Causes of stuttering speech in children, and how to deal with it & bull; hello healthy

As a parent, you will worry when you realize that your little one starts stuttering. Children who stutter are often teased and isolated in social relationships. In some cases, children who stutter may experience anxiety and fear of speaking in public.

What causes a child to stutter? When is stuttering normal and when should your child need professional help? What can be done to help the baby? Below is information that you can use to guide your actions and decisions if your child starts stuttering.

What is stuttering?

Stuttering is a disruption in speech patterns that makes it difficult for children to speak fluently, so this condition is sometimes called language dysfluence.

Children stutter most often at the beginning of sentences, but stuttering can also occur throughout the sentence. For example, the child might repeat a sound or syllable, especially at the beginning, such as "Ma-ma-want." Stuttering patterns can also be heard as an extension of the voice, such as "Ssssusu." Sometimes, stuttering also involves stopping speaking completely or moving the mouth to pronounce the word but the child doesn't make a sound. Stuttering can also be classified as a speech interruption by including sounds, such as "um", "uh," uh ", especially when the child is thinking. Children may also do nonverbal things when they stutter. For example, they may blink their eyes, grimace, or clench their fists.

Some children do not realize that they are stuttering, but others, especially older children, are very aware of their condition. They may become irritated or angry when their speech doesn't go well. Others completely refuse to speak, or restrict speaking, especially outside the home.

What causes a child to stutter?

For a long time, stuttering was thought to be the result of physical or emotional trauma. While there are instances of children stuttering after experiencing trauma, there is little evidence to support the idea that stuttering was caused by emotional or psychological upheaval. Research has shown that there are many factors that are more likely to cause a child to stutter.

Stuttering generally occurs for no apparent reason, but is more likely to occur when the child is very excited, tired, or feels forced or suddenly has to speak. Many children begin to have difficulty speaking fluency when they are just learning to use complex grammar and put a number of words together to form whole sentences. This difficulty may result from differences in how the brain processes language. A child who stutters processes language in this area of ​​the brain, causing errors or delays in sending messages from the brain to the mouth muscles when he needs to speak. As a result, children talk choked up.

Some children, especially those from families where a history of stuttering is common, may inherit a tendency to stutter. In addition, the tendency to stutter is also common in children who live with families with fast-paced lifestyles full of high expectations.

So many factors play a role in determining a child's fluency in language. What is clear, until now the exact cause why children stutter is unknown.

When to worry about a child stuttering?

Stuttering is a common speech barrier in children, especially those aged 2 to 5 years. About 5% of all children are prone to stuttering at some point in their development, usually during the preschool years. Most speech disorders will go away on their own. But for some, stuttering can be a lifelong condition that causes psychological problems that overwhelm the child as an adult.

It's not always easy to tell when a child's stuttering will develop into a more serious problem. However, there are some classic signs that you must watch out for:

• The repetition of a sound, phrase, word or syllable becomes more frequent and consistent; so it is with voice extension
• The way the child speaks begins to show tension, especially in the muscles of the mouth and neck
• A child who stutters is followed by nonverbal activity, such as facial expressions or muscle movements that are tense and tight
• You begin to notice the tension in sound production that causes the child to make a loud, muffled voice or a higher tone of voice
• Children use various methods to avoid talking
• Your child avoids using certain words or changing words suddenly in the middle of a sentence to avoid recurring stuttering
• Stuttering continues after the child is more than 5 years old
• In some severe cases of stuttering, the child may show very hard work and exhaustion when trying to speak

What can be done to help children overcome stuttering?

Ignoring stuttering (it is believed that it can make the symptoms subside) is not a good move. Likewise, considering this language barrier condition as something normal in children's speech and language development. Stuttering is common in children, but that doesn't mean it's a normal condition.

There is no drug approved to treat stuttering. Stuttering can be managed successfully through speech therapy by a speech and language pathologist (SLP) or a therapist (SLT). Treating stuttering in childhood as soon as a parent suspects a child's language fluency symptoms is much more effective than treating stuttering when the child is older. Most speech therapists will offer testing and provide therapy that can be tailored to the child's needs.

In addition, there are many things you can do with other family members to help a child who stutters through speech problems. For example:

• Acknowledging stuttering when the child choked up (For example, "it's okay, maybe what you want to say gets stuck in the head.")
• Don't be negative or critical of your child's speech; insist on showing the correct or correct way of speaking; or finish the sentence. It is very important for children to understand that people can communicate effectively even when they stutter.
• Create opportunities for casual, fun, and enjoyable conversation.
• Engage your child in conversations without TV interruptions or other distractions, such as having the child chat over dinner.
• Don't force your child to continue verbal interactions when stuttering is a problem. Switch chatting with activities that don't require a lot of verbal interaction.
• Listen attentively to what your child has to say, maintaining normal eye contact without showing signs of impatience or frustration.
• Avoid corrections or criticisms such as "let's try again slowly," "take a breath first," "think about what you want to say first," or "stop for a moment." These comments, while well-meaning, will only make your child feel more self-conscious about the problem.
• Create a home atmosphere as calm as possible. Try to slow down the pace of family life; model a relaxed, clear, and orderly way of speaking in the family to help children organize their own speech.
• Reduce the number of questions you ask your child. Children will speak more freely if they express their own ideas rather than answer adult questions. Instead of asking questions, comment on what your child has to say, letting him know that you are listening. Give a little pause before responding to your child's questions or comments.
• Don't be afraid to talk to your child about their stuttering. If she asks questions or expresses concerns about a problem, listen and answer in a way that will help her understand that language disorders are common and can be treated.
• Above all, let him know that you accept him for who he is. Your support and affection for him, whether the child stutters or not, will be the biggest encouragement for the child to be even better.

It's natural for you as a parent to feel anxious, guilty, angry, sad, embarrassed, or want to pretend that your child has no problems. These are all valid emotions that parents commonly feel when they see their children having a hard time. You may also experience outside pressure to have the perfect child. However, rest assured that you are not alone and that there are many people who can help you.