We treat speech-language problems

STUTTERING

Fluency is the area of speech production that involves how well speech flows. Stuttering is a disorder characterized by the disruption in the flow or production of speech sounds, and is also called dysfluency. Everyone has tines when their speech is not smooth, when we repeat a sound or word or use “um” or “uh”. Moments of dysfluency are not necessarily a problem; however they can impede communication when a person produces too many of them.

Stuttering has no known cause and no known cure. Frequently, young children between the ages of three years and seven years may demonstrate dysfluent speech patterns. If these dysfluencies consist of whole word repetitions in the absence of tension or pitch rise, they are most likely due to the child’s processing speed outpacing his/her ability to articulate thoughts. Such a period of non-fluent speech would be considered “normal” non-fluency rather than true stuttering since it typically decreases/ceases spontaneously. Parents should not react negatively to such dysfluent speech patterns in a young child, but rather respond to the child’s message instead of the manner in which it is relayed. Undue attention to the dysfluent speech may result in increasing the child’s concern over the way they speak, which can lead to an increase in dysfluency.

Stuttering or dysfluencies that consist of repetitions of sounds or syllables, prolongations of sounds or blocks where the mouth is positioned to say a sound, sometimes for several seconds with little or no sound forthcoming, are considered factors indicative of true stuttering behavior. These types of dysfluencies would benefit from direct intervention to teach the individual techniques to monitor and control speech output to minimize moments of dysfluency.

If you have concerns regarding your child’s speech fluency, the professionals at C.C.I.C., Inc. can help.

Call our main office central intake number to schedule an appointment. 513-771-7655