Stammering in children can be corrected with the right help

Is your child unable to speak properly? He/she might be suffering from a condition called stammering. Here is expert advice on the condition.

By: Dr Nandini Joshi | | Updated: November 2, 2015 7:04 pm

Raj and Seema were a happily married couple, who had just had a baby boy, Arjun. He was a happy child who was perfect. But when it came time for him to talk, there were a few things that had the young parents worried. At the age of four, Arjun, started to stammer. They put it off thinking it was something that he would soon grow out of. But it persisted. Also Read - Akshay Kumar, Piyush Mishra, Sonam Kapoor and more Bollywood celebs who opened up on facing sexual abuse in childhood

Dr Nandini Joshi, renowned audiologist and speech pathologist, tells us about the condition and gives a few tips to parents whose children suffer from the condition. Also Read - Genes linked to common brain disorder, Chiari 1 malformation, identified

What is stammering? Also Read - Kids turning hypertensive: Get your child screened for early detection

Stammering in children is non-fluent speech that frequently occurs between the ages of 4 and 7 years. At this age, a child is learning to string words together to form sentences. To do this the child has to internalize language syntax or grammar rules as it listens to others talk, which by no means is an easy process. Based on these learned rules, it attempts to form sentences with the intention of self-expression. At this point dysfluency or stammering is a normal stage in the child’s cognitive development. Due to some behavioral, physiological, psychological or environmental reasons, this stage persists in some children and they do not graduate to the next developmental stage. (Read: Understanding developmental disorders in children)

How can a parent identify that their child is suffering from the condition?

In such cases the child might repeat parts of words like; ‘ba..ba…bag’, or the whole word like’ bag bag bag’, or phrases like ‘where are where are where are you going’ or insert interjections like ‘ummm errr ahhh’. In the initial stages stammering could occur when the child is overexcited or overanxious about something. This can lead to a a frustration on his/her part, be patient. (Read: Understanding your child’s temper tantrums)

How will a speech pathologist diagnose the child?

There is no blood test or scan that can be used. All the child will need is an assessment by a speech pathologist.

What are the treatment options for such children?

Treatment is carried out with the help of behavior therapy sessions (A therapy where it appears like the child and doctor are playing. The play is specifically directed towards improving sub-skills necessary for fluent speech) and if started before a child reaches around 8 to 9 years of age, stammering can be easily and fully reversed. After that however management takes longer as it becomes complicated due to additional psychological factors like embarrassment, parental anxiety (this plays an important role because the child becomes extremely aware of it), feeling ashamed of the condition because of being teased about it at school etc.

What would you suggest parents do in such cases?

It is important for parents to realize that the earlier a child is treated the better. That is why I would suggest whenever a parent notices a child stammering, the cardinal rule is not to chide the child about it or ask it to talk slowly, instead take the opinion of a speech pathologist at the earliest.

I would also suggest that before taking your child for a speech consultation prepare him/her by saying you are going, not to a doctor, but to visit a place that has many toys and to meet someone who will talk and play with them.

(Read: New-age parenting: Understand your adolescent better!)

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Published : August 13, 2013 10:11 am | Updated:November 2, 2015 7:04 pm

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