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Ways to Help Stutters

Stuttering is a disorder in which a person struggles with the normal flow of speech, words, sounds and syllables. This disorder makes it difficult for individuals to communicate with others, and it's important for them to get help and treatment as soon as possible. According to the National Institute of Health, about 3 million Americans stutter, and 5 percent of children will stutter at some point in their lives.

  1. Give Them Time

    • When communicating with people who stutter, you can help them by giving them time to express their thoughts. Don't pressure them to finish their words or sentences quickly. Do not finish their sentences for them. Even saying words like "relax," "slow down" or "take a deep breath" may only add pressure and make them feel more uncomfortable when speaking.

    Find Support Groups

    • Another way to help stutterers is to conduct research and find them a support group. Being around individuals who are living with the same issue and experiencing similar problems may be therapeutic and assist with treatment. This is also an opportunity for stutterers to find additional resources on stuttering and communication treatments.

    Education

    • Learning more about why stuttering occurs may help someone overcome this issue. As a parent, you may be able to help your child by educating yourself on why stuttering occurs and what approaches you can take to help reduce and treat the effects. Stuttering may start between the ages of two and three when speech is not completely automatized. If you begin noticing a child repeating sounds and having problems communicating, don't scorn him. Just use simple words, reduce pressure, inform teachers of the problem and help him articulate his words.

    Visualization

    • According to StopStuttering.org, another way to help stutterers is to teach them to visualize what they are saying in their minds before speaking. This helps them to mentally prepare to say the word out loud. Work with them and help them see the words before saying them. Visualization can help reduce the stress in certain public situations and provide the person with the confidence to speak clearly.

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