• Stuttering (Dysfluency)
     
    Stuttering interrupts the normal flow of speech.  It is characterized by repetitions of sounds, syllables and words, hesitations, prolongation, and sometimes unusual facial movement.  Repeating sounds, repeating the "uh" sound, and prolonging sounds can occur in all children at some point.  We all have experienced moments of dysfluencies in our speech.  We begin to worry when they become frequent, and affect a person's ability to communicate effectively.  Increased frequency of stuttering, tremors, increases in pitch and loudness, tension, facial grimaces, and avoiding talking are signs that the child would benefit from stuttering therapy.
     
    What Can be Done at Home and at School?
    • Become educated and learn about stuttering
    • Consult a speech-language therapist or pathologist.  Your school therapist has many brochures, pamphlets, and books that you might find helpful.
    • Listen to the message the child is trying to communicate
    • Be supportive
    • If your child is older, talk to your child about stuttering
    • Make time everyday to have a relaxed quality talk with your child
    • reduce communication demands
    • Model good communication
    • Decrease time pressure
    • Remember that stress can increase stuttering. Relaxation and breathing exercises have proven effective in reducing stress, fear, and tension
    • Caller ID may be helpful when answering the phone
    • Make eye contact during communication
    • NEVER allow the child to be teased or bullied about stuttering.  Mimicking will increase the stress, fear, and tension associated with stuttering
    • Remind them of strategies used in school i.e. "Stop, Take a deep breath, Think about what you want to say, Share" or "Remember to use easy on set."
    Links:

    http://www.eduplace.com/tales/ Have your child create a "Mad Lib" like story and read it to you by practicing easy-on set. "Stop, Take a deep breath, Think about what you want to say, Share".

     
    https://www.quia.com/shared/speech_therapy/ If you do not have adobe, you can accesss the activities by clicking on the html link. You can also click on the subcategory tab to allow you to find activities based on idividual need.
     
    Use the above websites for activities, have your child read, or set aside a designated "conversation" time to you to allow for practice with improvement with fluency skills. Remind them that thaey will be using easy on set strategies, "Stop, Take a deep breath, Think about what you want to say, Share", they have been taught in school.
     
    Please contact me via email, ccramer@newpaltz.k12.ny.us, if you have any questions.
     
    Helpful Information:
    www.WeStutter.org (National Stuttering Association)
    www.stutteringhelp.org (The Stuttering Foundation)
     
     
     
Last Modified on September 15, 2021