Many children have problems with their speech from an early age. Today I am writing about the speech impediment known as stuttering. I have not had children in my home with this speech problem, but I have had children in speech therapy with this impediment as a part of the group.
Stuttering typically starts for people in childhood and is often referred to as a childhood stutter. Speaking is usually a very worrying time for parents and the child, and it isn't easy to know where to seek help. Parents receive so much different advice based on people's various opinions. Some suggest ignoring the problem advising that stuttering will go away on its own and that focusing on the issue can do more damage than good. Others suggest starting speech therapy as soon as possible.
Stuttering comes in many forms. Family and friends may not even know there is a stuttering problem. They may be a closet stutterer who is very good at masking the issue. They do this by avoiding or finding alternative words. Masking takes a lot of effort and may shock people when the child does stutter. Not all children who stutter can do this and usually have a more severe stutter.
A stutter generally occurs more when a child is:
meeting new people
introducing people
asking questions
speaking in an uncomfortable situation
under pressure
very tired
Stuttering therapy:
People who have a stutter have a few options when seeking help. Try a speech therapist or speech pathologist first. She was attending a speech course in a group or on a one-to-one basis. My experience has been with a speech therapist; my child works with a private therapist one-on-one and then in a group at her school. My goal is to have her in therapy year-round.
