Du, du, duuuck. When your child first says the word “duck” in this or in a similar way, you are left speechless. Is he stuttering? Why? I didn’t stutter… There are a lot of questions asked that demand much more than an answer. That’s why we give you facts to help you know about stuttering.

Stuttering is first and foremost a disorder of speech rhythm, which in fact means that it is a disturbed speech fluid, which is why stuttering is the most well-known and most obvious speech disorder. It is because of its characteristic speech effect that it is easily recognizable. When we talk about stuttering, first of all we mean the speech of the stuttering child, that is, his verbal-voice behavior.

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Possible causes of stuttering

Stuttering can sometimes develop suddenly in a child who has had a completely fluent speech in response to extremely intense stress or trauma. Such a reaction is characteristic of children in whom speech is a “weak spot” and the cause of stuttering is almost always known and stuttering occurs a day or two after a stressful event.

Stuttering is due to excessive control, that is, when parents want to show their child the “right way” to speak by correcting and warning or making statements such as “Speak slower”, “Don’t be in such a hurry”, “Do your best“… Then parents are advised to contact the speech therapist for advice as soon as possible to prevent the development of chronic stuttering.

Indications suggesting that the child is stuttering are:

• the child “struggles” with the words (when repeating a syllable or a word, raises his voice abruptly)
• the number of repetitions increased (before the child said, for example, “Du-duck.” Now “Du-du-du-duck.”
• the child began to repeat even-shorter elements of the word
• it began to be noticed that the child had tense facial muscles while speaking and using the breathing unevenly. This means that a speech therapist is urgently required to engage the child in speech therapy to remove the initial stutter.

It is extremely important to know that stuttering can be accompanied by other negative phenomena for the child such as fear of speech and speech situations, tics, different movements of the head, body and limbs, inadequate physiological reactions (sweating, redness, rapid heartbeat), fear, emotional instability, decreased concentration, avoidance of visual contact with the interlocutor, intolerant attitude towards speech situations and similar.

Rules of behavior

The following rules will help you with the behavior of a troubled child:

• If you notice symptoms of stuttering, immediately consult a speech therapist for advice.
• From day one, address your child with a calm, encouraging voice.
• Use simple words and pronounce them correctly.
• Provide your child with growth and development in a calm and serene environment.
• If the child is stuttering, do not shout or utter words instead of him or her.
• It is important not to compare the child with peers.
• Don’t question him, leaving him no time to answer.
• Always look him in the eye as he speaks. Your natural posture will help him overcome his difficulties.
• Always listen to it with interest. The child must feel that you trust him.
• Organize community games that encourage communication in a relaxed family atmosphere.
• Try to reduce communication pressures and predictable stress situations.
• Meet people from your child’s environment and kindergarten teacher with a child’s problem to help him or her fit.
• Speak slowly so that your child tries to emulate you and speak slowly. Be a role model to him for beautiful and fluent speech.

When to seek help?

In case of doubt, but it cannot be determined whether it is stuttering or just a passing interference with the pronunciation, you should consult a speech therapist who will advise you in a timely manner.

Normal and transient disorders usually occur between the third and sixth year. According to most experts, early onset of treatment greatly reduces stuttering in adulthood.

If the child who has poor speech, or who has a stutter, have these facts, then a speech specialist or speech therapist should be contacted as a matter of urgency:

• when there is a family history when it comes to stuttering or pronunciation disorder.
• when it is difficult for a child to express his or her thoughts translated into speech.
• when a child shows signs of frustration or is very upset about their speech.
• when a child is “struggling” with speech.
• when a child grows up in a bilingual environment, stuttering occurs in his or her native language.
• when you as parents are quite concerned about your child’s speech.
• when a child’s generally unsafe behavior is a cause for concern.

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