Fluency Disorders - Stuttering

What is a Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)?

Stuttering is a communication disorder that results from an interaction between the child’s developing language skills and his or her developing motor skills. Developmentally it is normal for a child to go through a period of stuttering up to age 5. It becomes a concern when the stuttering is predictable and persistent across multiple settings.

Stuttering is variable from time to time and may be less frequent in some situations and more frequent in others. Some children attempt to hide their stuttering by talking around words or responding to questions with “I don’t know” when they actually do know the answer.

Times When Stutters Can Occur

• A sound or syllable repetition (e.g., w-w-what?, li-li-like)
• A prolongation (e.g., wwwwwwwwwhat?)
• An inaudible prolongation/block (e.g., a pause, inappropriate break in a word or phrase).
• Use of fillers or interjections (e.g.,) uh, er, um, “I um went um to um the um store.”)

What stuttering is NOT

• It is not the child’s fault.
• It is not the result of a psychological/emotional problem.
• It is not a habit.
• It is not fun.

What are the signs?

Many times secondary physical characteristics accompany stuttering.  (e.g., facial grimaces, avoidance of eye contact). The child may or may not be aware of their disfluencies. Younger children tend to be less aware than older children. 

Risk Factors to Consider

• Family history of stuttering.
• Age at onset after 3 years old.
• Time since you first noticed stuttering (child has been stuttering for at least six months).
• Other speech and language delays (e.g., speech errors, trouble following directions)

How do we treat fluency disorders?

Please be aware that it is not easy for children to modify their speech, but it CAN be done. We use:

• Indirect treatment: Suggestions made to the family to create a fluency-enhancing environment and promote positive parent responses to the child’s speech.
  
• Direct treatment:

1. Speech modifications: using strategies for easy onset, slow easy speech, and breathing techniques.
2. Desensitization: creating awareness of stuttering moments and how to approach them with less tension.
3. Using structured activities to address the emotions/attitudes of stuttering to promote positive self-esteem.

Our Locations

Burnsville:  952-898-5700
BurnsvillePeds@CourageCenter.org

Forest Lake: 651-464-5235
ForestLakePeds@CourageCenter.org

Golden Valley: 763-588-0811 or 1-888-846-8253
pedscarenavigator@couragecenter.org

Stillwater: 651-439-8283
StCroixPeds@CourageCenter.org

See our Locations page for maps and directions.