Heavenlyflower9 Posted November 18, 2005 Posted November 18, 2005 When my son first started school, he had no speech problems whatsoever. After a few months he began studdering. I spoke with his teacher about it, she said it was normal and it'll pass. Well, we then moved overseas. Now we're settled in, but he's still studdering. It's been almost a year. It seems like he's rushing himself or he's afraid we won't listen unless he trys to say something fast. Is there anything I can do to help him? Or should i just wait like his teacher and it'll pass?
AlmostMarried77 Posted November 18, 2005 Posted November 18, 2005 Writing as someone who's 20 years on from your sons position: get him in speech therapy NOW - do not delay. Councilling may also be of help as sometimes the stutter can be caused by a traumatic event, starting school and moving abroad may have had some influence. I say may though as the exact cause of stutters varies and theres some confusion as to whether its a physical cause or pyschological. The speech therapist will be able to advise better on whether councilling will help however that discussion really needs to be between your son and the therapist. Personally i found a combination of speech exercises and councilling the best, although its never gone away I at least have some control over it and can deal with it and the pyschological impact. But please please please take him as soon as possible, Mine develped (i think) when i was about 9 or 10 and I was 13 before i saw a therapist. I wish i had gone a lot sooner
slubberdegullion Posted November 18, 2005 Posted November 18, 2005 AlmostMarried77 is right on. A good speech therapist can work wonders. From what I understand, it's a combination of physical and psychological causes. Take note of the situation where he stutters too. Is it at, say, dinnertime, when everyone's talking at once and he's trying to get his story in quickly?
Author Heavenlyflower9 Posted November 21, 2005 Author Posted November 21, 2005 Thank yall for the advice! Yes, especially when we're at dinner, he's trying to get into the conversation fast. I will look into it. Since we live in a small community, I'm not sure if there is one here in town. We'll probably have to drive to the next city. Thanks again!
quankanne Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Mel Tillis. James Earl Jones. Both stutters, both found creative ways to work through it. Tillis discovered that when he sang, he didn't stutter; Jones learned to control it by reciting poetry aloud. I think both men have said that when stressed, the stutter comes back, but for the most part it's under control. not sure if there was profession therapy in their day to help them conquer the problem, but the good news is that it IS available for your little one. Are you on a military base? If so, check to see what services are available through the health clinic – those guys have everything, from what I remember. Also, check with the school counsellor to see what you can line up through their sources. my niece (now 27) was a stutterer, and like your little boy, the more excited she got, the worse it became. My mother used to make her sing her responses to her, and it lessened. Now her two kids are at the age where she was when she first began stuttering (4-6); her daughter outgrew it, though her son still does, but like your boy, it's tied into how excited he gets when trying to tell her something. He's had speech therapy, and it's working wonders. I think you're on the right track looking for a way to help him at such a young age.
Aquarius Guy Posted December 9, 2005 Posted December 9, 2005 Michael Hall has made some break throughs in the speed and ease of correcting stuttering. He uses NLP/Matirix Thrapy. Stuttering is sometimes a speech problem. Sometimes it is a habit of handling the embarrasssing moments when words are slower to come to mind. I have some of the Michael Hall DVD's and books. He uses Stuttering as an example of how to identify the underlying causes of habits. Trying to treat stuttering with non-NLP means can be quite time consuming, and unpleasant for your child. The NLP approach gets to the root-cause much more effortlessly, and targeting the underlying cause is faster and less unpleasant for the youngster. Here is a Link to Michael Hall's Website. Some articles and DVD's are free: http://www.neurosemantics.com/ Blessigns
Author Heavenlyflower9 Posted December 20, 2005 Author Posted December 20, 2005 Thanks Aquarius for the link! It was really helpful and come to find out my son has a normal disfluency of stuttering. Thanks again! Heaven
Basic Posted December 28, 2005 Posted December 28, 2005 I know an adult (50)who stutters. If it wasn't, it became a head game problem for him. He makes the same mistakes that anyone might, but when corrected ("that report goes in this file") he becomes enraged.
brashgal Posted December 28, 2005 Posted December 28, 2005 I stuttered in kindergarten, overcame it by 1st grade. I think it had a lot to do with being with so many other kids, thinking faster than I spoke and sometimes feeling overwhelmed by all the other little personalities. Mine also coincided with a move. I know my mother worked with me to overcome it, by the time I finally saw a speech therapist, I no longer stuttered. I still do so today occasionally, usually when I'm tired or stressed or confused. Not for more than a sentence or two. Do you think this stems from a lack of confidence? Or because he's in a hurry?
Author Heavenlyflower9 Posted January 9, 2006 Author Posted January 9, 2006 Thanks for the posts and the links! Alot has changed since my last post. Well, my son and I read together every night before he goes to bed and about two weeks now he's been reading by himself. Yup! I am so proud of him. I do help when he gets stuck on some words. But I've noticed that it has helped with his stuttering. We also had a long talk. I told him that he should'nt be afraid and not to worry about trying to say something fast. For him to take his time and I'm going to always be here for him. He does seem more confident now. I will keep yall updated on his progress. Thanks again! Heaven
Lil Honey Posted January 10, 2006 Posted January 10, 2006 My son used to stutter when he around the age of entering kindergarten. I think that his mind was working ideas faster than his mind and mouth could formulate the words. I would stop him, tell him to slow down, think about what he wanted to say, then say it. I would stop everything and look right at him, so that he knew I was listening. He eventually stopped stuttering. I know that there was a guy on Good Morning America a couple years ago who found a way to help folks with stuttering. But, shoot, I can't remember any of the details . . . My daughter had trouble with her "S" and "TH" sounds and a speech therapist through school worked wonders. I highly recommend talking to one.
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