Speech dysfluencies need to be analyzed

Children. One minute they’re making cute gurgling noises and the next minute they’re asking for the car keys. Communication development seems to be so easy and fluent for most children, but what do you do when that isn’t the case?

“All children have speech dysfluencies from time to time,” Heather Penske, speech language pathologist for Bonner General Hospital said when asked about stuttering. “They’ll go in language spurts.”

It’s estimated that five percent of children will stutter from the ages of two to six. Of those children it’s twice as likely a boy will stutter than a girl. Most children will naturally outgrow it, however approximately one percent will carry it to adulthood.

If a child’s stuttering lasts more than six months, and there appears to be other speech or language disorders the child should be evaluated by a professional, Penske suggested. A family history of stuttering should be factored in, as there can be a genetic predisposition.

Those of you who watched this year’s Oscar winning film, The King’s Speech, saw how a stutter affected King George VI’s ability for public speaking. But, there are many famous people who had successful careers despite one. Actors Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Stewart, James Earl Jones, Bruce Willis and singers Carly Simon and Mel Tillis are a just few.

Penske said that the most common form of stuttering is developmental. This can be a speech or language delay. Children should be making the appropriate sounds for their age group. Look for repetition of words or parts of words, like “w- w- w- where?” Or for prolongations such as “sssssave.”

“Often a child will just stop with their mouth positioned to make a sound, but nothing comes out,” Penske said. She also said that a child who is using one word when they should be using three, or a child who should be speaking in sentences or paragraphs and isn’t, or one who won’t answer “wh” questions, such as “what” and “why” may need speech therapy.

It’s possible that a child will speak fluently at home, but will stutter in other environments such as school or in unfamiliar circumstances, but Penske said that isn’t the norm.

Other forms of stuttering include neurogenic disorders that can be caused by a stroke or head injury resulting in the brain suffering difficulty in coordinating language, or a psychogenic form caused by emotional or traumatic problems.

“At one time it was believe that all stuttering was caused by a psychogenic disorder,” Penske said, “but it’s actually very rare. Also note that smart people stutter. Speaking disorders are not a sign of or lack of intelligence.”

What can we do? At home, make the environment calm. Give your child the time to say what they want to say. Talk slowly yourself. Don’t bombard a small child with a barrage of words they don’t understand. Make them feel comfortable. Don’t fill in their sentences for them. Make sure you are not talking down to them, Penske advises.

Parents should work closely with their pediatrician. If you suspect your child is having speech issues, talk to the doctor and ask that an assessment be made. Don’t sweep it under the carpet. Don’t assume your child will outgrow it if it has continued over a period of time. Although stuttering cannot be cured, it can be controlled. Speech therapy is available in our schools and at Bonner General Hospital Rehabilitation Department.

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com, 264-4029.