Stuttering (Disfluency)
Speech fluency refers to the natural forward flow of speech. Any breakdown in the flow of speech may be referred to as "dysfluency" or "stuttering." Stuttering typically begins in early childhood.
What are the Causes?
Recent research indicates that stuttering is an inherited neurophysiologic disorder. In other words, stuttering likely has a genetic component and specific genes make some children more susceptible to developing stuttering. Children who stutter are not different from their peers in terms of personality or mental function.
What are the Symptoms?
Although some hesitation, repetition, or prolongation of words, sounds, or syllables is typical, the signs of stuttering include:
- Repetitions of whole words (mostly one syllable) multiple times
- Repetitions of a syllable in a word (mostly the first syllable - i.e., ba-ba-banana)
- Elongation of a sound or syllable (drawing it out)
- Tremors (small movements) in the muscles around a child's mouth or jaw during speech
- Variation in the pitch or loudness of the voice
- Avoidance or refusal to talk because of a fear of stuttering
- Struggling to speak
- Abnormal breathing during speech
What Happens During an Evaluation?
A comprehensive fluency evaluation can diagnose stuttering. The process includes obtaining a parent report and case history; eliciting conversational speech samples during play; articulation and language testing; and an oral-motor assessment (as needed). The child may be videotaped for a more in-depth analysis of the stuttering.
What is the Treatment?
Specific treatment recommended by a speech-language pathologist depends on a child's condition. Research shows that speech therapy can eliminate or reduce stuttering symptoms and that a lack of intervention can worsen symptoms. Stuttering that persists can negatively effect the child's social, academic, and emotional well-being. Therapy should begin as soon as stuttering is diagnosed. It may be conducted on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting, but it's always specific to the needs of the child and his or her family.
How to Help:
How you interact with your child can affect stuttering. Therefore, parents or guardians should consider the following:
- Do not call attention to stuttering behaviors
- Focus on what your child is saying, not how he is saying it
- Do not show impatience; give your child plenty of time to finish his sentence
- Do not give suggestions like "slow down," or "take a deep breath"
- Reduce the pressure on your child to talk in front of others
- Reduce excitement levels at home
- Set aside time to talk each day without interruptions
- Speak calmly and in a slow manner to your child
- Do not use complex sentences when speaking to your child; this will reduce the pressure on his language system
- Do not place your child in speaking situations that are stressful or uncomfortable
- When your child stutters, slow your own speech rate
- Demonstrate relaxed speech models and maintain a calm demeanor
Why CIncinnati Children's?
As a national leader in pediatric speech pathology, Cincinnati Children's has a program for the treatment of fluency disorders, or stuttering. This program is staffed by speech-language pathologists who have undergone specific specialty training. We welcome referrals from primary care providers and specialty physicians.
More information is available in the Speech Pathology Division at Cincinnati Children's. It can be reached at 513-636-4341, or speech@cchmc.org.
Rev. 11/07
