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Stuttering in children is a fluency disorder with stoppages and disruptions (dysfluencies) interrupting the smooth flow and timing of speech. Onset of stammering is below five years of age in most children. In rare cases, the problem might extend to adulthood. The common dysfluencies noted in children with stammering are: Repetitions – syllable, sound, word or phrase repetitions (Eg : “li-li-li-like that”) Prolongations – holding onto a sound for an extended period of time (Eg : “llllike that”) Blocks – when no sound is produced, then a “burst” of tension is released when the speaker is able to vocalize (Eg : “——like that”) Interjections – adding extra words (Eg : “um, uh, like”) Revisions – speech is revised during the utterance (Eg : “I have to go…I need to go to the shop”) Since stammering can greatly interfere with the child’s family, school and social interactions, it is important to focus on ways and methods that will improve the child’s fluency. Certain tips that might help the child who stammers : Take your time and do not rush while you speak Speak slowly than usual Feel free to say what you want to say. Do not feel hesitant or anxious Relax and be patient with yourself while you speak. Your parents/teachers will wait for you to speak up Before you start to speak, pause for a few seconds. Do not race to finish the sentence. Don’t assume that you will stammer even before starting to speak. Because, sometimes it goes well. Anticipating anything might lead to stammering too. Congratulate and treat yourself when you tried any right method to not stammer. This will help you boost your self confidence Eg : You can say “yayyy I spoke slowly, so I didn’t stammer” and have a chocolate when              you did it right Relax and calm down when you speak a difficult word. Rushing words will only make them harder to say leading to stammering Get enough sleep everyday. Inadequate sleep will get you tired and moody and you might tend to stammer more when you are tired Try not to ‘bottle out’ of a situation frequently as it may hinder your self confidence. Rather, prepare yourself to face it and take the risk. This will make you feel good about yourself and will help you in various tough speaking situations Talk about your stammering problem rather than keeping it a secret. Doing so, will help you get the right guidance and support to make you speak fluently sooner. Advice for parents while talking with their child who stammers : There are things that parents can do to help their child be as fluent as possible. Reduce your pace – Speak in an unhurried way, pausing frequently. Also, Model a slower rate of talking by following the below steps : Add pauses Take your time to reply Ask one question at a time Let them finish When you model this type of speaking to the children, they will follow your lead. 2. Don’t bombard the child with a series of questions. Specifically, avoid asking complicated questions. While questioning, ask one question at a time and provide ample time for the child to process the question and respond. Make sure the child has really finished answering before you ask or say anything else. Also, Avoid asking open – ended questions such as “how was your day at school?” Since it leaves the child thinking which of the activities he had done that day is he gonna talk about first. This kind of a situation might make the child anxious and nervous and eventually lead to stammering. 3. Occasionally, change questions to statements. Eg : Instead of asking “what did you have for lunch today?”, you can say “I had rotis and dal for lunch today. I wonder what you had for lunch” 4. Promptly listen to the child by giving eye-contact to let the child know that you are actually listening to what he/she is saying at the moment. You can interact by using facial expressions too (eg : laugh when he/she tries to crack a joke) to convey that you are interested in the conversation. This will help the child boost his/her confidence and not lead to anxiety. 5. Boost the child’s confidence Eg : When the child finished narrating a short story taking his own time, you can say “Excellent!! That was a lovely story! You really took the time to narrate the whole story so nicely!” 6. Spend one-on-one time with the child with undivided attention and less/no interruptions or dis- tractions (TV, PHONE etc). Even five minutes of your time with the child will make him feel special. Eg : Read a story book with the child everyday, play a game with the child 7. It is best to seek advice from a Speech Language Pathologist sooner rather than later, if you notice your child having fluency problem especially if there is a family history of stammering. Please do share your comments below if you have tried these tips or any other tips that have helped you child overcome stammering. Book your appointment know #speechtips #stammers #Stuttering #stutteringinchildren

Stuttering impedes your speech, Haven’t we all come across situations where we get stuck or we may add “umm”/ “like”/”you know” to what we say and we may say a sound or word more than once. When these occur more than a limit it calls for stuttering.  It is a complex communication disorder that impedes the normal flow and pattern of speech, which is characterized by involuntary audible or inaudible pauses, repetitions, prolongations, blocks, etc. Nervousness and anxiety can trigger the severity of your stuttering. People who stutter experience various other problems such as fear, anxiety, depression, shame, etc., which can in turn affect the quality of life (QOL). Some people view their dysfluencies as a disability and some don’t. What exactly is stuttering? Is it a disability or a difference? Stuttering can either be hereditary, neurological, genetic, or even psychological. Your stutter might be classed as a disability, it depends on how much it affects your day to day activities and on how long you have had it or you’re likely to have it for.  You might stutter some of the time or in certain situations and some people stutter when they are young and then grow out of it but some continue. Let’s look beyond “The stuttering “ Stuttering is at the top of the “iceberg” but underneath the “iceberg” lays deeper problems that should also be addressed. Stuttering also may include tension and negative feelings about talking. It may get in the way of how you talk to others. You may want to hide your stuttering. So, you may avoid certain words or situations. For example, you may not want to talk on the phone if that makes you stutter more. Stuttering can change, you may have times when you are fluent and times when you stutter more. Stress or excitement can lead to more stuttering. All of these can be frustrating and it may even affect your social life badly but if these consequences should happen or not? The answer lies in your determination to overcome the same. If you let stuttering grow, it will grow and conquer you, whereas if you decide to conquer stuttering by seeking professional help at the right time, then it’s no more a matter of concern. Visit an SLP and follow the magic tips (evidence-based treatment techniques) as advised. Cluttering speech Persons with Stuttering (PWS) and their feelings? People with stuttering often feel they are being judged on the way they speak. They always have that inner feeling of not being able to express themselves fluently like persons without stuttering. They would feel frustrated when they are not able to express themselves properly. Some have strong reactions to stammering being labeled as a disability. Regardless of how ‘severe’ their stammer is, this may not be a disabling issue for them, or they may not wish to be defined as having a disability. For others, their stammering is profoundly disabling. Tips to speak fluently Is it a Disability? According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions: Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of impairments include loss of a limb, loss of vision, or memory loss. Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem-solving. Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services. Stuttering does not call for a disability and also it is not a medical condition that makes someone disabled, but the attitudes and structures of society leave people with disabilities excluded or restricted in living their lives fully and excludes them from participating fully in society.  We don’t expect people to hide their differences, yet many people who stammer feel deeply ashamed of their stammering. Stuttering impedes your speech, not your thoughts Stuttering may be impeding your speech but it never hinders your thoughts and intelligence. You can speak up your thoughts, you are no different than anyone without stuttering. But yes, you will be different if you have the drive to overcome stuttering. Various Bollywood and Hollywood stars like Hrithik Roshan, Rowan Atkinson, and most of all  Joe Biden, who has been now elected as the 46th President of The United States of America. Look at them, if they had allowed stuttering to define themselves, would they be in the position they are right now? They decided to believe in themselves and move on with their goals in life. A person who stutters should not be treated differently, instead, we must learn to accept, support, and make reasonable adjustments for them. An individual’s speech obstruction should not define their personality but simply act like a characteristic difference that makes them unique.  Try to relax, speak slowly, build your confidence, and don’t avoid situations because of your stammer.  Self-esteem and confidence is the key to motivation and progress. A stammer is no different. SLP’S Role: Expecting someone to mask their difference is no longer acceptable in today’s society. So don’t accept pressure to talk smoothly. But seeking professional help can definitely bring out the best in you. A good speech therapist can do wonders! An SLP will help you feel less tense and speak in a better way which is less distracting and in school, at work, and in different social settings. They can also help the person face speaking situations that make them fearful or anxious say speaking on the phone, giving a  presentation, or even ordering food at a restaurant. They can  talk about how stuttering affects their everyday life Can help in eliminating the coexisting features which may not be noticeable to an untrained listener. **** For further information and consultation please contact us. We are always here to help you. Stuttering impedes your speech Book your appointment now For more ideas check out our other related blogs #NormalNonFluencyandStuttering #Stuttering #stutteringtips #IsStutteringaDisability #personswithstuttering

Communication Anxiety is the fear associated with real or anticipated communication with people. Such individuals often feel that they are constantly under scrutiny or evaluation by others. People with Communication Anxiety have various feared situations such as: Speaking in public or to a group of people, Meeting new people or talking to a random stranger, Talking with authority figures such as your boss, a college senior, etc. When a person is anxious about communication, the following occur: Blushing Trembling Sweating Speech blocks etc. People with communication anxiety fear these symptoms being observable to others. As a result, exposure to feared situations is typically accompanied by anxious anticipation, distress, and avoidance. What is the relationship between Communication & Anxiety? People with stuttering may show high levels of anxiety about speaking. This is known as communication anxiety & can be present in as high as 50% of persons with stuttering. How does Communication Anxiety affect stuttering? According to research, anxiety is not the cause of stuttering. It can, however, make the stuttering worse. The person then fears stuttering & this causes them to stutter more. We communicate verbally. And this is important because it connects us with each other. But for people with stuttering, stuttering makes it difficult to communicate. Because of the stuttering, people with stuttering get anxious about talking to new people. They may even be afraid to talk to familiar people because they may stutter. In addition, people with stuttering find it difficult to communicate in high-pressure situations. These are speaking publicly at a conference or to a group of people, speaking to the boss or a senior at college, etc. Negative experiences with others can fuel a person’s anxiety about stuttering, and this anxiety may make stuttering worse. Persons with stuttering usually have false beliefs about stuttering. For example, they may think that the listener won’t listen to them. Or they may feel that they are bad communicators. These kinds of thoughts or fears can affect their lifestyle. It often affects the many life decisions such as which profession to pursue or which job should I take. So how do I cope with Communication Anxiety & Stuttering at the same time? People with stuttering who have communication anxiety may find relief using the following strategies. Relaxation exercises Deep breathing exercises can help in reducing anxiety. Just relax everything. Focus on your breathing alone. When you take a deep breath, feel your tummy moving outwards. While breathing out, you will feel your tummy moving inwards. Do this for 4-5 times and you will feel relaxed immediately. Attention shift This can be done as & when you are speaking. Try to imagine every word that you say & visualize it in your mind. For example, “I am going to the market”. When you make this statement try picturing this sentence as a scene in your mind. Say each word mindfully while visualizing the scene. In this manner, your mind focuses on the words & lesser on the stuttering. So here you have shifted your attention from the stuttering to the content of the message. Positive affirmations Positive talk is when you speak to yourself using positivity. You need to surround yourself with positive vibes. Examples like, “I am an awesome speaker!!!”, “I speak easily”, “I love speaking & connecting” etc. Pick out 5 such phrases & read these by yourself every morning. Practice this every day for 3-4 weeks & notice how you feel. Practicing communication skills. Many people who stutter, avoid communicating because of their anxiety. This can affect their social life & make them feel more anxious in social situations. It is often found helpful when we practice on a specific topic. For example, if I have a job interview in 2 weeks, I can start off by practicing on familiar topics which are commonly asked in interviews like ‘Giving a brief description about myself’ or ‘Explaining why I am the best candidate for the job’. Education about stuttering Many people feel less anxious once they get to know their stuttering in a better way. Stuttering varies from person to person. And it also varies with situations & severity. To know about your stuttering, you will require the guidance of a speech-language pathologist who will help you with your concerns. Fluency therapy Fluency therapy sessions will help you reduce your negative emotions towards stuttering & also enhance your fluency by using various strategies. Once you learn these strategies, you learn to control your stuttering. So your communication anxiety reduces. Consult a speech-language pathologist right away to control that stuttering! For some easy tips on stuttering Maintain confident eye contact By maintaining eye contact, you not only desensitize yourself towards stuttering moments but also build your confidence. It will also make your listener comfortable that you are not afraid to speak & you are in control of the situation. Maintain your eye contact even when you stutter. Start off by saying simple sentences. If you look away, try again & practice till you get it. Self-Advertising When initiating communication with a new person there are many thoughts that run in our mind. Persons with stuttering often think “Oh no!! What is he going to think of me if I stutter?”, “Will he find out that I stutter?”, “Is he going to make fun of me?”, “Will he even listen to me?” and this list can go on. These thoughts are enough to increase your stuttering. What you can do in this case i.e. when you meet new people, is that you can tell them that you stutter. Believe me, it works!! By doing this, it will take away your communication anxiety & help you focus more on your speech (Attention shift Yay!!) This is by far, one of the most difficult things that you will have to do. Accepting& disclosing that you stutter. A simple sentence like “I stutter” or pointing out when you stutter can help you ease out. Join a stuttering community /support group Spend time with other persons with stuttering by joining a support group. You will learn that you are not alone & it is ok to stutter. Such support groups can motivate you, help you feel less isolated & help you reduce your communication anxiety. For more information on Stuttering Communities in India Take Speech therapy to learn exercises and techniques to overcome your stutter. #AnxietyinPersonswithStuttering #CommunicationAnxiety #Stuttering

What is Stuttering? Practice Fluent Speech, Stuttering happens when there’s an interruption within the flow of speech. In several instances, it goes away on its own, in others, it may impede their speech whenever they try to talk. Studies have shown various causative factors for the condition. the most common being positive family history. The severity of stuttering varies from person to person. A child for that matter may not be aware of his dysfluencies but it’s not the case for an adult. It is usually less challenging for treating dysfluencies in adults when compared to children. Speech in discourse is a useful asset and inconceivably significant when mingling and conveying information to other people. Kids rely upon words and expressions to impart their necessities to adults, have their requirements met, and pass on their musings and thoughts to other people. Treatment for children: Children who stutter are often very clear in their mind and know what they want, but may find it difficult while expressing it out loud. Be it any technique or modifications your speech therapist advises, in the end, the child has to practice speaking with lesser dysfluencies. Here are few games that I recommend to all parents, to help their child practice smooth and fluent speech. Games – To practice fluent speech for children 1. Roleplay Activities : Roleplay activities allow children to be in control and rehearse specific situations that they have experienced stuttering in the past or are likely to experience in the future.  Acting out allows them to create scripts to use in the future. This role play expertise permits youngsters to make their descriptive language while ‘shopping’.  The additional language a child has readily available, the easier they may notice it to make sentences and communicate their desires. Besides, it conjointly offers a chance to model other children and boost self-confidence. A fun way to rehearse language and fluency is by setting up an imaginary grocery store. Make them engaged by setting up a dummy kitchen and encourage role-play to cook like a family. When they run out of things they can go to the shop and buy them. 2. Turn-Taking – A skill: A lot of children struggle with taking turns. Nevertheless, it is important when creating play activities to encourage language fluency. Everyone must wait patiently for their turn and comply because if interrupted, this can impede the flow of speech for children who stutter. Conversely, a speech impediment such as stuttering may directly affect a child’s ability to ask for their turn in any setting. This game will be appropriate if done in a group. Make a playgroup and guide them to pick up chits or flashcards with pictures of their favorite cartoon character or some animals. Instruct the players that they will have to describe the character or animal taken so that the others can guess the answer. One basic change that advances fluency is pausing; explicitly, trusting that a speaker will get done with talking prior to tolling in. It is by all accounts acknowledged practice for “ordinary speakers” of all ages to interfere with each other in discussion. Quick reactions and interferences can reflect eagerness and commitment between grown-ups. For kids, interferences appear to build up dominance and are useful in extraordinary competition for adult consideration. 3. Turn-taking Benefits : The use of turn-taking will bring about a decrease in the danger of interference, or an increment in confirmation that others were tuning in to the content of the subject’s discourse. Although the conditions that promote fluency might be exceptionally individualistic, it is preferable as guardians to diminish correspondence stress on their child. Organizing supper time a discussion is a change that guardians can make to assist their kid with talking without any problem. Since it is a change, it will feel extraordinary and take practice. Try to put equal emphasis on everybody having a chance to talk instead of on one kid’s speech difficulty and everybody at the table will benefit from this. 4. Hot and Cold: This game in fact evokes nostalgia in me. As a child, I used to love playing this game. How to play : So the rules are very simple. All you need is a group of children and one of them being the host. The host simply has to hide an object (familiar to all the children in the group) whilst others wait. Once the host hides he sets the game” on ”. Now each of them goes around in search of the item. If any player is not at all near to the hidden object he can say ‘cold, very cold’ If they move in the wrong direction he can say ‘freezing or icy’ I moving close to the object, he can say ‘hot, hotter’ If he is coming near and near to the object he can say ‘burning or scorching’. This way children can take turns to be the host and it can be manipulated to practice the techniques introduced by your speech therapist. 4. The “Bus” Game : This again is a modification from my childhood game list which I love to teach the coming generations. They encouraged socialization and back then we used to have soo much fun outdoors. But nowadays our children are soo packed up either with schoolwork or they love being stuck with screen time. Try to be the change that we always wanted in our society. How to play : All you need is a group again or even two kids would serve the purpose. You have to take turns to count and whenever 5 or its multiples come, instead of saying out the number, you ought to say “Bus” (Don’t ask me why). Jokes apart! Such games tackle working memory and it can be modified to practice your fluency techniques wherein instead of “bus” you can have phrases or sentences to practice. 5. Marco Polo How to play : In this one, a host or a leader will be blindfolded. The host says start and then the players run to different places and then the host says “freeze”. The players will be scattered by now and then the host says “Marco”. Post a small delay he says “ where are you?”. The players say “Polo I’m right here” Our target here is the delay where the kid can practice slow and spaced speech. So here the blindfolded host uses the power of hearing to localize and find the person. The person getting caught will be the next host. This too can have modifications by making the host and players say different phrases to practice. In short : Make your child practice various fluency shaping and stuttering modification techniques in a fun way without burdening your little ones to speak up to practice the techniques Stuttering children need support and encouragement. Most importantly,  while listening to them speak, you should take the time to listen, rather than interrupt or finish sentences for them. This will boost their confidence when speaking in the future. Book a session now For more ideas check out our other blogs #RoleplayActivities #speechfluency #Stuttering #speechgames #fluentspeech

We will discuss Myths About Stuttering: Explained. Stuttering is a speech issue. Other than the “disfluencies,” in a person’s speech. People who stutter are ordinary. Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects people of all ages. Despite being a common issue, there are still many misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding stuttering. Here are common misconceptions about stuttering, busted. Myths About Stuttering: Explained 1.Individuals Stutter Because They Are Nervous Many of us stutter while we talk. This is normal for all of us. Our speech is interrupted when we speak in front of a large crowd. This is simply due to anxiety. It is the same in people who stutter too. They get nervous and their speech is interrupted. But this alone is not a reason for their speech issue. 2. Individuals Who Stutter Are Shy And Self-Conscious Grown-ups and kids who stutter may seem reluctant to speak up. People who stammer can be confident and frank. Many are also in great career roles. Society thinks they are shy but it is not the case. There are many social personalities who have stuttering. 3. Stammering Is A Psychological Disorder Stuttering is not a psychological disorder. Some people with stuttering struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This is because of their stuttering. Once they become more confident n talking their overall mental health improves. 4. Individuals Who Stutter Are Less Intelligent Or Capable Individuals who stammer negate this consistently. The PWS have their signatures among researchers, authors, and school teachers, actors, etc. The list goes on including The President of the USA. PWS has made progress in each and every profession for that matter. 5. Compelling A Left-Handed Child To Become Right-Handed Causes Stuttering This was broadly accepted from the early twentieth century yet has been disproven in many investigations since 1940. In spite of the fact that endeavors to change handedness don’t cause stuttering, the pressure that came about when a youngster had to switch hands may have resulted in an increase in the severity of stuttering for certain people. Stuttering may be impeding your speech but it never hinders your thoughts and intelligence. You can speak up your thoughts, you are no different than anyone without stuttering. But yes, you will be different if you have the drive to overcome stuttering. Various Bollywood and Hollywood stars like Hrithik Roshan, Rowan Atkinson, and most of all  Joe Biden, who has been now elected as the 46th President of The United States of America. Look at all of them, if they had allowed stuttering to define themselves, would they be in the position they are right now? They decided to believe in themselves and move on with their goals in life. We must learn to accept, support, and make reasonable adjustments for them. We at 1SpecialPlace have a team of trained speech-language pathologists who help children communicate. Consult with us today!! #Stammering #Stammeringactivities #stammeringinchildren #Stuttering

In this blog, we will talk about Stuttering Recovery and Relapse in Children. Sssssstutttttttttering is rrrrrrrreally dddddifficult  ! Phew! How did you read that? Tough! isn’t it? Firstly, therapy for stuttering is the first phase. Lastly, comes recovery and relapse. So, we will talk about Stuttering Recovery and Relapse. Stuttering Recovery and Relapse Stuttering is a common speech disorder. Further, early treatment is best. In other words, this avoids quality-of-life issues later. Also, Psychological issues with stuttering are common. In other words, such as mental pressure, anxiety is seen in kids and adults. Also, prevention is better than cure. Further, many kids recover on their own. But, it is not possible to know which group of kids will recover or who will not. Further, the best way is to monitor kids. Also, only pre-school kids may show natural recovery. Therefore, check for natural recovery 1 year before starting therapy. For young kids, direct or indirect therapy option is there. Direct therapy helps the child to change the way he speaks. Whereas the indirect one will focus on ways to speak easily. These will include slowing down and others. Parents are a crucial part of a child’s therapy. For older kids and adults, treatment is a little different. SLP’s help them to feel less tense. Help to speak freely at school, at school, and in social settings. When to get professional help? Preschool stuttering kids are monitored for signs of natural recovery. Hence, this natural recovery only happens in pre-school kids. Treatment is started before 5 years of age in kids. Therefore, professional help will bring out the best in your child. So, a speech therapist can do magic! Hence, SLP’S role in Stuttering is crucial. There is no magic. In other words, no other way to cure it. No medicine can make your stutter go away. Let’s have a peep into the role of an SLP : Read more about Is Stuttering a Disability? Seeking professional help makes you feel less tense. Helps you speak in a better way. They can also help the person face speaking situations easily. Can help in dealing with other issues. Now imagine stuttering relapses in a PWS, post-therapy. He /she has to start all over again, right ?? Does it happen like that ?? Yes, it does happen! It is “Relapse”.  In other words, “relapse” means that the person being treated regresses. Further, simply fails to keep up his or her half of the therapeutic bargain. Why Stuttering Relapse? Failure to practice Failure to monitor Genetic factors The severity of the matter Attitude change Lack of motivation and interest Achieving false fluency Self-efficacy doubts Poor self observance. Fair self-monitoring methods Complications in one’s health, family life, or personal issues. Listener’s adjustment to the new speech. General Tips Follow the home plan. Spend time with your child to remind him of speech tips. Attend support group, therapy classes. Listen to your child. Do not burden your child with your demands Always encourage fluent speech. Do not be critical of your child’s speech. Follow up every month with your therapist. Read more on Stuttering #Stuttering

Stuttering or Stammering is highly variable. You may find yourself speaking flawlessly at times but struggle to get a word out at other times. Shying away from talking, talking less, not participating in conversations with new people or a large group, staying aloof is most likely to happen with adolescents who stutter. So, what do you do about it? If you are an adolescent looking out for overcoming your stuttering, Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects people of all ages, including teenagers. It can be a frustrating and isolating experience for teenagers, who may feel embarrassed or ashamed about their stuttering. As a parent, it can be challenging to know how to support your teenager who stutters. Here are some tips on how parents can help their teenage child who stutters. Do Not Worry! Variability in the amount you stutter is just the nature of the condition itself. If you observe yourself, you will be able to identify certain factors in the environment which are causing your Teenage Stuttering to increase. Here is some information about stuttering and tips for your stuttering if you are an adolescent or a parent of an adolescent with stuttering. Understand All About Stuttering It’s the era of the world wide web. Pick up your phone and gather all the information about stuttering. Always choose authentic websites or research articles. Try to understand what causes stuttering and how your stuttering can impact your personal life, social life, and academic life. Adolescence is a sensitive stage of life. The impact of stuttering could be the greatest in your adolescent years. So, you need to start looking out for remedies. Gather stuttering tips for adolescents. Read more on click here Seek Professional Help Speech Therapy and Psychological Counselling can help those who stutter be more fluent and confident while speaking! One can begin with the identification of stuttering events, speaking slowly and more fluently using certain techniques and analogies to be used during the stuttering events during the course of speech therapy. Therapists help achieve fluent speech in children and adults with stuttering.  Speech-Language Pathologists also help in speaking in social situations, building confidence for public speaking, getting rid of negative emotions associated with speaking situations, tension or fears are dealt with for bringing about better communication skills in the child or adult with stuttering. Psychological counseling and/or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps to identify the underlying causes such as anxiety, embarrassment, low confidence, negative feelings, and attitudes associated with stuttering and overcoming them. Always remember to approach a certified therapist! Remember, You are not Alone If you are feeling low, embarrassed, or anxious about what someone would think of you when you talk, put a full stop to it. Seeking professional help will improve your condition. There are plenty of support groups online and offline. Look them up. Go through personal narratives of persons who stutter. Try out various stuttering tips for adolescents across the globe. Find success stories and push yourself to become fluent. Avoid Self-Pity and Blame Game Talking fluently with professional help might take some time. Never let the feelings of ‘I’m not doing enough’ or ‘ It’s my fault’ sink in. Establishing the exact cause for your stuttering is quite difficult. Self-pity most often becomes a hurdle in your goal to be fluent. Set realistic goals for your speaking skills and work towards them consistently and you will get there! Say No to Escapism Most persons with stuttering try to avoid social situations and prefer to stay aloof. The key to gaining confidence and being a fluent speaker is to grab every opportunity to talk and implement the techniques taught during therapy to practice. So, next time- Raise your hand in a class, Go up to a stranger and strike a conversation, Put your ideas out there in a group! Do not pull yourself back. Set Realistic Goals It is quite common for people to stutter while speaking. Some stutter more and some less. Those who stutter more get diagnosed as being ‘Persons with Stuttering’. So, having goals such as “I should not stutter while speaking” are quite unrealistic. Do not thrive under the pressure of being fluent all the time. Understand that talking involves variability. It is common to fumble. Most listeners are quite accommodative and will hear you out despite your stuttering. To those who are curious about your way of talking, explain what it is! Create awareness. Remember: You JUST have Stuttering and You ARE NOT a stutterer Look into your personality- identify all the good qualities in yourself. Your stutter is just a part of you. Do not let the feelings of shame, embarrassment or anxiety take over your personality. Embrace your stuttering and work towards being fluent. Understand that stuttering is neither a defect nor is a limitation to grow in your personal, social or professional life. Be Prepared for Relapses Stuttering by its nature tends to relapse. You might find your stutter to be back after a long while of talking fluently. Be mindful of this fact while you enroll in a therapy program. Be prepared for facing a relapse. Have all the information, strategies, and stuttering tips specifically for adolescents. Go back to therapy if needed. The change will take time to set in. Allow yourself the time to explore your coping mechanisms. Take small steps through your journey of being fluent. Do not hesitate to experience and face every situation or opportunity at hand! #StutteringTipsforAdolescents #Stuttering #TeenageStuttering #speechtherapy #adultspeechdifficulty

What is Neurogenic Stuttering? Neurogenic stuttering is a rare type of fluency disorder. A person with stuttering finds it difficult to maintain smooth speech while performing speech tasks. Neurogenic stuttering usually presents after some injury to the central nervous system. The injuries include: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA)/ Stroke Tumors/ Neoplasms Drug-induced side effects Degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. Other diseases such as Meningitis etc. In neurogenic stuttering, the cause of the stuttering is usually known. Many times, the stuttering resolves on its own such as in the case of drug-induced side effects. This happens when the individual stops taking the medications. In many conditions, however, the stuttering can persist. Who is at risk for Neurogenic Stuttering? Any individual who experiences the above is at risk for neurogenic stuttering. However, CVA’s and TBI’s are the most common causes. Individuals with neurogenic stuttering usually have typical speech and language skills premorbid. For individuals who had a history of developmental stuttering, neurogenic stuttering can occur due to the above causes. Males are at a higher risk than females. And it can occur at any age. Most of the time, it is seen in adults and older adults. What are the characteristics of Neurogenic Stuttering? The causes for neurogenic stuttering are usually known. And the causes are many. That is why the characteristics of stuttering vary among individuals. Here are some of the characteristics that are commonly identified: Dysfluencies occur on any subclass of words like content (ex. nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) as well as on function words (ex. prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, etc.) Excessive revisions and interjections Prolongations, repetitions, and blocks occur at all positions of the word unlike the initial word position in developmental stuttering. Speaker is generally unaware that they stutter. Stuttering-related anxiety is usually absent. If they are aware, they may present with secondary behaviors. Secondary behaviors such as eye blinking, head movements, facial grimaces are usually absent but are present occasionally. Adaptation effect is absent i.e. on reading the same passage again, there is no reduction in the frequency of dysfluencies. Is it easy to diagnose Neurogenic Stuttering? No, it is not easy to make the diagnosis. Because individuals post CVA’s, TBI’s, etc. present with various other speech and language disorders such as: Aphasia: A language disorder where individuals have difficulty in understanding, speaking, and reading/writing skills. Dysarthria: A speech disorder where individuals have difficulty in performing speech tasks because of muscle weakness. Individuals may have changes in voice, slow/fast rate of speech, and may sound monotonous or robotic. Palilalia: A speech disorder where words or phrases are repeated several times with increasing speed and reduced loudness. Apraxia: A speech disorder where individuals have difficulty in planning and making speech sound movements. The speech errors are usually have inaccurate and have poor timing. Then how is Neurogenic Stuttering diagnosed and treated? Consult a speech-language pathologist who specializes in fluency disorders. The speech-language pathologist will evaluate the client’s speech. They would also require details like case history, medical history, and any premorbid communication impairments. The diagnosis will usually indicate whether the stuttering is neurogenic. It will also tell if there is another communication impairment that is affecting the client’s fluency. Your speech-language pathologist will formulate a lesson plan after the evaluation. Your therapist will also make a  lesson plan that will include SMART goals. It will also include the strategies and activities that you will use to improve your fluency. Your therapist will counsel and give you a home plan. Your therapist will ask you The recovery process from a neurologic injury can be slow. This is because such injuries can have long-term changes to the brain. They may also have additional medical issues to add on to. It is important to be patient with your loved ones as they will need all the support from you. Where can I get help with Neurogenic Stuttering? A speech-language pathologist is one who can help you with stuttering. At 1SpecialPlace, we provide client-centered customized online therapy to help with your fluency goals. Our speech therapists are highly trained and treat various fluency disorders regularly. Book your sessions now Learn about the Benefits of Teletherapy for Adults with Speech Disorders #Treatmentofstuttering #CausesofNeurogenicstuttering #NeurogenicStuttering #Characteristicsofstuttering #Signs #Evaluationofstuttering

This blog is about normal non-fluency and stuttering. Let’s first try to understand our speech. Firstly, our speech develops as we grow. Secondly, typical kids learn to say words by 1 year of age. Further, speech-language development continues as one grows. Language refers to the linguistic aspects of communication. Similarly, speech refers to the qualitative aspects of communication. Human Speech System So, let’s talk about the aspects of speech. Human speech consists of the below; Fluency Voice Resonance Articulation Suprasegmental aspects Disruption in any of this can cause a speech disorder. Hence, we will only talk about Fluency in this blog. Therefore, fluency of speech is the continuity and effortless flow of speech. Further, a fluency disorder is a disruption in this flow. This can be a normal non-fluency or stuttering disorder. So, read on for more on normal non-fluency and stuttering. What is normal non-fluency? Normal Non-Fluency is seen in young kids. Further, between 2-3 years of age. By 2 years of age. The intensive language learning stage begins. So, during this time, fluency disruptions are seen. Further, this is because kids are learning to talk. That is to put words together. So, often they fumble. Signs of Normal Non-Fluency Normal non-fluency includes the below; Using extra words or fillers in speech (For example, I want umm umm cake) Changing the word in phrases (For example: Look car..Look truck is here) Repeating sounds or words (For example I I ..want cookie) Present only once or twice in 100 words. Mostly, repetitions are common. There is no muscle tension or struggle. During the stage, kids are relaxed when they talk. There is no sign of struggle. Also, awareness of disruptions is absent. Further, the incidence of the disruption changes. Sometimes, it is absent. It is present when a child is excited or emotional. Often it is absent for several weeks and appears again. Do children grow out of normal non-fluency? Yes, often children grow out of this stage. As their language skills improve, they are more fluent. Wait and watch for 6 months. That is for this stage to pass. Meanwhile, if the disruptions become frequent. Also, more severe. Hence watch out. Consult with a Speech Therapist immediately. What is Stuttering? Stuttering is a disruption of the flow of speech. Any stoppage in the flow of speech is stuttering . Children and adults can have stuttering. It may become severe over time if not treated. 95% of stuttering develops during childhood. If left untreated, it may become severe. Red Flags of Stuttering The following are the signs/ red flags that you should watch for: Frequent repetitions of sounds, syllables, words (For example I I I I want water) Prolongation of sounds (For example Caaaaaan.. I have bread?) Blocks (Inaudible or fixation of the jaw) Usage of fillers (For example I ummm need ummm paper ummm pencil) Awareness of speech disorder in the child or adult Avoids speaking Physical tension (For example jaw jerks, hand and leg movements, eye blinking, fidgeting) Escape behavior in talking situations Disruptions once or twice in every phrase that is spoken. Emotional outbursts due to inability to talk. If your child has any of these signs, consult today. Stuttering will not resolve by itself. Further, it may increase in severity. Early in the treatment, the better it is. Do children outgrow stuttering? No, children and adults do not outgrow stuttering. Hence, consult a Speech Therapist. Especially if you notice the above signs. Assessment and Treatment of stuttering What to expect: Assessment Assessment is conducted by a Speech Therapist. A detailed fluency test is done. You can expect the following: Relevant medical and history of the person/ child Consultation with family members. To discuss the fluency breakdowns Real-Time Analysis of the disfluencies in speech. Recording and analysis of speech sample. Assessment of communication Psychological assessment for emotional status Determination of individual strength and coping strategies Diagnosis of the fluency disorder What to expect: Treatment Treatment depends on the diagnosis and the severity of stuttering. Your Speech Therapist will define a treatment plan. It varies for adults and for kids. Overall, there are two main approaches to treatment. Direct Approach (For children and adults) Indirect Approach (Used mostly for young children) Therapy sessions will focus on improving the fluency of speech. Further, emotional status and the naturalness of speech will also be worked upon. Eventually, the therapist will work with the child/ adult. Also, the parent is included. It is important to work as a team to obtain the best therapy outcome. Tips for Parents: Do not wait and watch, consult a therapist to rule out stuttering today. Don’t rush your child. Never interrupt them while they talk. Do not overburden your child with questions. Be more patient. Pay attention and eye contact when you talk. Give them time to bond with you. Listen to what your child wants to say. Payless focus on how they talk. Instead, focus on what they are saying. Encourage their attempts to speak. Make them feel comforted and safe. Ensure them it’s ok to have a bump in their speech. Get them the right help from a Speech Therapist. Work hand in hand with the therapist. Remember to consult a Speech-Language Therapist if you’re concerned about your child’s speech. Do not wait and watch!  Please drop us a comment if you liked the article. Hope you gained some insights into Normal Non-Fluency and Stuttering. #disordersanddelays #NormalNonFluencyandStuttering #Stuttering #Treatmentofstuttering

Stuttering or Stammering is the disruption in the forward flow of speech. Any disruption in the smooth flow of speech occurring multiple times is Stuttering. Today, we are discussing why does stuttering need to be treated? Many people around the world are living with Stuttering. Further, both children and adults can have stuttering. Stuttering starts very early in life for most people. In other words, it starts during childhood. When stuttering is left untreated, it progresses. Furthermore, stuttering that would have started out as mild may have progressed to severe as time passes. Hence, it is very crucial to treat it as early as possible. Is there a cure for Stuttering? There is no medical cure or medication that can magically cure stuttering. Research says Stuttering can be managed by Speech Therapy techniques. However, at certain times Stuttering can never be fully eliminated. There are many treatments offered in the market. Ranging from electronic devices for fluency to digital applications, and quack medicines. Although electronic fluency devices have known to give temporary relief from Stuttering. There is no permanent cure. Hence, the only treatment option backed by evidence is Speech-Therapy. Speech-Therapists help manage Stuttering. Speech-Therapists are professionals. Further, they work with people with communication disorders across lifespan. What is Speech Therapy for Stuttering? Speech-Therapists help manage Stuttering.  The overall focus is on aspects such as; Overall fluency of speech The easy onset of words and phrases Modifying rate of speech Shaping the naturalness of speech Improving the quality of life of the person The goals will focus on the above aspects. Further, the treatment focus is slightly different for children and adults. Should I Treat or Embrace My Stuttering? Stuttering is nothing one should be ashamed of or feel insecure about. In other words, we all have disfluencies in our speech. There are many people who accept and embrace their stuttering. Accepting who you are is the first step to leading a better life. You can embrace your stuttering! Although embracing stuttering is a good thing, it comes with its own difficulties. Manage your stuttering with Speech Therapy today! But it takes time and effort to make the change. Treating your Stuttering can surely improve your life. Read on to know why does stuttering need to be treated? Then you can decide if you want to embrace or treat your stuttering. Why does Stuttering need to be Treated? Here we are discussing some benefits of Speech Therapy for Stuttering. This is a list of feedback we have received from people who have taken Speech Therapy for Stuttering at 1SpecialPlace. Better Quality of Life Stuttering therapy can work wonders in making your speech sound fluent. Quality of life depends on aspects such as how happy one feels about his/her life. Many times, Persons with Stuttering face quality of life issues due to their speech difficulty. Improve your life today by learning to manage your Stuttering! Better Self-Confidence Stuttering therapy focuses on improving your overall quality of speech. For many people, confidence comes from the way they talk, act and walk. Managing stuttering can surely improve your self-confidence by making your speech sound fluent. Live and Speak Easily People with Stuttering face challenges daily. Are you not getting a promotion due to your speech? Speech Therapy can surely alleviate this concern. Get ready to see yourself succeed in your career and to see your child stand up to bullies and lead an easier confident life! Better Mental Health People with Stuttering often have anxiety, depression, and personality changes due to their Stuttering. A speech therapy program along with a structured counseling session can help promote better mental health. If you think your child is anxious or feels shy to speak, this is your chance. A good Speech Therapy program will surely promote better mental health. If you have any queries, contact us! Please drop us a comment if you liked the article. For more ideas check out our other blogs! #SpeechTherapyforStuttering #SpeechTherapyprogram #Stammering #Stuttering

In this blog, we will focus on different types of Stuttering Treatment. Let’s have a look at what is stuttering before we discuss about stuttering Treatment. To have a better understanding we will look what do  you mean by stuttering. Stuttering is a fluency disorder. In this, the person will have difficulty in producing fluent speech. They will have repetitions like b-b-b-b-bat, prolongations like ppppppat or blocks where in, the sound itself will not come out. Stuttering Treatment for Adults Let’s see some techniques which are used to treat stuttering. Slowed Speech In this technique, we have to slow down the rate of speech. Usually, a fluent adult speaker can tell 150 syllables/minute. In slowed speech, we make the people to speak as slow as 40 syllables/ minute. Let’s see an example, if we take a word Apple, we slow down and stretch the syllable,i.e. we stretch A… for 1-2 sec then move to P….stretch it again and move to the next. This type of speech will sound very unnatural. While stretching the syllables, there will be good reduction in stuttering. This technique will be then used in sentence level. Once you get the control over the speech after good practice, we will gradually move to a faster rate of speech. Light Articulatory Contact Light Articulatory contacts is also referred to as soft contacts. In this technique, we make the individuals to make soft contacts of lips and tongue, thereby reducing the tension during the speech, which in turn will reduce stuttering and result in fluent speech.  If the muscles are tight, then stuttering will increase. To have a clearer picture, we can look at an example, to say the word Pat, we need to bring the lips together to say the sound /p/, so we have to make a soft contact between the lips so there won’t be tension between the lips. Gentle Initiation Technique When people with stuttering speaks, the laryngeal muscles get tensed and the vocal folds close suddenly thereby preventing in producing smooth production of speech. In this technique, we teach them not to close the vocal folds so tightly. So, they will be asked to speak in a low volume with less vibration of vocal folds. When we start with this technique, it will sound very unnatural but gradually, once the control over speech is attained, it can be slowly faded off to normal speech. Continuous Phonation Here, we encourage the client to speak continuously, so that the vocal folds keeps on vibrating. This will in turn, reduce the moments of stuttering. Our speech consists of both voiced and voiceless production. The vocal folds keep vibrating when we produce voiced sounds like b, g, d. You can feel the vibration when you place your finger at your throat level. On contrary, voiceless sounds are sounds which are produced with no vibration in the vocal folds. Try to feel it when you say p, k, t by placing your finger at the throat level. So, as mentioned in this technique, when you continuously vibrate your vocal folds, the voiceless sounds also become voiced. For example, let’s take the word pocket, we have to continuously make the vocal folds to vibrate, so, it will sound as bo..ged. Diaphragmatic breathing In  this, the client is made to sit straight. Then, they have to keep one hand on their chest and one hand on their abdomen. Ask them to inhale through the nose. They need to feel their stomach expand. After that, they are asked to exhale slowly. Diaphragmatic breathing is done for relaxation of muscles, because in stuttering, they exhibit tension across muscles. Cancellation Technique In this, you stutter and complete the word with little tension. Pull out Technique In Pull-out, we stop when you stutter on a word and relax and try to say it again. Pseudo stuttering Pseudo stuttering It is the method in which the person has to stutter on every single word so the person to understand that they have to continue speaking even if they stutter. It also helps to overcome their fear. Preparatory Sets The person anticipates stuttering over a upcoming word. They have to slow down and make light articulatory contacts, so that they can start the word smoothly. Natural Pauses While in conversation, take some pauses between words, so that the person gets time to breathe deeply and make light articulatory contacts to reduce stuttering. Talking in short sentences Talking in short sentences will help you feel more relaxed and make light articulatory contact. Confident Eye contact Maintaining eye contact will increase your self confidence and will reduce your shyness. Click here to read more. Self Disclosure Self disclosure is an act of telling others you stutter. This in turn will reduce the anxiety of hiding that they have stuttering. Click here to now more abut self disclosure. Stuttering Treatment in Children Easy Starts In this, we teach them to start a word with vowels. Thereby it initiate slow vibration of vocal folds. Stretchy Speech We ask them to stretch and slow down their speech while speaking. Feather Speech This means to have light articulatory contact while speaking. It can be ill with feathers. So we need to make them understand about how feathers are soft and light and they need to start their speech softly without much tension. Belly Breathing Children have to lie on their back. Then ask them to place one hand on the abdomen and one hand over the upper chest. So when they breathe, they need to feel their abdomen expanding. When they breathe out, they have to feel the air out from the stomach. For demonstration, you can keep something on an animal’s belly and take it out to make them understand how it works. Slow rate The children have to speak slowly like a turtle so that they get time to think on the next word. Transition from word to word will also be smooth. Smooth vs bumpy speech Here, we give a feedback about how their speech sounds for others. For making it clear, we can use pictures of bumpy and smooth roads. Then, we can introduce cars and demonstrate how a car goes on smooth and bumpy road. Speech Helpers There are ten speech helpers and they are Lips, Tongue (Front Tongue, Back Tongue), Teeth, Ridge, Nose, Palate (Front roof and Back Roof), Vocal Cords and Lungs. The idea behind speech helpers is that we are making the children aware about the parts of speech.   Constant Phonation First, relax your muscles and use diaphragmatic breathing. Then ask the child to say the first syllable in a relaxed way and increase the loudness. For, the next syllable start again softly. In this way, we encourage them to speak in relaxed manner. Click here to know more about tips for children to stammer. To summarize, this blog throws light to different stuttering treatment technique to make their speech fluent. It will sound as unnatural at first. Later on, as they practise and master the technique, gradually we can make them to speak in a normal way of talking. #fluencydisorder #Stuttering #StutteringTreatment

Intervention or treatment programs rely on research findings. It helps to follow the best practices available for a given disease or disorder. Here’s a peek into some research based on ‘Stuttering’: Researchers and authors Amanda Brignell , Michelle Krahe, Martin Downes , Elaina Kefalianos , Sheena Reilly , Angela Morgan conducted research on Stuttering. They published their research in the Journal of Fluency Disorders in 2021. Read the original article at click here Let’s find out more about their research findings … What was the purpose of the study? This study critically analyses the evidence for the effectiveness of treatment(s) for children and adolescents who stutter. What is stuttering? Stuttering is a speech disorder. It is characterized by involuntary repetition or prolongation of sounds, syllables, or words.  It can also include involuntary hesitation or pauses that disrupt the rhythmic flow of speech (World Health Organisation, 2001). Why is the treatment of stuttering important? Evidence suggests later psychological difficulties may arise during the school years in children who stutter Many believe that school-aged children who stutter are at increased risk of teasing, bullying, and anxiety. S tuttering is also highly associated with occupational and educational under-achievement and suicidal thoughts . If not treated during childhood, persistent stuttering can result in lifelong social, educational, and occupational reduced quality of life . A higher proportion of adults who stutter have social phobia and anxiety compared to adults who do not stutter. How did the authors conduct this research? The authors searched for different types of research articles published on stuttering. A total of nine databases and three clinical trial registries were the source of information. The authors studied the articles for more specific details. The researchers collected data on the following: authors, year, country, study design, and study aim. They also made a note of details of the intervention (key features), and comparator/control. In addition, the authors complied details of participants (age, gender, and inclusion/exclusion criteria), study measures, outcomes (time points, primary and secondary outcomes and main outcomes) and funding sources. What was studied from the collected articles? The authors looked at stuttering severity from the shortlisted studies.  They provide an overview of the research evidence through summaries of the study characteristics, outcomes measured, and key findings. What were the results of the study? Evidence for Direct versus Indirect Approaches for Stuttering Intervention : A drop in the percentage of stuttering was common across all studies included in the research. It was true in the case of both direct approach and indirect approaches.  Lidcombe Program, a direct approach to the treatment of stuttering, was the most effective for children aged less than 6 years. The authors studied therapy delivered in various formats. One-to-one or group therapy through various modes such as face-to-face or tele-mode was studied. They found all types of service delivery modalities to be equally effective. Also, the severity of stuttering reduced at almost the same time across all shortlisted studies. #adolescentswithstuttering #research #SpeechDisorder #StutteringIntervention #personswithstuttering