Help - My Child Is Stuttering/Stammering Out Of The Blue

pollypenny

My daughter, a very early talker,,suddenly started stammering at three. It was because she had so many important, urgent things to say and do little time!

I took the advice of Dr. Spock,,the guru of the time, and waited patiently, with no comment on the stutter, and it soon passed.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I stammered a lot. I had so many ideas and information and thoughts that needed to come out that I couldn't keep up, or it all came out in a huge stream of sound.

I can definitely tell you what NOT to do.

Don't draw negative attention to it, let him know how frustrating it can be, do impressions of 'garbling', cut him off, correct anybmistakes in pronunciation or interrupt him. That's why I still stammer to this day occasionally - and it was really bad throughout my twenties. I dreaded social occasions and avoided speaking to people whenever possible.


It still comes back when I'm overtired, anxious, stressed or upset/trying to talk about something that distresses me. Having 'The Big Talk' about where our relationship was headed set it off in the past year. But the Fella is getting the hang of the huge pauses and slow breathing before I can get the words out - he's even learning a small, supportive comment can be enough to make it impossible to speak for another age - the staying absolutely still, letting me avoid eye contact and a calm hand on my arm works so much better. Or the silent hug with a soft exhalation when I can't get even the first syllable out, or I'm stuck on 'i-i-i-it's-it's-'. That's a brilliant one


I work in a school now - it's fine to, very calmly and slowly when there is sound coming out, gently raise your fingers and softly exhale, as that's what a stammerer often needs to do. It also appears to work with calming raging hormonal and distraught teenagers. If you repeat what someone says but with correct phrasing in a nice way 'I-I-I-dinwannagoanyoreswivhimcoshed-d-d-d-s-s-s-' being repeated slowly as 'I don't want to go anywhere with [name] because...?' And then doing the pause and raised eyebrows thing, inviting him silently to continue, is confirming you're listening, you understand, you're calm and ready to hear the next bit, is fine.


I can sing, as it's about breathing and relaxing to form the words and sounds in order. I can go onstage and make a twit of myself quite happiky. I can also deal with a lot of awkward work related phone calls. But giving a speech would be a nightmare.


Stay calm and he will learn to calm down and slow down, especially if he's singing even little bits of songs clearly.