Main menu:
Stuttering and Young Children
It's not unusual for parents to wonder if their child's language development is "normal". Are sounds developing as they should? What should they do if their child sounds like they're stuttering? Is it best ignored? Will it go away? What can be done to help their child?
Some facts about stuttering:
" Stuttering is a feature of language which has been studied for decades.
" It can present in the form of sound, word or even phrase repetition.
" Studies have revealed that genetic inheritance can be a contributing factor for a percentage of stutterers within the population
" More males than females by an approximate ratio of 10:1 are effected
" Stuttering ranges in severity from mild, moderate to severe
" Therapy can help sufferers of this condition, though the therapy used for adults and children is very different
Language Development
Research indicates that a child's language will develop in different stages. Children can experience periods of what we call 'normal dysfluency' where words may not come out smoothly, particularly between the ages of 3-4 years. If this period of dysfluent speech continues beyond several months, it is worthwhile contacting a Speech and Language therapist for an assessment to discuss options available in helping the child.
Things to do if you are concerned your child may be stuttering
" Allow your child time to speak and communicate what they want to say
" Encourage your child to slow down when speaking
" Avoid making negative comments about your child's speech
" Avoid prompting or trying to "finish the words"
Indicators for therapy
As already mentioned, if a child has been stuttering for a period of several months, it is beneficial to seek the opinion of a professional. Some of the key considerations for commencing a therapeutic program include:
" The period of time since the commencement of the stuttering of stuttering
" The sex of the child (remembering that more males than females are impacted by stuttering).
" If the child's behaviour indicates that they are worried/ self conscious about speaking or even avoid speaking situations
" Whether the parents of the child wish to commence therapy
" If there is a history of stuttering on either side of the family
Treatment for children
It is worth noting that the approach to therapy used for children is very different to that which is used for adults.
A parent who decides to proceed with therapeutic intervention for their child will be expected to be an integral part of the therapy sessions.
Research clearly demonstrates that earlier intervention maximises chances of faster recovery/ improvement. The decision as to whether to proceed with therapy can be made with your therapist.
**************************
Early Childhood Language Development
There are many stages to a young child's language development. For babyhood to nursery school age, children go through many changes, both in what they understand and what they can say. You may even notice that there is a slight difference between the abilities of different children of the same age.
Young babies, around the age of three months of age, turn to the sound of other people's voices, as well and also make cooing sounds. By six month of age, vocalisations develop into babbling sounds, and by around you child's first birthday you may begin to hear their first word. Between the ages of 18 to 36 months, a significant acceleration occurs in a child's language development, both in the size of vocabulary and in understanding.
Whilst a child of 18 months is expected to understand simple commands, by 36 months, they will begin to be aware of concepts such as 'in' and 'on'.
Did you know that there are things you can do to stimulate your child's language development and understanding?
As a parent or caregiver, it is very important to remember to provide an ideal language model for your child by using whole words, not baby talk. A child may say 'nana' for banana, but it is important that you respond by modelling the whole word, for example "Do you want a banana?"
Playtime provides an excellent opportunity for communication. You might talk to your child about what they're doing. After you've spoken, pause and give your child the opportunity to respond to what you have said. For example, your child may be brushing their doll's hair. You may say "You're brushing dolly's hair," to which the child may respond "brush dolly." This response provides you with the opportunity to respond by expanding on what your child has said, such as "yes, brush dolly's shiny hair."
Reading books is also a wonderful way to stimulate a child's awareness of language. Research has shown that being read to stimulates language development. In listening to stories being read, children become more familiar with the rhythm and rhyme of language. This awareness of language directly links to the development of reading and writing abilities of children in later years. Even if you're reading with your child for a few minutes a day, that's fine. Talk about the pictures in the story and encourage them to tell you the story.
Singing songs and nursery rhymes can be a lot of fun. The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes also exposes children to various aspects of language.
If you have concerns about your child's language development; you may wish to speak with a Speech and Language Pathologist, also known as a Speech and Language Therapist. The therapist will assess your child's level of language ability both what they say and understand, and make recommendations as to whether or not therapy is advisable at that point in time, as well as how you can best support your child's language development.