The speech therapist explains what parents should do when they notice changes in their children’s speech; the condition usually occurs before age 6
Stuttering is a change in speech fluency characterized by repetition of syllables, sounds, pauses, tension and facial movements, which make communication difficult and negatively impact quality of life. According to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), approximately 2 million people in Brazil chronically stutter. It is estimated that about 5% of children stutter, which usually appears before the age of 6.
My child stutters, what should I do?
Greicyane Castro, speech therapist at Clínica Audilife, explains that parents and guardians should observe whether stuttering persists for more than eight weeks and whether the child repeats syllables and sounds a lot.
“When children begin to speak, they go through a period we call infantile stuttering, which lasts a maximum of eight weeks. Usually we can see it around the age of three. It is necessary to observe repetitions of syllables such as ‘papapa pato’ and repetitions of sounds such as ‘ssss sapo’”, explains the specialist.
If your child is diagnosed with stuttering, you need to start speech therapy so that he can make the necessary changes to his speech. The specialist emphasizes that there is no cure for stuttering, but it can be treated and there will be times when the child will speak more fluently than others.
“During treatment, the speech therapist can verify the need for another professional for specific disorders,” he explains.
According to the expert, stuttering is more widespread in males, has no specific cause, is multifactorial and strongly linked to genetic and biological factors. Furthermore, the doctor emphasizes that early treatment is essential to reduce the impact caused by stuttering, decreasing its intensity and increasing the chances of a more favorable prognosis.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
