FLUENCY PROMISE Years Speech-Language Pathologist
FLUENCY Terms used to talk about fluency: -fluency -dysfluency -stuttering -smooth speech
NORMAL DYSFLUENCIES VS. STUTTERING
RESEARCH No known cause for dysfluency 80% of children will go through some period of dysfluency and out- grow it (Stuttering Foundation of America)
TYPES OF DYSFLUENCIES REPETITIONS INTERJECTIONS PAUSES OR BLOCKS REVISIONS PROLONGATIONS TENSION
BASIC FACTS Not a psychological or intelligence disorder More common in males Runs in families Relatively rare Affects all socio-economic groups
BASIC FACTS Children do not copy stuttering Parents do not cause stuttering Aggravated by stress No quick cures Can be controlled by therapy and environmental changes
STRATEGIES Don’t show alarm or anxiety Give extra time Don’t ask them to slow down, take a deep breath or start over Model a slower rate Model pauses Model shorter sentences
MORE STRATEGIES Model quieter voice Reduce number of questions Create a relaxed environment (special “talk time”) Acknowledge difficulties Watch for teasing
WHEN TO SEEK HELP If speaking becomes physically difficult for the child If the child displays “secondary characteristics” E.g. twitches, grimaces, blinks or other movements occur at time that child is dysfluent