Is your child being teased because of how they speak? Is how they talk affecting their mental health? It can be a scary experience for a child if they are getting bullied or teased by other kids. Professor Gordon W. Blood, Ph. D. CCC-SLP, did a study that revealed

Children who stutter are 61% more likely to be targeted by a bully.

Here are a few techniques to help your child if they are being teased or bullied for their speech impediment

Teasing and bullying can have a significant impact on a child of any age with a speech impediment. According to many studies, children with special needs are at a higher risk because they may seem withdrawn. This type of teasing can result in exclusions from social groups and lower self confidence.

As a parent or caregiver, there are a few things you can do to help your child through these types of difficult situations.

Listen carefully

It is important to really listen to your child. Authenticate and identify how they are feeling. Let them know you are proud of them for coming forward and honest with their feelings. Try to give your child additional undivided attention.

Build their confidence

Being teased or bullied can strain a child’s confidence. It is important to build up their strengths by praising their unrelated attributes, such as kindness to their siblings or their athletic skills.

Talk to your child’s teacher

Meet with your child’s teacher and communicate their speech impediment. Come up with a strategy of how to help them in the classroom.

Encourage your child

Contact a speech therapist who can help them with your child’s impediment. The speech therapist is specifically treated to create an inclusive environment where children feel comfortable. They can also help your child deal with being bullied or teased at school with role play. Helping them develop effective responses to the situation, allowing them to be more assertive.

There is a good book to read to your child about a boy named Rodney. His classmates tease him because he cannot pronounce his name correctly. But in the end it is his speech impediment that drives away the bullies in his class. The book is Hooway for Wodney Wat, by Helen Lester.

If your child is having difficulty with a speech impediment, contact First Words Speech Therapy. Our trained therapist can help.