Stuttering

Stuttering is a way some people talk — it's when the flow of speech is interrupted. This might sound like repeating sounds or words (like “I-I-I want”), stretching out a sound (like “sssssometimes”) or feeling stuck and not being able to get a word out.

However the way stuttering sounds is just a part of stuttering is. A person who stutter experiences an involuntary feeling of being stuck or losing control while speaking. These moments can be deeply frustrating and may lead to feelings like shame, isolation, or anxiety. Over time, these emotions can cause a person to avoid speaking situations altogether, which can impact their confidence and quality of life.

As a speech language pathologist who specializes in stuttering, I am here to help your child and family navigate the challenges that come with stuttering.

At Elation Speech Therapy a stutter-affirming therapy approach is used because it’s understood that acceptance and spontaneity of speaking has a greater impact on overall quality of life than using speech tools to speak with fluency (Constantino et. al., 2020; Gerlach-Houck, 2022).

The focus of stuttering therapy is creating an environment where your child can feel confident, accepted, and supported as a person who stutters as well as teaching strategies on how to stutter more easily with less tension. Stuttering therapy at Elation Speech Therapy may include:

  • Creating a safe space and supporting confidence to be themselves and talk about stuttering

  • Providing education on stuttering

  • Building advocacy skills around stuttering

  • Moving from avoidance to acceptance of stuttering

  • Teaching strategies to communicate with less tension and stutter more easily

  • Connecting your child with other people who stutter to decrease isolation

  • Learning what it means and how to be an effective communicator

  • Exploring the positive parts of being a person who stutters

I believe stuttering is not something to be "cured" — it's something to understand, embrace, and support. With the right environment, your child can thrive as a communicator despite having a stutter.

If you're noticing your child stutter, the most helpful things you can do are to listen patiently and show them you're interested in what they’re saying not how they say it.