What is stammering?
Although the quantity and type of the stammering differs for each individual, the following features are more usual. Remember that even if your child is showing a few of these characteristics in their speech this does not necessarily mean that your child has developed a full stammering problem. Typically many young children repeat words and syllables:
– Repetition of whole words, e.g. “and, and, and, then I left”
– Repetition of single sounds or syllables, e.g. “c-c-come h-h-here mu-mu-mummy”
– Prolonging of sounds, e.g. “sssssssometimes I go out”
– Blocking of sounds, where the mouth is in position, but no sound comes out
– Muscle tension – around the eyes, nose, lips, neck, or in arms, legs, chest etc. Extra body movements may occur as the child attempts to ‘push’ the word out: stamping a foot, shifting body position or finger tapping
– Avoiding eye contact during a moment of stammering
– Breathing may be disrupted, for example, the child may hold his breath while speaking or take an exaggerated breath before speaking. Generally the flow of speech is unevenly disrupted and this may cause distress to the speaker and the listener
Sometimes the child adopts strategies to try and minimise or hide the problem, for example:
– Avoiding or changing words – the child may say “I’ve forgotten what I was going to say”, or may switch to another word when he begins to stammer, e.g. “I played with my br- br- br… my sister on Saturday”
– Avoiding certain situations – for instance, speaking in assembly or asking questions in class
– Some children become so adept at hiding their problem in this manner that they may appear fluent, or just become very quiet
What causes stammering?
This debate is going on from centuries still any one factor is not found solely responsible for stammering. Mutiple factors come in play in a child who stammers like
– Physical like development problem
– Genetics
– Speed of talking
– Personality of a child
– Parents anxiety
– Time pressure
– Speech problem
-Enviornmental like more in school
Psychological impact of stammering
Stammering decreases child’s confidence and effects his academic performance also. Constant teasing from family and friends makes the thing worser.
How to decrease stammering
These are few suggestions which parents can ask there child to do
– Try to take your time rather than rushing
– Speak a bit more slowly
– Say what you want to say
– Be patient with yourself and say what you want to say
– Pause for a moment before you start to speak
– Don’t always expect the worst – sometimes it goes well
– Remember to congratulate yourself for trying things out
– Try to have a go at things
– Don’t force the words – it just makes them harder to say
– Get plenty of sleep
-The faster you try to speak the less you will manage to say
– Talk about it rather than trying to hide it
Professional Help
There are many centres in Bangalore which run courses for adults and children. Where they train them and make them practice regularly to speak fluently.
With parent’s support and professional help a child can overcome his stammering problem to a large extent.
2 Comments
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Saurabh KumarAugust 2, 2015 at 6:34 am
Thanks Doctor…Awaiting more posts
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Saurabh KumarAugust 2, 2015 at 6:34 am
Thanks Meghala