Stammering

red-boxer

My son who is now 12 (and only stutters occassionaly now), started to stutter/stammer when he was about 3, it got so bad that he couldn't finish a sentence, it's awful because you want to help them finish what they are trying to say, but you know you mustn't. My son used to get so frustrated with himself, and was often in tears because it took him so long to finish what he was saying.
I kept thinking he will grow out of it but after 6 months he was getting worse. I took him to the health visitor and she tranfered him for speech therapy, what a difference that made with their help my son improved drastically and within 8 months he was stammer free. He only occassionaly stutters now when he is very tired.
The main things are to let your child finish what they are saying, and to maintain eye contact with them. Also take your child to see the health visitor and explain to them that you are worried. Speech therapy works wonders too.

Gingham_Ribbon

I have had a mild stutter since I was about 20. My son stutters sometimes now but there is a big difference between how we do it. I do it when I'm very stressed and have done since I was in a violent relationship. He does it when his brain is going faster than his mouth can keep up with. It seems to give him thinking time. It never happens when he is upset or worried.

There are probably lots of other reasons for stuttering too. A good health visitor or the speech therapist should be able to advise you.

misswig

HI

After badgering the HV to do something as my DS stammering seems to be getting worse, i have finally beemn told thathe will be referred:j :j Anyone have any ideas how long this will take??

He has also been referred for a hearing test as he shouts a lot of the time when he is talking. Again, any ideas how long this will take??

Thanks

Vxx

irishesman

misswig wrote: »

HI

After badgering the HV to do something as my DS stammering seems to be getting worse, i have finally beemn told thathe will be referred:j :j Anyone have any ideas how long this will take??

He has also been referred for a hearing test as he shouts a lot of the time when he is talking. Again, any ideas how long this will take??

Thanks

Vxx

If memory serves me right, 3-4 months:eek:
Rgds

Kimitatsu

Depends where you are and how badly they think he needs to see one.

I always made friends with the secretary who ran the appointments book, pester gently and that way if they get a cancellation then you often can get in there more quickly.

All of the above is right, just give him time and encouragement. If he is a bright boy then their brains run at 1000 mph and the rest of them has trouble keeping up. You will probably find that when he goes to school he will never be a neat handwriter and will miss out words such as and the and of. Its taken me years to get my DS1 to read everything he has written and put those bits in second time around.

Good luck

ChasingButterflies

Hi there,

Our little boy developed a stammer at around 2 1/2 too. The HV never seemed concerned but we ended up getting really worried about it.

I would echo the sentiments about both singing and not allowing anyone to finish his sentance.

I would also agreee that their minds go faster than their ability to express what they mean. He would stammer and struggle and then say "you know" when he was exasperated.

One thing that we noticed was that he would only stammer badly on the days that he had been to nursery -he was in a large class which he wasn't that happy in as it turns out.

For the past year he has been at different nursery with a small class and this has made a huge difference - I don't know wheather he has naturally grown out of it or if it was to do with his surroundings but he will be 5 next week and I haven't heard him stammer in ages (touch wood!)

His older sister (by 19 months) would always finish his sentences and it was really hard to stop her from doing it - or talking over him - we got there though!!!

It is natural to be concerned - but I would say just go with the flow - get him to take a deep breath when flustered - lots of eye contact and pause tv/ or any other distraction(s).

Good luck to you both