Fluency
Fluency refers to the easy, smooth flow of speech. Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.
How to Help:
Contact a Speech Language Pathologist
The most important thing to do when someone is stuttering is to be a good communicator yourself.
Maintain Eye Contact (even while they are stuttering)
Give them enough time to finish what they are saying
Try not to finish their words or sentences
Let them know by your actions that you are listening to what they are saying – not how they are saying it
Model wait time by taking two seconds before you answer their question and insert more pauses into your own speech
Try not to say things like “slow down”, “breathe”, “relax”, or “think about it before you say it”. These things help children who need to gather their thoughts and are tripping over words. Stuttering is different and this advice is just not helpful to someone who stutters.
Sources:
Peterson, Sarah (2009). Current Best Strategies to Help Speech Language Pathologists Better Meet Student Needs. Bureau of Education and Research.
Http://www.ASHA.org
Http://www.stuttersfa.org
Fluency refers to the easy, smooth flow of speech. Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Stuttering is also referred to as stammering.
How to Help:
Contact a Speech Language Pathologist
The most important thing to do when someone is stuttering is to be a good communicator yourself.
Maintain Eye Contact (even while they are stuttering)
Give them enough time to finish what they are saying
Try not to finish their words or sentences
Let them know by your actions that you are listening to what they are saying – not how they are saying it
Model wait time by taking two seconds before you answer their question and insert more pauses into your own speech
Try not to say things like “slow down”, “breathe”, “relax”, or “think about it before you say it”. These things help children who need to gather their thoughts and are tripping over words. Stuttering is different and this advice is just not helpful to someone who stutters.
Sources:
Peterson, Sarah (2009). Current Best Strategies to Help Speech Language Pathologists Better Meet Student Needs. Bureau of Education and Research.
Http://www.ASHA.org
Http://www.stuttersfa.org
