Aspie and Stuttering?

[DisDreaminMom]

My Aspie DS (6) has been having a problem on and off for a few years with stuttering- starting when he was late 4 year old. He was very stressed at the school he was attending, and it was helped with Speech. it went away and he was fine for about 6 months. It comes and goes every six months or so. He'll literally be tongue tied for a few weeks and then it goes away. Last Thursday, he suddenly started doing it very badly at dinner- couldn't get a word out, and it's been pretty noticeable since then. I have seen him do it in social situations on and off when he's at school, but he rarely does it at home.

Last night he says, after struggling to tell us a story, "Can you call the Dr. and mmmmmake this go away? I ccccan't get my words out and I keep sssssaying sttt, sttt."

I felt so bad. I told him that his brain is growing too fast and his mouth can't keep up for now but that it will go away soon. I don't know what else to say. He is in speech therapy at school, so this is something they are aware of. Any thoughts?

My husband tries to complete his sentences for him, but I thought this was the worst thing to do. I just tell him to slow down and be patient. Any other advice?

 

[DisDreaminMom]

I am glad that we are going to WDW next week (the 14th). My suspicion is that the stuttering will magically disappear while we are on the trip. We'll see.

 

[bookwormde]

The first thing to think about is if his overall anxiety level has been going up recently. This is very common as the demands of the “social” school world increase dramatically at this age. One thing that may help is when he has difficulty, have him stop, take a deep breath and practice what he want to say to himself before attempting to say it out loud.

I have sound this to be more common with children who are exceptionally bright and as you say, have minds that work much faster than their mouths. This becomes more acute when combined with anxiety and on the child becomes anxious about the speech difficulties can be come a negative feedback loop.

One thing to remember is that out "perseption of time" can be significantly different from NTs and at different development stages can through theng "out of sync"

bookwormde

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I hope you figure out a way to help him.

I stuttered as a child and got ST for it and even now, when I get overly excited or upset, I start up with the stuttering again. Sometimes I'll even be trying to say a certain phrase (such as bed and breakfast) and trip up. Most of the time I laugh it off and go, "Wait a moment..let me hit the rewind button and try that again.".

 

[DisDreaminMom]

Thanks, I am in agreement that this is a growth issue coupled with social stress. When I see him do it, it is normally when he's trying to talk to other kids. That's why I don't usually hear him do it at home or with adults. They just don't cause the same social stress that kids do.

I also don't want to focus too much on it as I believe that it will enforce the habit instead of extinguish it. PP, sorry for your troubles, and interesting to hear your take on the problem. Life is hard enough as it is without us unwittingly making a developmental problem a lifelong thing.

ST must have been working with him some, because I noticed him stopping and trying to wait for the words to come last night.