Strategies to Deal with Stuttering

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Strategies to Deal with Stuttering
Throat Block

• By Nicole Pockett and
• Tiegan Shepperd

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What is Stuttering?

• According to www.dictionary.com, Stuttering is
• a disorder of vocal communication marked by
  involuntary disruption or blocking of speech, by
  fear and anxiety, and by a struggle to avoid
  speech errors.
• According to the Stuttering Foundation of
  America, stuttering is
• the disruption in the flow of speech, a child
  who stutters may repeat, prolong, or omit certain
  letters, syllables, or words.

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What Causes Stuttering?

• The causes of stuttering are not known but there
  are many theories suggesting reasons for the
  occurrence of a stutter.
• a learned behaviour occurring in all children
  that may or may not go away.
• an underlying psychological problem that can be
  treated with psychotherapy.
• a neurological difference in the brains of those
  who stutter.
• possibility of genetic factors.

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Who Stutters?

• About one percent of the adult population and
  five percent of children stutter. About 75 of
  children who stutter outgrow it, many after
  receiving intervention as a preschooler.
  Stuttering is more common in males with
  approximately 4 males stuttering for every female
  who stutters. (www.stutter.ca)

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Identifying a Child Who Stutters

• Occasional speech disfluency is normal in
  children.
• Children should be referred for screening if
  their speech disfluency is serious enough to meet
  the diagnostic criteria for stuttering
• - three or more repetitions, prolongations, or
  omissions per
• ten sentences
• - eye blinking, looking away, or pitch or
  loudness changes as
• the child struggles to say a word
• - struggling occurs more often than not
• - child shows fear, anxiety, and reluctance to
  participate in
• oral activities
• - inquisition and teasing by peers and parents
  may show
• concern

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Is there a cure?

• No cure exists but treatment is shown to be very
  beneficial
• Speech therapy, from a certified speech language
  pathologist, is very effective with long term
  improvements
• Treatment is designed to help
• students who stutter be more
• confident speaking and help manage
• their exceptionality
• Speech easy device

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Teachers Role

• If you are aware that you have a student in your
  class who stutters or you have identified a
  student who needs further screening or referral
  there are many things you can do to accommodate
  him or her
• Educate fellow students and peers about
  stuttering to create an accepting and caring
  classroom environment and to eliminate teasing
• Give students who stutter numerous opportunities
  to speak in the classroom in a supportive and
  comfortable environment
• Model how to respond appropriately to students
  who stutter
• - avoid using remarks like slow down, take a
  breath, or relax because such advice is not
  helpful and can be demeaning.
• -try not to finish sentences or fill in words,
  this is not helpful for the person who stutters
  and can make he/she feel more anxious.
• -if unsure of how to respond when talking
  with a person who stutters, ask the student how
  he/she would like you to act or seek advice from
  a speech-language pathologist.

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Teachers Role Continued

• -Utilize any resources you may have available
  such as a speech-language pathologist, other
  colleagues who may know more about the topic,
  technology, as well as communication with the
  student and his/her parents
• -Talk with the child privately and show your
  support
• -During oral activities with the whole class
  start by asking the student questions that only
  require short responses (a few words) , also if
  doing an activity where all students are required
  to respond orally allow the student with a
  stutter to answer early on to prevent the
  building of anxiety
• -Be sure the whole class knows that they will be
  given as much time as they need to respond orally
  and that you are interested in them taking time
  and thinking deeply about their answers

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Teachers Role Continued

• -Help all members of the class become good
  listeners and patiently wait their turn to talk
• -Your expectations for the student who stutters
  should be equal to those who do not stutter
• -Be sure the class knows that you are interested
  in content and not delivery
• -Dont make stuttering something to be ashamed
  of, view it in a positive light, and focus on the
  childs strengths
• -Wait patiently and naturally when the student is
  speaking
• -Allow students to speak in pairs or groups
  because when speaking in unison students do not
  stutter (choral reading is a great strategy)

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Common Questions Teachers May Have

• Should I remind the student to use the techniques
  they have learned from their speech therapist in
  class?
• If the student is having a particularly bad
  speaking day what should I do?

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• How can I adapt oral presentations to meet the
  needs of the student who stutters?
• Should we have a class discussion about
  stuttering? (lesson plans are available to insist
  you in addressing the issue)

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• What should I do about students who are being
  bullied about their stutter?
• How can I promote a student who stutters to talk
  in class?

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• QUESTIONS??????

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References

• Weber, K.(1993). Special Education in Ontario
  Schools. Thornhill, ON Highland Press.
• Despirt, D. (2008, January 8). Classroom
  Stuttering Lesson Plan. Retrieved January 11,
  2008 from
• http//teaching-strategies-mentorship.suite101.com
  /article.cfm/kid_stuttering
• Scott, L. (2008). Notes to the Teacher The Child
  Who Stutters at School. Retrieved January 11,
  2008 from
• http//www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid1
  0
• Canadian Stuttering Association (2007).
  Supporting People who Stutter and their Families.
  Retrieved January 18, 2008 from
  http//www.stutter.ca/about.html
• Health-cares.net (2005). What Causes Stuttering?
  Retrieved January 18, 2008 from
  http//neurology.health-cares.net/stuttering-cause
  s.php
• Just for Kids a Special Page for Kids who
  Stutter (2005). Pictures of Stuttering Gallery.
  Retrieved January 18, 2008 from
  http//www.mnsu.edu/comdis/ISAD3/papers/gallery/al
  bumindex.html