Stammering

Stammering- What you need to know

What is stammering?

• Stammering and stuttering mean the same thing.
• Stammering can be defined as involuntary repetitions, prolongations and / or blocks (stoppages) of sound, which occur so often that they interfere with the ability to communicate adequately or cause distress to either the speaker or listener
• It is primarily a problem which originates in childhood. The risk for beginning to stammer increases from approximately 2 until 4 years of age and then decreases until about 12 years of age. It rarely begins after 12 unless as a result of brain injury of some kind
• Stammering is four times more common in males.
• Stammering can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, personality, social background or race.
• There is no single cause known, a combination of factors is involved.
• In adolescence and adulthood, fear, avoidance, denial and anxiety lead to a more severe form of stammering.

How can therapy help?

• People of all ages can be helped.
• Early detection is invaluable. A child is never too young to be referred.
• Talking through the problem can help to reduce the fear and anxiety.
• Contact your local Speech and Language Therapy department who may be able to offer Individual therapy Group therapy Self-help groups Advice to parents and teachers.
• There is no guaranteed cure for stammering, but therapy can help to increase confidence and self-esteem, lessen the amount of stammering, and improve individual lifestyles.

Guidelines for Parents and Teachers of Pre-school children

• Maintain a lack of awareness and anxiety about speech by learning to adopt a non-reacting attitude to his nonfluency.
• Listen to him, face him and look interested.
• Keep pressure off by reducing the number of questions you ask and giving him plenty of time to say what he wants.
• Encourage good communication skills. Teach the family to take turns generally and when talking. · Maintain a calm and happy environment.
• Remind others that this is a normal phase and not to laugh or tease him about it.
• Don't make him special because of his speech.

School Age Children

• Don't show your anxiety about speech. Don't correct or draw attention to his speech in any way. Listen to what he says, not how he says it.
• Avoid pressure. It is easy to get upset and frustrated, it is better to relax and listen.
• Show him how to take turns in a conversation by your example.
• Keep eye contact. Looking away doesn't make it any easier for him.
• Use a slower, relaxed way of speaking yourself.
• Promote confidence by showing patience and acceptance. Encourage him to discuss his worries with you.
• Consistent discipline is important.

Further Reading

Some books which can be purchased from bookshops or may be available through your local library are:

• 'Stammering in young Children' by Ann Irwin
• 'Let's Talk About Stammering' by Renee Byrne
• 'Tangled Tongue' by Jack A. Carlisle

Each child is different and while these books are extremely enlightening, they contain general information and guidelines. It is advisable to contact your local Speech and Language Therapist so that you can receive specific guidelines on the ways to manage your child's particular difficulties.

Useful Contacts:

• Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists, 29 Gardiner Place , Dublin 1. Telephone:01-8780215
• E-Mail: info@iaslt.com
• Irish Stammering Association, Carmichael House, North Brunswick St, Dublin 7. Telephone: 01-872 4405 Fax: 01-873 5737