Fluency/Stuttering

Our Speech Language Therapists provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment of fluency disorders. Generally a child has difficulty saying sounds, words and phrases in a smooth flow. The most familiar fluency disorder is stuttering. Many children do outgrow stuttering, but the most effective time to help children with a stuttering problem is during the preschool years.

A few of the common features you may see include:

Repetitions: Syllable (“bu-bu-butter”), word (I-I-I-I want to go”), phrase or a whole sentence

• The more times a child repeats – more serious the problem
• Syllables and words indicate a worse problem than phrases or sentences

Prolongations: prolong a sound “ssssssssock”

• The longer the prolongation lasts, the more serious the problem

Signs of Tension:

• The child may blink or squeeze the eyes shut while trying to say a word
• The voice of the child may sound tense
• The child may clench his fists

Children and their families are educated in and given practice strategies for promoting fluency. Extensive home programming is an integral part of treatment for stuttering and fluency.

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