Q: My four-year-old daughter is beginning to speak more regularly and putting together full sentences. I’ve noticed that she stutters when she speaks. Will my daughter outgrow this? If not, what can I do to help her?
A: It’s normal to stumble over a word or two every once in a while, however, if you feel that your daughter is stuttering often, it’s important for her to see a speech-language pathologist (SLP) sooner rather than later. Most children will outgrow stuttering and have normal speech as they get older. Let’s start by defining what stuttering is.
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is interrupted when a person repeats or prolongs sounds or hesitates for an unusually long time between sounds. For example: “Wha-Wha-Wha-What are you doing? (Part word repetition) “LLLLet’s share.” (Sound prolongation) and “I saw him at the um-um-um you know the park.” (A series of interjections). A person who stutters may also exhibit other behaviours such as facial contortions and unusual body postures or movements (caslpa.ca).
Tips to help you communicate with your daughter:
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Allow her to finish her sentences when she is speaking.
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Avoid comments such as “slow down” or “think about what you want to say first.”
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Set up family rules for turn-taking so everyone has a chance to speak without interruptions.
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Take time to talk with your child alone. Use language at your child’s level so she can understand.
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Make talking enjoyable. Keep it easy and fun.
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Accept her for who she is.
Stuttering usually resolves itself when it’s ignored. It’s important as a parent not to make a big deal out of your child’s stuttering.
Speech-Language Therapy
Your daughter should have a screening assessment with an SLP if she:
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Repeats a sound in a word five or more times (c-c-c-c-c-c-cat).
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Prolongs sounds (shhhhhhare).
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Is self-conscious, irritated, frustrated, or embarrassed when talking.
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Shows physical signs of struggle when speaking – facial tics or upper body movement.
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Has a family history of stuttering.
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Has difficulty speaking for more than six months.
Professional therapy for stuttering usually involves helping your child learn an easier way to talk, and learning to use these skills in many different places such as home or school.
For more information please visit www.stutter.ca
For more information on speech-language pathology offered by VHA Home HealthCare please call 416-489-2500 or 1-888-314-6622.
--Reviewed by Suzanne Ranson a contracted Speech-Language Pathologist for VHA Rehab Solutions
