Stuttering Therapy for Children

Stuttering is not uncommon among young children. Language development during the ages of two to five, progresses in leaps and bounds on a daily basis and there are many cases of preschoolers or toddlers who begin to stutter during this time. Stuttering includes the repetition of certain sounds, syllables, or words that develops into a pattern. Stuttering may also include interruption of words or sentences or prolongation of sounds.

Experts believe that genetics accounts for nearly sixty percent of stuttering cases. Apart from this, developmental delays in language and differences in the way each brain processes language may account for other causes of stuttering in children. In most cases, stuttering tends to resolve itself by the age of five. In other cases, it can last longer and even into adulthood. While there is no cure for stuttering, there are different treatments available that can help a child deal with the condition.
 

The early signs of stuttering can appear when a child is as young as one and a half years old. During this time, a child’s vocabulary begins to develop and he starts to string simple sentences together. Hesitations or repetitions of words and sounds are common and not usually a cause for concern. However if your child continues to stutter for more than a few weeks at a stretch or the stuttering worsens over time, it may be best to get him evaluated by a qualified speech pathologist or speech therapist. Other signs of stuttering in preschool children include:

• Excessive repetition of words and syllables
• Increase in the prolongation of words
• Speech begins to sound strained or difficult
• Facial tension accompanies speech
• Tension of the vocal muscles may result in loud or high-pitched speech
• Your child begins to withdraw and avoid talking
• Your child begins to exhibit other repetitive or jerky movements that accompany his speech
  

Speech therapy for toddlers who suffer from stuttering does not follow a one-size fits all philosophy. Stuttering therapy needs to be customized to the patient’s individual needs and abilities and is often a combination of different approaches. The length of time spent on therapy and the type of therapy used will therefore depend on your child’s ability and specific requirement. Common goals of any type of speech therapy for toddlers should include:

• A reduction of the frequency of stuttering

• A decrease in the tension and struggle associated with speaking clearly

• A decrease in word avoidances

• An improvement of communication skills and self-confidence

Speech therapy in most cases usually involves stuttering modification techniques and fluency shaping. Stuttering modification are methods used to make the child stutter less. Difficult words and sounds are practiced and various techniques are used to make the struggle less noticeable. Fluency shaping techniques approach the problem from a more global approach. It views the problem of stuttering on a larger scale. Instead of focusing on particular problem words or sounds, it aims to provide the child with ways to preempt a speech problem along with methods on how to cope with the struggle. Speech therapy can help some children totally eliminate stuttering. For others, it may help them make the condition more manageable and the stuttering less noticeable. Most importantly, speech therapy can help a child increase his self-confidence by improving his speaking skills.

Deciding whether or not to take your child to speech therapy is ultimately a personal decision. Many parents believe that by taking a child to therapy, it only serves to make the child more conscious of his problem and may cause him to stutter more. Some parents opt to ‘wait and see’ and hope that the problem resolves itself with time. However, doctors and speech therapists agree that if your child stutters for more than six months or a year, there is less of a chance of outgrowing the condition and help is necessary.

References:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~cspiller/stutteringpage/therapy.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stuttering.html