Stuttering 101 for parents and teachers

What is the causes stuttering?

• a lack of intelligence

• speaking too quickly

• feeling anxious or nervous

• There is no known cause, however a variety of factors can contribute to the disorder

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.7

CCSS.RI.3.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.K.7

What should you do if a child is stuttering and taking a long time to get out his thought?

• help him/her by finishing the word, phrase, or sentence

• tell him/her to relax or calm down

• remind him/her to speak more slowly

• Give him/her your undivided attention, maintain eye contact, refrain from using any facial expressions that convey negative feelings/thoughts, and give him/her as much time as they need to get out what they are trying to say, no matter how long it takes.

Which talking behaviors are considered stuttering?

• repetition of sounds, words, and phrases

• dragging out parts of words and phrases

• using fillers often such as "um, uh, like"

• Quiet pauses where no speech comes out at all

• all of the above

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which statment(s) is/are true about stuttering?

• If you learn to talk from somebody who stutters you will most likely stutter as well,

• Stuttering is totally cureable with the right therapy.

• Children will grow out of it, even if it persists for a few years.

• There is no known cause and no known cure for stuttering. It is a complex and variable disorder. People can learn to overcome this disorder and can successfully exhibit control over their stuttering, however it is a lifelong journey.

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CCSS.RL.5.6

How can teachers help their students who stutter?

• Don't call on them or make them speak aloud in class, and Tell them to relax and slow down when they begin to stutter.

• Expect the same quality and quantity of work from the student who stutters as the one who doesn’t. Have a one-on-one conversation with the student who stutters about needed accommodations in the classroom. Respect the student’s needs, but do not be enabling.

• Help all members of the class learn to take turns talking and listening. All students — and especially those who stutter — find it much easier to talk when there are few interruptions and they have the listener’s attention.

• Don’t make stuttering something to be ashamed of. Talk about stuttering just like any other matter. Speak with the student in an unhurried way, pausing frequently. Convey that you are listening to the content of the message, not how it is said

• 2,3,& 4

How can parents help when speaking with their child who stutters?

• Speak with your child in an unhurried way, pausing frequently and convey that you are truly listening. Wait a few seconds after your child finishes before you begin to speak. Your own easy relaxed speech will be far more effective than any advice such as “slow down” or “try it again slowly. For some children, it is also helpful to introduce a more relaxed pace of life for awhile.

• Asking questions is a normal part of life – but try to resist asking one after the other. Sometimes it is more helpful to comment on what your child has said and wait. Help all members of the family take turns talking and listening. Children find it much easier to talk when there are fewer interruptions.

• Use descriptive praise to build confidence. An example would be “I like the way you picked up your toys. You’re so helpful,” instead of “that’s great.” Praise strengths unrelated to talking as well such as athletic skills, being organized, independent, or careful.

• Discipline the child who stutters just as you do your other children and just as you would if he didn’t stutter.

• All of the above

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CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.K.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

What are the risk factors for stuttering that persists into adulthood versus developmental stuttering?

• Family History/Family members who stutter

• Age of onset after 3 years of age and/or stuttering that has that persisted more than 6 months/year from onset

• Males are at a higher risk for stuttering than females

• all of the above

What should you do if you think your child is stuttering?

• Punish him/her when she stutters (i.e. slap the back of his/her head, yell at them to cut it out, take away their screen time).

• Cry, and call all of your family and friends and tell them how upset and worried you are by this.

• Get them Speech therapy immediately, and when they stutter tell them to relax and think about what they are about to say.

• Talk to a speech therapist about what you are observing. Discuss informal changes you can make at home to help with stuttering, as well as discuss risk factors and speech behaviors observed that could indicate a developmental versus a persistent stutter.

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CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.K.3

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

What are secondary behaviors assoiciated with stuttering?

• Behaviors such as eye blinking, jaw jerking, and head movements that often start as attempts to minimize the severity of stuttering and can add to the patient's embarrassment and fear of speaking.

• Behaviors such as yelling at parents when told to "relax" or "slow down."

• Behaviors exhibited by bullies such as laughing and making fun of students who stutter

• Behaviors exhibited by teachers and care givers that convey shock, dismay, sadness, anger or aversion to the speech behaviors demonstrated by the person who is stuttering

Which of the following famous people struggled with stuttering?

• Marilyn Monroe

• James Earl Jones

• Joe Biden

• Ed Sheeran

• all of the above

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3