Children Who Stutter Are In-Born?
Stuttering is a communication disorder characterized by disruptions in speech. Catherine S. Montgomery, executive director of the American Institute for Stuttering, says that people who stutter have a "physical disorder with genetic and neurological roots that typically presents itself when a child is very young." Children who stutter usually begin around ages 2 to 8 years of age, with acquired adult stuttering being a very rare form of the disorder. Early intervention is usually the key to nipping this problem in the bud and creating strong lifelong communication skills.
Parent reaction is particularly important in encouraging a child who stutters to speak more fluently. Sometimes it's a knee-jerk reaction to correct people who stutter by interjecting the attempted word as it should be said. Other times, parents aren't sure what to say and authoritatively command their kids to "think before speaking," "focus and try again" or "slow down." Unfortunately, these sentiments of disappointment or alarm can undermine a child's self-confidence and create a flood of negative emotions that accompany the act of communication. In most cases, stuttering and anxiety go hand-in-hand. While younger children may be able to shrug it off, elementary school kids, teenagers and adults develop aversions and deep-seated insecurities associated with language that makes treatment more challenging. Therefore, it's important that parents meet with local community support groups to learn more about childhood stuttering.
One place to find resources focusing on children who stutter is the Stuttering Foundation of America website at www.stutteringhelp.org. They sell book titles like Stuttering and Your Child: Help for Parents, Stuttering: Basic Clinical Skills, If Your Child Stutters: a Guide, Working With Pre-schoolers Who Stutter: Successful Intervention Strategies, Stuttering: For Kids By Kids, Sometimes I Just Stutter (ages 7+) and Trouble At Recess (ages 4+). Additionally, there are also DVDs for sale that accompany many of their top-selling books. These inexpensive resources can help families of kids with speech disorders understand the condition better.
Children who stutter may feel "stupid" going to speech/stuttering therapy, which is why the role of the parent is so vital to the child's reading abilities. Parents can participate in their local Stuttering Foundation community group. Otherwise, they should speak slowly and deliberately, while always asking the child how his or her day went and positively encouraging communication. There is still so much to learn about the direct causes and cures of this disorder, so it would make sense to join a related association for their informative newsletters on recent breakthroughs.
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