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October 22nd National Stuttering Awareness Day

    The goal of Stuttering Awareness Day is to teach families about stuttering and how to help those who stutter.

    Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions, prolongations, or abnormal stoppages of sounds and syllables.  There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak.

    There are four factors that can cause stuttering in an individual.  Roughly 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does so.  Child development (children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter).  Neurophysiology (recent research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language in different areas of the brain than those who do not stutter).  Family dynamics also can play a role in a child's speech patterns (high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering).

    Over three million American stutter or approximately 1% of the population.  More than four times as many men stutter than females.  Twenty percent of children have a phase in their lives when they will begin to stutter when they speak; severely enough that it can become a concern to parents.  

    There are several ways for parents to help their child who stutters:
1. Speak with your child in an unhurried way, pausing frequently.  Wait a few seconds after your child finishes speaking before you begin to speak.  Your own slow, relaxed speech will be far more effective than any criticism or advice such as "slow down" or "try it again slowly."
2. Reduce the number of questions you ask your child.  Children speak more freely if they are expressing their own ideas rather than answering an adult's questions.  Instead of asking questions, simply comment on what your child has said, thereby letting him know you heard him.
3. Use your facial expressions and other body language to convey to your child that you are listening to the content of her message and not to how she's talking. 
4. Set aside a few minutes at a regular time each day when you can give your undivided attention to your child. During this time, let the child choose what he would like to do. Let him direct you in activities and decide himself whether to talk or not. When you talk during this special time, use slow, calm, and relaxed speech, with plenty of pauses. This quiet, calm time can be a confidence-builder for younger children, letting them know that a parent enjoys their company. As the child gets older, it can be a time when the child feels comfortable talking about his feelings and experiences with a parent.
5. Help all members of the family learn to take turns talking and listening. Children, especially those who stutter, find it much easier to talk when there are few interruptions and they have the listeners' attention. 
6. Observe the way you interact with your child. Try to increase those times that give your child the message that you are listening to her and she has plenty of time to talk. Try to decrease criticisms, rapid speech patterns, interruptions, and questions. 
7. Above all, convey that you accept your child as he is. The most powerful force will be your support of him, whether he stutters or not.

For more information on stuttering awareness visit www.stutteringhelp.org