Stress And Emotions Affect Stuttering
The Physiology of Stuttering
When kids who stutter feel a strong emotion, positive or negative, their central nervous system becomes more stimulated, which leads to more muscular tension of the entire body. When muscles surrounding the lungs, throat, face, and mouth become tighter it is more likely stuttering will occur.
My Personal Experience With Stuttering
My own stuttering was most severe between the ages 3-5 years, but it reappeared when I was in second grade. My mom got me much needed reading support and consistently reminded me I had enough time to get my ideas out. After my reading skills improved and with a lot of supportive cues from mama my stuttering subsided, and I continued to grow knowing that if I stuttered it was okay to stop, breathe deeply, and talk slower.
A Current Client Who Stutters
I work with a little girl who has become much more fluent after one-and-a-half years of treatment. She typically stutters 1-5 times during 60-minute sessions, usually in opening conversation (i.e., answering “What did you do today?”) and during cognitively demanding tasks (e.g., answering ‘where’ questions with location words, which is one of her language goals). In structure and routine her speech is smooth, but when she is prompted to answer open-ended questions or challenging questions she likely feels stressed, and that feeling is reflected in her speech flow.
What Can I Do If My Child Stutters?
When your child stutters just listen to them calmly and let them finish expressing their thoughts. Then say something like “Let’s take some deep breaths and talk slower. I’ll do it with you.”
You can also research stuttering resources, like the Lidcombe Program at https://lidcombeprogram.org/parents/ .
