Have you noticed your child is having difficulty speaking? Do they seem self-conscious when they talk or are teased by their peers? If this is the case, your child may be stuttering. 

As parents, we all want to equip our children with the tools they need to succeed. If your child’s stuttering is affecting their communication skills, relationships, or academic performance, don’t hesitate to contact Skills on the Hill. Our skilled speech-language therapists in Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA will create a customized plan to help your child.

What is stuttering?

Stuttering is a speech disorder that involves frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech. People who stutter know what they want to say, but often have difficulty saying it. For example, they may repeat or prolong a word, a syllable, or a consonant or vowel sound. Or they may pause during speech because they’ve reached a problematic word or sound.

Stuttering is common among young children as a normal part of learning to speak. Young children may stutter when their speech and language abilities aren’t developed enough to keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow this developmental stuttering. Stuttering usually starts between 2 and 6 years of age. Many children go through normal periods of disfluency lasting less than 6 months. However, stuttering lasting longer than this may require treatment by a professional.

Stuttering is more than just a series of disfluencies. Stuttering can also cause anxiety and negative feelings about talking. It may interfere with how your child communicates with others. They might want to conceal their stuttering. As a result, they may avoid certain words or situations– like speaking on the phone or in front of a classroom. 

How can Skills on the Hill help my child?

Let’s face it: stuttering can seriously impair your child’s ability to interact with others and navigate daily life. When a child experiences speech delays, they may develop low self-esteem and stop communicating with others out of insecurity or embarrassment. 

It doesn’t have to be this way! Your child can improve their stuttering and overall communication skills with the help of one of our licensed Washington, DC or Arlington, VA therapists.

Several factors can contribute to your child’s speech difficulties; our therapists can identify any underlying issues your child may be experiencing. 

In addition to helping with stuttering, the following speech conditions can be addressed by pediatric speech therapy: 

• Muscle weakness, throat or tongue tightness 
• Difficulties understanding spoken language 
• Difficulties comprehending written language 
• Memory, attention, and orientation changes 
• Variations in voice quality 
• Difficulties with chewing or swallowing (which poses a health risk) 
• Difficulty expressing thoughts or recognizing familiar objects or people

When your child arrives for the initial evaluation, a speech-language therapist will examine them to determine the best treatment plan possible. The therapist will then work with your child on a series of exercises in a relaxed and friendly environment. Depending on your child’s needs, they may have one or more weekly sessions. 

Speech therapy exercises can include tasks that strengthen the muscles of the face, tongue, and throat muscles, vocabulary development, and basic communication skills such as making eye contact when speaking to others.

Your child’s specific therapy goals, activities, and home exercise plans will be created based on your child’s developmental stage. As your child attends regular speech therapy appointments, the exercises and focus may change or adjust to better meet their needs and manage their stuttering disorder.

The key to pediatric speech therapy is to challenge your child while creating a warm and welcoming environment. This way, your child can develop the skills they need while having fun! When these two aspects of therapy are balanced, your child can make consistent progress toward their goals and, eventually, maximize their potential.

Request an appointment with Skills on the Hill today!

Does your child need help with their stuttering? Our speech and language therapists will work one-on-one with your child to develop a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your child’s specific needs. 

Our team’s ultimate goal is to ensure that your child leaves our clinic having met the proper milestones for their age, can communicate independently, and feels confident in their skills!

Don’t wait to get your child the help they need! Contact our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA clinic today!

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Stuttering