On Sun, 03 Aug 2003 03:28:57 GMT, "Shell" wrote:

My step-daughter has always stuttered a little bit. In the past month we've
noticed a huge increase. (not sure why) Almost every sentence she says she
struggles with it. She's now 4 1/2. I'm not sure how to handle it. My DH
says to ignore it, he stuttered when he was a teenager. When she's with me,
I work with her to say the word separately, when she can do that her
confidence builds and she says the sentence without stuttering. (she
struggles with the word again later though). Any suggestions? What's the
best way to help her with this?

~Shell

http://preschoolerstoday.com/resourc...es/stutter.htm

How To Handle It
Experts at the Stuttering Foundation or America recommend
that parents listen to what their child is saying and respond to
the child -- not to the stuttering. They also recommend that
parents use a relaxed rate of conversation, make affirming
responses like smiling or saying "uh-huh," make eye contact
with the child and allow the child to finish the word. Parents
should also avoid saying things like, "stop that," or, "say it right."
The child is already frustrated and that frustration should be
acknowledged.

Most importantly, a parent should not tease the child or
respond negatively. "Parents should not imitate the child,
tease the child or allow others to do that, even in a good-natured
way," Kelly says. Cook remembers not only being frustrated but
also being "worried about what others thought of me."

For most young children, stuttering resolves spontaneously in
the first 12 to 18 months after they start stuttering. Cook says
she naturally outgrew stuttering and learned to control it by
speaking slower and thinking before she spoke.

If the problem has not resolved after 18 to 24 months, the child
is more likely to have a chronic stuttering problem.

"Intervention is more successful the earlier it occurs, for
preschooler or early school-age kids, before they've developed
a lot of negative reactions," Kelly says.

Learning techniques to resolve stuttering takes between one to
two months and then several more months to learn techniques
for every day situations. Re-evaluations and checkups are
necessary steps in resolving stuttering.

Learning these techniques in a clinic is easier than learning
them at home, according to Kelly. Even if treatment is sought
in a clinic, Kelly recommends that the family get involved. "It's
good to involve parents, siblings and peers so the child has
an advocate outside the clinic."

Other Effects of Stuttering
A decreased rate of conversation is not the only possible
effect of stuttering. Depending on the child's personality and
temperament, a child might experience mood changes.

"Children who are very shy already may refuse to talk or become
very shy about it," Kelly says. "Kids who are more assertive or
outgoing may just push the stuttering out no matter what and
keep going."

Stuttering can also make school difficult. The child may be teased
and taunted.

"Other children will imitate or call the child names," Kelly says.
"It's an unusual enough problem that when a child is having a
problem with fluency it will be recognized."

Once kids get into school, information is available to help
teachers handle various situations, but stuttering becomes an
extremely difficult problem as teenager with dating and social
interaction. If a parent discovers that their child has a stuttering
problem, she should seek an evaluation -- the sooner the
better.

"We like to see children early because we can give parents an
idea if this is typical development or something to worry about,"
Kelly says.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
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