Does anyone have a child that stutters?

[tink20]

My DS (7), started to stutter when he was about 3 1/2. He started speech class in K4, which was only 30min. a week. Then when he was 5, he started going to a Speech Center at a local University (so college student, studying to be speech therapist are his teachers), he was going twice a week for 1 hour sessions. In first grade he also started speech at school (30 min sessions once a week). Now, he is in 2nd, he goes to speech at school, and goes to the clinic just once a week (I can't afford to pay 2 copays twice a week).

Anyway, he still stutters, there really is no improvement. Some days are better, and others are worse. He could stutter for the rest of his life, and I and my DH wouldn't care. But we know the world is a cruel place and of course we want him to have a happy life. Last year we had a couple of kids, saying things to him (like one kid said, I am not going to be your friend because you stutter) So far, this year, I don't think anyone has said anything to him or if they have he hasn't told us.

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, any words of wisdom. TIA

 

[LisaR]

I don't have any words of wisdom, unfortunately.

My son was a late talker and when he did finally talk, he stuttered. We went the same route that you have taken and we found that he actually became worse. They would practice a word like fish by saying the f sound repeatedly. So he would say f f f f f f fish. We took him to two different places and they did it the exact same way. Making a kid that stutters purposely stutter, just didn't make sense to us. In addition, all of the research I had done back then basically said there wasn't much that could be done. I did find a lot of research showing that therapy can make it worse. We decided to quit therapy.

When my son was nine, he woke one day and had stopped stuttering. I don't have a clue why but it is 3 years later and he has never stuttered since. I read repeatedly that if they are still stuttering once they turn five, they will always stutter. Obviously that wasn't the case with my son.

He is a bit of an anomaly. He has other habits, ticks, issues that have disappeared as he has gotten older so it may just be him.

Kids can be so cruel. I wish I had some advice for you. It wasn't a good time for any of us. Like you, we didn't care if our son stuttered but the rest of the world seemed to. It made for some tough days. Good luck.

 

[perla75]

Does your child receive speech services at school and/or outside of school?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hello, if this is 'true' stuttering, and not just an issue with tics.... this may not be a speech therapy issue. If he speaks coherently, and makes the sounds and words correctly (aside from the stuttering) then this may not be a speech therapy issue.

Anyhow, I do not have personal experience, but very clearly remember some info that I saw, maybe on a 20/20 type program....

Try this...
Can he recite a simple memorized poem without stuttering?
Can he sing a song without stuttering.
But often stutters over simple words and phrases.

If I am remembering right. Sometimes stuttering is like a miswiring, or disconnect, in the pathways that connect hearing and speech. These two things are very very intimately connected.... Anyhow, in this one young mans case, they fitted him with a hearing aid that had a slight time-delay programmed in... This addressed the missing link, caused by 'faulty wiring'. When he wears the hearing aid, he does not stutter. Without it, he could simply not say the simple sentence, "My name is Robert" (or whatever his name was)

It has been a long time since I saw this program.
And, I know that this condition is not responsible for all stuttering.

Sometimes no effective treatment is found.
Sometimes it is.

Anyhow, I would suggest that you have your son tested/evaluated by some specialists, and read, read, read, any reputable information that you can find.

 

[tink20]

Does your child receive speech services at school and/or outside of school?

He goes to a private school, but he receives speech at school from the county public school system, the therapist comes once a week, for 30 min., he and another child are in the session together. Then once a week, I take him to the Speech Therapy Center at a local University. His session is 1 hour, by himself. (he has been going here since he was 5)

 

[MM27]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsGAw_68BhU&feature=related
Check this you tube video out. It is what the pp was talking about. There is a device called SpeakEasy that you put in the ear and is supposed to help with stuttering.

 

[Hillbeans]

I am an adult (38) who stuttered in grade school and still struggle with it sometimes today but it's very mild and almost not noticible unless I am under lots of stress. I received speech services in school and it was very helpful. My father stuttered, so I thought it was something genetic, but neither of my children stutter. Unfortunately one of the worst things for a stutterer becomes trying to say their own name in public

I always had a milder form of it but know that there are lots of services available now such as a fluency device that you wear in your ear.

I can sympathize because it's so hard being a child who stutters, and I am sure it's hard on the parents who just want to do anything to help their child. It sounds like you're doing everything you can, and I am sure he will make great progress with the path you are following.

 

[oliver 2001]

When I was growing up I stuttered. I taught myself to talk slower and to think before I said anything. JR. High was very tough. My parents did not seek any help for me. I did this on my own. By high school I stopped. I became a cheerleader and got involved with school activities. LYNNE

 

[koolaidmoms]

My DS was/is a stutterer. At 5 he started the Lipcomb program with a speech teacher, There are only 1 or 2 people in our area who do this program. He is much better than he was. He still stutters when he gets excited, stressed or tired and is not conscious of forming each sound especially the ones that are tough for him.

It was 2 - 3 times a week for a year. We would go together and have to have quiet time to work together each day for about 30 minutes. It was to be in a fun relaxed atmosphere where we could just talk to each other. I had to keep a diary of what we did and judge each day and rate them on how he did on his speech and why I think he was doing what he did.

It was not a cure all but it did help my DS improve some. I know others have not liked it but you may just want to look into if you haven't already to see what you think.

To you and your son. Good luck.

 

[tink20]

I just wanted to thank you, for all the responses. It is nice sometimes to hear from others that are in the same situation that you are in.

 

[quasar4legs]

My son developed a moderate to severe stutter at about the same age as your son and it took several years of speech therapy before we noticed any improvement. My son's stutter became so severe at one point he was having facial and body tics whenever he tried to talk.
Hang in there, it can certainly can take a while and my very grown up son at 18 now has less 'dysfluency' than the average poplulation.

It can be a very frustrating journey.
Take care and wishing you all the best, it is hard to see our children stuggle.

 

[flying_babyb]

If I am remembering right. Sometimes stuttering is like a miswiring, or disconnect, in the pathways that connect hearing and speech. These two things are very very intimately connected.... Anyhow, in this one young mans case, they fitted him with a hearing aid that had a slight time-delay programmed in... This addressed the missing link, caused by 'faulty wiring'. When he wears the hearing aid, he does not stutter. Without it, he could simply not say the simple sentence, "My name is Robert" (or whatever his name was)

It has been a long time since I saw this program.
And, I know that this condition is not responsible for all stuttering.

Sometimes no effective treatment is found.
Sometimes it is.

Anyhow, I would suggest that you have your son tested/evaluated by some specialists, and read, read, read, any reputable information that you can find.

I was just going to bring this up! It was a episode of stong medicine.