As kids are heading back to school this month, it is very exciting time for all – New teachers, new classes, new experiences. For those kids who stutter, however, it is super important, to arm them with strategies that can help them feel as comfortable and confident in their own skin, as possible as they head back to school. It is an anxious and nerve-wrecking time for every child but when you add Stuttering into the mix, the anxiety can sometimes be overbearing. First and foremost. I like to always start out by teaching my young clients that being open about your Stuttering is the BEST thing that you can do! Trying to mask their stuttering or hide from it cause lots of different avoidance behaviors which can only cause that much more anxiety, leading to that many more negative experiences. Desensitization is key and plays a very important role when it comes to being more accepting of one’s stuttering. Even though I’m happy to report that a lot of teachers are very knowledgeable about Stuttering, but it is our job as people who stutter to especially when things get tough and you lose that control over your speech. My clients use self-advertising to not only decrease their anxiety but also to expand others’ knowledge about stuttering, and to answer any questions that they might hav. This, not only build confidence in the child, but also enables the teachers to have a correct approach to that specific child. Children who stutter, vary in what they would like, and not like for their listeners to do. This goes for their peers, as well as teachers and administrators. Teaching the child to self advocate for themselves and come to terms with their stuttering, tremendously builds the self-confidence needed to succeed whether it is when speaking or tackling other aspects of their lives. Speech therapy for stuttering is key to address various avoidance behaviors and seek the help that is needed for the child to be able to self-advocate for themselves and grow up to be a successful, strong-minded individual, whether they stutter or not. As a speech-language pathologist and a person who stutters, I’m here to help.
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