30. Does your child s-s-s-s-stutter?

 The Times of India has reported about a 13-year old boy, Brayden Harrington, addressing the Democratic convention. It was not usual for a boy of this small age address a political convention. It was also the boy stammers. The Democrat presidential candidate, Mr. Joe Biden helped him address. He was told by Mr. Biden, “We are the members of the same club, both of us s-s-s-stutter.”

Mr. Biden told him as to how he came over this problem of stuttering in the school where everybody made fun of him as Buh-Buh-Buh-Biden but he did not succumb to it, practiced assiduously and overcame the problem.

Once, I was passing through a play-field in a school. It was lunchtime. Some children were standing around a boy who was crying bitterly. I found on going there that the boy used to stammer and all his peers were making fun of him.

Fortunately, his teacher came on the scene and the situation could be saved but it led me to think about the seriousness of the problem. Mostly it is a childhood problem and with sensible and sensitive approach can be cured but still, till such time that the child is suffering it is a cause of huge embarrassment.

I got down to know more about it and was surprised to see a huge list of stutterers that included actors, athletes, politicians, even singers, orators and writers, and many eminent people such as Late British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and King George VI. It is definitely curable and requires dedicated efforts.

Famous English singer and songwriter Gareth Paul Gates has been known to stutter. He has said, “Living with a stammer is

difficult. It's a daily uphill struggle with emotional baggage weighing you

down. You can't be the person you want to be.”

Now that we are on the subject, why not find out more about this seemingly disconcerting problem.

What is stuttering?

Everybody knows that it is not a very uncommon speech problem where the normal flow of speech is interrupted because of the repetition or extension of some sounds or words. The condition may vary from mild to severe. It makes it difficult for the person to communicate with other people. Many times, a normally-speaking person may also face this problem during public speaking or sudden meeting with someone or even during telephonic conversation.

Types of stuttering

Mainly there are three types of stuttering-

·       Developmental- This type of stuttering

is the most common one among the children and generally occurs between their

age of 2 and 5 years. The reason of such stuttering is that the child’s

wants to speak. However, if it persists for more than 6 months or continues in

development of speech and the language do not keep pace with what he or she

for concern.

the child beyond the age of Three and a half years, it can be taken as a cause

·       Neuorgenic- This type of stuttering

is caused by a brain injury or stroke. It affects brain or nerves and causes

signal problems between the brain, nerves and the muscles connected with the

speech.

·       Psychogenic- This one is the most

uncommon caused by emotional trauma or disturbed thinking or reasoning.

·       Genetic- Sometimes there can be a

genetic or hereditary reason also for it. The child may take it from either of

the parents or even a close family member.

Cause of stuttering

As of date, medical science has not been able to attribute any proper cause of stuttering. However, family history of stuttering may influence it. It also occurs if the child has some other speech disorders or stutters for more than 6 months. Some inherent fear or concern may also cause it.

Symptoms of stuttering

·   Repeating sounds, syllables or words- The child may repeat a sound like r-r-r-rabbit.

·       Prolonging sounds, syllables or words- The child may take it

longer to pronounce a word. For example- pic-pic-pic-picnic

·       Using fillers- Some children use fillers such as ‘like’. I want

to like……read the book.

·       Slow talkers- These children are slow talkers measuring each

word while speaking.

·       Blocked speech- Their mouth opens up but they can’t speak.

·       Nervousness- Some become so nervous or become out of breath that

they can’t speak.

·       Blinking eyes and shaking lips- They can speak but not without

blinking their eyes or shaking lips.

·       Stuttering during fatigue, stress or excitement- Some children

speak properly under normal circumstances but stutter during stress, fatigue or

excitement.

·       Fear- Some children stutter if they are afraid of something.

Diagnosis of stuttering

Stuttering patients have to normally consult a Speech-Language

Therapist. He or she makes efforts to diagnose the exact problem. They ask

questions about the speech using different techniques to diagnose the problems.

Treatment of stuttering

There is no known cure for stuttering. It varies with the age,

health and severity of the problem. Skills and techniques of speech can help

the child not to carry it to the adulthood.

Problems

Stuttering causes problems like low self-confidence resulting in

poor academic performance and avoiding social interaction.

12 Tips to help a stuttering child

Parents play a very important role in taking care of this problem.

Some suggested tips are as follows-

1.    Keep the atmosphere

normal for the child.

2.    Become totally involved

with the child. Don’t let him/ her feel that he/ she is being ignored.

3.    Give him/ her your

quality time.

4.    Encourage him/ her to

talk about the topics of interest.

5.    Never speak negatively

about his/ her stutter.

6.    Don’t interrupt during

his/ her speech.

7.    Speak to the child

slowly so that he or she also replies comfortably and slowly.

8.    Pay complete attention

while the child is speaking.

9.    Don’t speak for him/

her. Let the child complete the word or the sentence.

10.   Don’t try to evade the topic of stuttering with the child if he or

she brings it up.

11. Keep interacting with the child’s teachers and

ensure that the child’s peers do not tease or bully him/ her.

12. In case of any such family history, never hide it

from the speech therapist.

Consultation with the therapist/ Counsellor/ Doctor

·       Watch for the conditions

of stuttering and immediately consult them-

·       If the situation goes

beyond 6 months

·       If the child is afraid

of speaking

·       If there are problems in

the school

·       Ensure that you clearly

understand the child’s exact problem in speech.

·       If possible, write down

the details and the questions in your mind about the problem.

·       During the consultation

also note down the diagnosis, tips, tests, medical examinations and advice

along with the medicines, its efficacy and side effects, if any.

Some famous stutterers in the History

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

Orator Demosthenes

King George VI

Actor James Earl Jones

Country singer Mel Tillis

The list can be very long. However, one can find singers and orators who have to use their vocal chords more than others. So, if they can be famous even with this handicap, there is

nothing much to be afraid of.

The author has taken the inspiration from above mentioned Report

in The Times of India and the following websites:

https://www.stlouischildrens.org/conditions-treatments/stuttering

https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/how-to-help-stammering-child#1

# StammeringInTheChidren #StutteringInTheChildren

#TipsForStutteringChildren.

T

   

he author R. C. Verma has experienced a close family member suffer from it in adulthood. He had low self- confidence and suffered throughout his life because of it.