As children learn to talk during their preschool years, it is common for them to have some normal non-fluencies in their speech. You may hear your child
- repeating words,
- hesitating while speaking, and
- revising their words.
This phase can last for a few days or few weeks. It is common between the ages of 2 to 5 years. It may be more noticeable when your child is tired, excited or feeling pressure to speak.
When other non-fluent speech behaviours occur, such as
- repeating the first sound or syllable,
- prolonging the first sound,
- tension and struggle,
- changing pitch or loudness while trying to say a word
and these difficulties continue beyond a few weeks, it is possible that he/she may be developing a stuttering problem.
If you think your child is not meeting the developmental milestones as expected don’t ‘wait and see’. Contact Us to make a referral for a speech and language assessment.
What you can do to help:
- Be a good listener. Focus on what your child is saying rather than how he/she is saying it. Give your child your full attention and look at him as you talk together.
- Provide slow, clear speech models rather than telling him to “slow down” or “relax”.
- Allow your child to complete his own sentences, rather than filling in the words for him.
- Encourage verbal turn-taking, especially if brothers and sisters are “competing” for talking time.
- Try not to react negatively about your child’s speech as this will draw attention to his speech and may make him anxious or concerned about his speech.
- Comment more and question less, as questions put a demand on children for more talking.
For additional information, please refer to http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering.htm |