3 million Americans stutter, and stuttering is most common in children between the ages of 2-6. So if your child is experiencing this, take a deep breath. It’s not a rare anomaly, and it’s very treatable.
But the how when it comes to treating stuttering is a little more unknown. Most people will point you towards sending your child to therapy for stuttering, but what is this therapy like, and is it right for you?
Well, worry no longer. We’re here to tell you some facts about stuttering therapy you should know! So sit back and get relaxed, because we’re starting now!
Facts About Stuttering to Know Before You Start
For starters, it’s important to know to take your child to therapy as early as possible if you notice any signs the stuttering is at a more advanced stage than normal. Your child developing a stutter that lasts for longer than 6 months or becoming hesitant to talk are two big signs to keep an eye out for. More signs include the frequency of stuttering starting to rise or if you know a family history of stuttering exists when your child’s stuttering begins.
It’s important to remember however that not all stuttering cases need treatment. Many children will develop a stutter for a few months that will fade in time. All you need to do is keep an eye out for the signs.
What Happens At Stuttering Therapy?
If your child goes to stuttering therapy, they will first see a speech-language pathologist who will test them to determine the severity of their stuttering. When they have their results, you have two options. You can either have your child see the pathologist for stuttering therapy or work with your child yourself with help from your child’s teacher and other members of the family.
If you choose the pathologist route, the pathologist will work with your child to teach them how to feel more at ease with their stutter (since anxiety or stress will increase the odds of it occurring) and managing day-to-day tasks with it. The pathologist can also give you advice on how to continue the treatment at home.
Helping Your Child Yourself
If you decide to work on it yourself or want to reinforce the therapy your child is getting elsewhere, we have some strategies for you to try. For example, have a conversation with your child about how the stutter makes them feel. Use the information they give you to adapt your tactics.
Another strategy is to let them know they’re not alone. Read books or watch videos together about people who stutter and how they adapted to it. Tell them about famous people with stutters, like James Earl Jones or Emily Blunt.
If your child sees that they aren’t the only ones fighting a stutter, it will help to not make the task of therapy feel like such an impossible effort.
On the Road to Recovery
Congratulations! You now know all about stuttering therapy, other important facts about stuttering, and how to help your child live the life they want!
For more on keeping your child healthy and happy, check out the other posts on our blog!