Stuttering and the Preschool Child
First, be reassured that three
out of four preschool children who stutter will outgrow it.
The problem is that we don't know yet how to tell which ones won't outgrow it. S
Most preschool children who outgrow stuttering get better in the first 6 months.
Recovery from stuttering is observed for up to four years post onset.
Some kids who stutter severely also outgrow it.
Everybody has disfluencies in their speech at times....
That is normal and not considered a
stuttering disorder.
What causes stuttering?
A child's environment does not cause stuttering.
Children are born with a predisposition toward stuttering.
A child's language skills and motor skills are developing at different rates
causing a mismatch in the coordination of speech production.
There are multiple risk factors that create an ongoing problem with stuttering.
These include genetics, language abilities, motor abilities,
and environmental factors
The following
Risk Factors
may contribute to the possibility that a preschool child
will continue to stutter
Family history of stuttering
Child has been stuttering for more than six months
Child is aware of and concerned about disfluencies
Parents react to stuttering in a fearful or negative manner
Child has a tendency to be emotional and reactive to mistakes
Sometimes these children cannot control their excitement
They may not be able to stop crying or get over it when they're upset
SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS
Give your child enough time to express himself/herself without interruption
Try not to be impatient with your child for his/her stuttering.
Try not to react by showing too much concern
Make sure that your child is getting enough rest
Try to keep your child's schedule as calm and organized as possible
Show acceptance of your childand of his/her speech