Stuttering-Basic facts and Review for Parents of children who stutter

Hi everyone-
Again, I am so pleased to be getting more people interested in my blog. Just a few reminders for parents of children who stutter.

1. Most important, Parents are not to blame for their child stuttering. The exact cause is unknown, although, there are several environmental factors listed below that often help decrease stuttering.
2. Don't interrupt or say take a deep breath and slow down.-this will often increase stuttering.
3. Try and slow down your rate of speech (not the child's rate of speech). The best way to do this is pause often.
4. Try to not ask too many questions-for ex: instead of saying "What did you do in school?", say casually I wonder if you went outside today. This will give the child a chance to answer on their own.
5. Also, remember more boys than girls stutter. (3 to 1 ratio)
6. Stuttering often runs in families.
7. SINCE WE DO NOT KNOW WHICH CHILDREN WILL GROW OUT OF STUTTERING, IT IS VITAL TO SEEK OUT A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WITH STUTTERING EXPERTISE FOR AN EVALUATION!!
8. If as a parent you find yourself frustrated with your child, it is best to walk away and write your feelings down in a journal. It is important for the child to not see this frustration on your face. Just like it is not your fault that they stutter, it is not the child's fault either. We don't want them feeling ashamed at a young age or any age for that matter. People who do stutter throughout their lives often live full and productive lives. After all, I do and I stutter. Please e-mail me with any questions. Remember additional information can be found on my website www.allislandspeech.com, www.westutter.org, www.stutteringhelp.org.
You can also e-mail directly at Lori@allislandspeech.com

Hope this helps!! Best, Lori

Lidcombe and Preschool Stuttering: Don't wait-Early Intervention is vital!

I would like to share with all of you a wonderful e-mail I received a few months ago from a parent of a beautiful and sweet young girl who stuttered at the age of 4 1/2. She is presently 6 and is stutter free!

(Please note: This was written by a parent for my blog for other parents to read. Also, I did not only use Lidcombe with this child. It was a modified approach as it was important to use other tools as well. This is why I developed the PACE approach with incorporates aspects of Lidcombe and other tools as needed for each child.)



My daughter was 4 and 1/2 when she started stuttering. It happened overnight. She not only possessed the verbal characteristics but physical (secondary behaviors) as well. Her mouth would be wide open and she would struggle with all her might to speak. She'd bend at the waist as if it would help her get the words out. Many times, she'd stop and say: "I'm tired, forget it." As a parent, it was heartbreaking, horrific, and shocking.

Thank God we were referred to Lori Melnitsky and decided to pursue the path of seeking a speech pathologist who SPECIALIZES in stuttering. I can't even comprehend where my daughter would be if we had gone to someone who didn't have Lori's expertise in this area. She is one of the most compassionate and empathetic people I know.

Lidcombe, to me, is a miracle. My daughter does NOT stutter anymore. I truly believe that it is because of the intense therapy she had utilizing and applying the Lidcombe method, in session with Lori and in our household. Lidcombe had to be learned by my daughter, my husband, and myself. Lori was patient but strict when it came to our commitment to helping our daughter overcome this. I am grateful for her guidance. It was a reality check. We weren't just dropping her off and leaving her in Lori's hands for an hour. This was something that had to be constantly addressed and applied. It was hard at first (who likes change?) but then easier because it became a part of everyday life.

I am confident that one of the reasons Lidcombe is such a successful therapy for young children is because it is simple in concept and the children are sponges at such young ages. My daughter is your typical 6 year old...she can't stop talking. But sometimes she bottlenecks her thoughts to her voice. And, it's crazy, but I see the Lidcombe therapy come into play. She slows down ("turtle talk", if you will) and collects her thoughts. It's amazing but NOT apparent to anyone around her (but me, of course). In fact, it's a shame that EVERYONE couldn't be taught Lidcombe at a young age, regardless of what challenges they have.

This is all opinion, I know. But my "ahhh moment" was when the elementary school speech therapist called me the second week of kindergarten. (My daughter was no longer eligible for speech services but considering the past year of being under Lori's care, the speech therapist was required to observe my daughter and update me accordingly. ) The speech therapist advised me that she and Lila's teacher could not believe that she had been treated for stuttering!! ! In fact, Lila's teacher said that she forgot that Lila came in as a child who had a recent IEP. I couldn't believe it! Lila's kindergarten teacher was in my CPSE meeting to get summer services approved just a couple of months before. (We did get summer services, by the way).

So, that's my experience. I know I've been long-winded but I'm just so grateful that Lori showed us how effective the therapy can be....if we were 100% a part of it.

Pediatricians please refer early for children who stutter

I hope pediatricians and professionals realize the utmost importance of early interventon and preschool referring children who stutter to a SLP with expertise in stuttering. Although 80% of children reportedly outgrow stuttering on their own, there is no way for us to know which children will stop. Sometimes small changes in the child's environment are enough to facilitate fluency. Parent are often relieved after a visit to a stuttering specialist. There is a list of referrals of speech pathologists who specialize in stuttering on www.stutteringhelp.org, the website of the Stuttering Foundation of America. Some quick suggestions when talking to a child who stutters are:
1. Maintain eye contact
2. Listen to the message not how it is said
3. Refrain from saying relax
4. Refrain from saying slow down
5. Try and insert pauses in your own speech to model a slower rate of speech
6. Comment instead of asking direct questions (ex: I wonder what you did in school today etc)

Some warning signs are: a history of stuttering in the family, stuttering for greater than 3 months, signs of struggle, prolongation of sounds, and refer immediately if a child stops talking, show signs of awareness or a parent appears very worried. Again, we have no way of telling which children will stop on their own.

I use Lidcombe for preschool children but developed P.A.C.E to add a parent counseling component. Please contact me with any comments or questions.

P.A.C.E. Towards Fluency- NEW Preschool Program

Watch for NEW preschool program-very effective results:

P.A.C.E. Towards Fluency

Effective resuls-taken from Lidcombe program and modified:
Please go onto Yahoo groups:
Parentssupportlidcombe@yahoogroups



Looking for grad SLP students to help promote stuttering awareness-contact Lori@allislandspeech.com
Thank you all for your support and reading my posts!!

Lidcombe: Preschool Program for Early Childhood Stuttering

I hope everyone joins Parentssupportlidcombe@yahoogroups.com to hear success stories. I have seen such wonderful success with the program. I developed P.A.C.E. to incorporate parent counseling along with aspects of Lidcombe!! Many of these kids are now stutter free! Wonderful preschool intervention.

Basic Information on Stuttering-Preschool Review

HI all-
Thanks for reading my blog. I have been asked several questions by parents of preschoolers who stutter. Some basic facts (which can also be looked up on my website www.allislandspeech.com, www.westutter.org and www.stutteringhelp.org)

More boys stutter than girls
There is often a genetic component
Approx. 75-80% will stop stuttering before age 3
Stuttering for more than 5 months is a risk factor
Presence of struggle and awareness is a risk factor
Presence of the Schwa vowel is a risk factor (ex: tu instead of two)
Any change in pitch is a risk factor
Although parents DO NOT cause stuttering, there are several ways to modify the environment to facilitate fluent speech

These are only a short list, please consult me or above references for more info. It is VITAL to consult a SLP who specializes in Fluency Disorders. I am presently awaiting board approval for the distinguished title of BRS-FD (Board Recognition Specialist in Fluency Disorders). I have read in excess of 100 hours of cont. education related to fluency, observed specialists in the field, been mentored by a terrific SLP, Dr. Donna Cooperman, who is an ASHA Fellow. The requirements are rigorous. Also, I stutter myself and am recovering. Please don't wait if you suspect your child is stuttering.

An example:
For the first time in 17 years, I received an early intervention referral through the department of Health. This was a 2 year 6 month old little boy struggling to speak. He stuttered so severely from approximately the age of 2. Stuttering ran in the family. He was initially denied EI services as EI deals mainly with delayed language. This family fought for the service and got it. It has been wonderful. We have all worked to modify the environment and employ a few other strategies. In two months, he is still stuttering, but with MUCH LESS severity. He is not struggling as much and saying what he wants. So nice to see!

Saw You At the NSA

I saw your presentation at the NSA. I was amazed about the progress that can be made with Lidcombe. I am surprised more parents don't take advantage of it.