Stuttering isn’t a speech impediment that can be cured — but it is one that can be managed, according to Robin Fisher, a speech pathologist in Pasco County Schools.
The condition affects an estimated 70 million people, worldwide, according to the
Stuttering Foundation of America.
And, help is available in the public school system, for students who qualify.
Fisher works with students from prekindergarten to 12th grade.
“It doesn’t get corrected; we don’t fix it,” Fisher said, but speech pathologists focus on a student’s ability to articulate their speech in a way that is understandable.
In other words, they focus on a student’s fluency.
Fisher travels to various public schools and charter schools to assist students who stutter.
Those who are in private schools or are home-schooled must meet specific criteria to be put on a service plan.
In order to qualify for special services, the speech or language issue must affect a student’s performance and/or function within the classroom, Fisher explained.
Those students are referred to a speech pathologist for services.
A student may be stuttering if he or she:
- Prolongs the duration of a word
- Stops speaking in mid-sentence
- Repeatedly says the same letter of a word
- Consistently gives one-word answers
- Exhibits a secondary characteristic, such as eye twitching
A student who stutters may become the target of bullying, or may avoid saying words they have trouble pronouncing, or may avoid public speaking, in general.
“That is what we’re looking for,” Fisher said. “That it impacts their performance, their grades or their function within the classroom.”
Not all children who stutter are eligible for speech therapy services, Fisher said.
For instance, there can be straight-A students who don’t mind public speaking, or working their way through sentences, or being socially active.
Some stutterers may be fluent speakers when around friends and family.
Some can experience setbacks when they are in highly stressful situations — that produce anxiety and stuttering.
Examples of potentially stressful situations include being around unfamiliar people or transitioning from one school to the next.
Root causes for stuttering can vary from genetics, child development or neurological components.
Fisher encourages students to embrace their impediment, do research on it and even educate their fellow classmates.
She holds group sessions where stuttering students get therapy. This enables students to know that there are other kids who empathize with them.
A technique that can be used involves having students make voice recordings and counting syllables, to evaluate where they need to progress.
Fisher also engages with the children’s parents one hour a week.
“I highly encourage parents to be involved, to know the strategies, to know what is working for their child, to research it on the Stuttering Foundation [website],” Fisher said.
Some kids may get nervous when on the phone, having to speak to an individual without seeing their face. Parents can ask their kids to do just that, to help them build their confidence.
Many prominent figures also have struggled with stuttering, even if it hasn’t been publicly noticeable.
According to the Stuttering Foundation of America, such people include England’s King George VI, actor James Earl Jones, actress Emily Blunt and singer Ed Sheeran.
When speaking in public, many pre-plan what they’re going to say — to enable them to manage their speech.
This technique can come in handy for stuttering students, too.
Fisher recommends that students who stutter do a class report with a video recording, to help them better enunciate their words.
While stuttering cannot be permanently stopped, therapy can be a helpful alternative, she said.
“Our main goal always is that you express your thoughts, wants and needs,” Fisher said, which results in communication.
For more information and helpful tips, visit the Stuttering Foundation of America at StutteringHelp.org.
Published January 01, 2020
