullies especially kids who are clueless of this speech disorder. But if your child is eager to do stuff like performing for a big crowd, just let them be and have fun.

6. Empower your other kids by educating them of their sibling’s speech disorder. A child who stutters is in constant need of acceptance and understanding especially from family members. A family founded strongly by love will have healthy kids.

7. Seek the assistance of certified and licensed Speech Language Pathologists. There are various drills and therapies that can help improve and alleviate your child’s stuttering condition. There is no known cure yet and reinforcing these proven therapies can greatly improve your child’s well being.

8. Lastly, love your child with no ifs or buts. Unconditional love conquers all forms of speech disorders. A child filled with love is healthy. Combine this love with the appropriate medical assistance and support network; your child’s situation will immensely improve quickly as your child grows older.

These may be 8 simple tips but they do not guarantee that practicing them religiously is going to be that easy. Love, acceptance, patience, support group, medical attention and a whole lot more are the major keys in accomplishing your goal in improving your child’s condition and removing their stuttering problem.

Stuttering Children, Stuttering, Tips