Help me stop stuttering

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology at Vinmec Danang International General Hospital
Stuttering affects children's communication and learning, if not adjusted in time or in the wrong way can make this condition worse. Stuttering in children can be completely overcome if parents know how and persistently guide children to practice.

1. What is stuttering?

Stuttering is a type of disability caused by a language disorder, manifested by a child's interruption in pronunciation due to prolonged or repeated words, sometimes the loss of words in the child's sentences. becomes difficult to understand.
Stuttering can occur in all subjects, but is quite common in children aged 2-5 years old, if the stuttering child is not treated, they will still have stuttering when they grow up and affect many people. learning, stuttering should be treated as early as possible, preferably before adolescence.
According to research, about 80% of children who stutter get better on their own within 2 years, the remaining 20% ​​will get better when they go to school, and about 5% of children continue to stutter until they become adults.

2. How to cure stuttering for children

2.1 How to treat stuttering for children at home To treat children early, apply non-corrective methods when children do not speak fluently. Specifically:
Show children pictures with pictures of activities, animals, toys, tell them to speak right away, without thinking, without going deep into the whirlpool. Where children do not stutter, encourage and praise to make them more confident and gradually speak correctly. Parents are not allowed to comment, disparage their children, never put pressure on their children.
Let children participate in speech activities in the group communication program such as:
Talk with siblings, parents: Should talk in a relaxed, calm atmosphere and speak slowly and slowly. Make it easier for your baby to catch up and understand what you say. When children say adults need to listen to children patiently, try to understand what the child wants to say, Let the child finish his sentence, do not interrupt the child, do not answer before the child has finished speaking. Let your child sing songs they like, then read the lyrics... Encourage your child to say simple words that don't require linguistic thinking. Children should not be forced to talk about many complicated situations, do not consider their communication too stressful. Form a reflex of speaking without repetition from simple sentences, gradually, slowly dragging to other words. This process requires parents to be very patient and persistent.
2.2 Treatment of stuttering with speech therapy When is speech therapy needed?
Stuttering lasts more than 6 months. Become more frequent. Affects learning or social interactions. Continued stuttering beyond the age of 5 or first became noticeable during school age, when reading began. There is a family history of stuttering. Stuttering accompanied by anxiety, depression. Children fear or avoid talking situations. When children fall into the above situations when parents have applied home remedies for stuttering, it is advisable to take the child to the doctor and practice speaking with a language specialist. Language experts will help children:
Assess the child's stuttering status and level Help children participate in practice sessions to be able to influence, minimize the impact of stuttering in communication, then instruct the patient to practice on his own in everyday situations. Help those around you to really understand the disease, help the stutterer understand the help and understanding of those around him.

3. Notes when treating stuttering for children

Should take the child to the doctor to determine the status and degree of stuttering of the child, for specific instructions on the method. Do not comment, criticize, scold, or correct children inappropriately. If you add bad comments and criticism, the more stressed the child, the more self-deprecating and the level of stuttering will be worse. Therefore, you should create a comfortable environment, do not put pressure on the child, always listen to the child. Psychology is not the cause of the illness, but it can make it worse. Language correction in children is very easy to fail, so for children, the correction must mainly follow the way of play, not rigidly. When talking to children without speaking before their words or thoughts, let them speak their own thoughts, wait for them to finish speaking before answering, this helps your child calm down. speak slowly. Don't worry too much about whether your child's words are right or wrong or correct them every time they say something wrong. Try to understand what your child is trying to say to make them understand that they can communicate effectively even if they stutter. . Children who stutter can be completely overcome if their parents and relatives are really persistent in helping the child, the stuttering treatment for children should be done as soon as possible, if not treated, the stuttering situation will lasts until the child is older, affects the learning process, makes the child self-deprecating, greatly affects the psychology of the child.
For children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Parents should supplement their children with supportive products containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet their child's nutritional needs. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.