Stuttering Among Children

Many factors have been proposed for the root cause of stuttering. However, one's emotional makeup cannot be overlooked. "Stuttering, as it continues, can impact a child's academic, emotional, social and vocational potential and development," explains Vanderbilt University psychologist Tedra Walden. "Therefore, if we know more about how emotions influence stuttering and then use this information to more effectively treat early childhood stuttering, we should be in a better position to decrease the long-term negative effects of stuttering in children as they get older," she added.

A study published in the Journal of Communication Disorders in June 2006 found that emotional development is linked to childhood stuttering. To complete the study, researchers had parents of 3-to-5-year-olds fill out a 100-question survey to determine how the stuttering related to the child's response to emotional events. Researchers found that those who stutter are more emotionally aroused by stressful situations, take longer to settle down from stimulating events and are less able to control their attention than people who do not stutter. "Our findings seem to indicate that kids with behavioral and emotional issues are at greater risk of stuttering, that not all aspects of their emotional reactions can be blamed on stuttering, and some of these reactions may pre-date the onset of stuttering and actually contribute to its onset and development," concludes study co-author Tedra Walden.

Stuttering in children was found to directly correlate with the individual's reaction to stressful situations. Even so, researchers say parents should not overreact. "Parents of children known or suspected to be stuttering should not read these findings to suggest that they raise their children in a hermetically sealed jar. Their children should be allowed the full range of emotions and experiences of any other typically developing child," study co-author Edward G. Conture advised. "However, if the child consistently and routinely reacts to things such as everyday changes in activities or routine to a greater degree and longer than expected — especially if such reactions seem more usual than unusual and appear related to changes in the child's stuttering — the parent should consider discussing this with a health professional, preferably someone with experience assessing and treating childhood stuttering."

The stutter cure often involves parental support, which is why stuttering in children is treated in therapy, yet some sessions require the parents to be there too. While a parent can't possibly protect the child from every incidence of stress, anger or frustration, he or she can certainly encourage progress at home. Parents should make direct eye contact with their child when speaking, set aside time each day to communicate, avoid interrupting and never chastise.

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