International Stuttering Awareness is designed to provide accurate information and a better understanding of stuttering. For instance, did you know, stuttering is a complex disorder that affects 70 million people worldwide and that children who stutter are bullied around 4 times more than children who don’t?
The National Stuttering Association reveals more facts about stuttering:
Stuttering usually begins in childhood, between the ages of 2 and 5 years.
Stuttering is a communication disorder involving disruptions, or “disfluencies,” in a person’s speech.
Stuttering is more common among males than females. In adults, the male-to-female ratio is about 4 to 1; in children, it is closer to 2 to 1.
When people stutter, they feel like they have lost control of their speech mechanism. This sensation of loss of control can be disconcerting and uncomfortable, and it can lead to embarrassment, anxiety about speaking, and a fear of stuttering again.
Stuttering can begin gradually and develop over time, or it can appear suddenly.
Stuttering is associated with differences in the brain; it is not just a behavior that children learn or pick up from listening to other people who stutter.
Stuttering also varies across situations: sometimes people stutter a lot, and sometimes they stutter a little. Again, this variability is normal.
For people who stutter, the observable disfluencies are not the most important part of the condition. Instead, it is the impact on their lives that causes the most concern. Therefore, speech therapy for stuttering should focus on more than just fluency; it should also account for the ways that stuttering affects the speakers’ life
If your child suffers from stuttering or some type of speech-language disorder, you are not alone. Speech difficulties can significantly affect their lives.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “If you think your child stutters, get help from an SLP as early as possible. Early help can reduce the chances that your child will keep stuttering.”
At First Words Speech Therapy we offer specialized therapy programs that can help. Designed to significantly reduce stuttering, improve socialization and learning, as well as the overall quality of life for your child.
