Starting school can be a difficult experience for many children. Most of the time it's the first experience in the world without the company of your parents. Now the teacher is the person who will replace the care of the parents and accompany the child for much of the day. This is why it is essential that the teacher is trained to face the challenges of being such an important figure for children. For a child with stuttering, school years can be a wonderful experience. However for others it can also become an extremely overwhelming moment.
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech difficulty characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech. The child repeats words and syllables, gets stuck before saying a word, may have word lengthenings or all these difficulties at the same time.
There are often fighting behaviors that are visible to people around you as well as associated movements of muscles of the face or even the body. Stuttering begins when children are preschool age, most commonly when they are about three years old. It is necessary to always consult a speech therapist with the appearance of the first symptoms. The therapist must diagnose the disorder, the type of stuttering and other important data. He is also the person in charge of guiding the family through the process.
The child stuttering at school.
Children who stutter face great challenges at school. We found research data showing that many of them are regularly teased or bullied. Many children who stutter may also be rated less popular than their classmates. Some of them may have a low profile, seem shy and silent. Teachers sometimes may not even be aware that they have a child who stutters in their class.
Some children who stutter may avoid talking in class or sitting in the back of the classroom to avoid being noticed. They may be especially sensitive to evaluation by teachers or peers. They are children who can answer "I don't know" only because they are afraid to stutter. They can learn to avoid difficult words or opportunities to speak. Instead of talking, many can use gestures and short phrases to communicate. They may allow other children to speak for them. For these children, simple tasks such as reading aloud, making a presentation, or asking the teacher a question can be a source of anxiety and embarrassment.
Bullying during school years is associated with anxiety in adulthood. It is not uncommon, then, for people affected by stuttering to experience anxiousness to talk. We often find diagnosable mental health problems. It is known that these problems have begun to gestate during the school years. It is common to hear patients' medical records and the common denominator is that they started to stutter in school and were victims of ridicule. So if bullying can be a serious problem for any child, it will be much more so for a child who stutters.
How to help the schoolchild with stuttering.
When a child who stutters starts school, it is important that we make sure the child feels safe and comfortable in the classroom. This requires the help of parents, teachers, the school principal, and the speech therapist. For some children who stutter, it may be helpful for other children to be sensitized about stuttering. But for other children who stutter, any mention of their difficulty to their peers could make the problem worse.
The most important thing here is to pay attention and discover how the child needs and wants to be helped to deal with stuttering in the classroom. Many children who stutter will not need help, but for many others this will be a useful tool. Another tip for the teacher is to identify if the child feels comfortable speaking aloud in class. If the teacher deems it necessary, he should discuss this with the child. Most children will be more comfortable with choosing other alternatives to be evaluated.
What's the treatment?
Finally, therapeutic treatment for stuttering is really important. With the support of parents, teachers, and an experienced speech therapist, children with stuttering can improve. They will also be able to reach their school goals, develop self-esteem and establish successful interpersonal relationships. If your child has stuttering, don't hesitate to contact a speech therapist who will guide you through the process. We are located in Guadalupe, San José. In our office we have the necessary tools to support you and personnel specialized in disfluences. We also hold talks and workshops to raise awareness of stuttering in different schools. Send us a message or search for us on Facebook and let us know your doubts.