Encouraging Parents to Seek Help For Stuttering – Going With Your Gut | Stuttering Foundation: A Nonprofit Organization Helping Those Who Stutter

Blog by Voon Pang, Aug. 28, 2013

When I read headlines that say “One in Ten Children Stutter, But It’s No Big Deal” or “Study: Preschoolers’ Stuttering Not Harmful,” I tend to think of the implications they have for the time constrained parent or doctor. We all live in a world where lives have become busier, social media is part of the norm and we get to access new information quicker than ever before. I believe that this has made us more prone to skipping over important details and not trusting our instincts with what we feel is right for us (or our patients).

Let me share with you a quick personal story about trusting your instincts and asking for help. About two years ago, I noticed that a mole on my shoulder had changed colour and I started frantically panicking and thinking about skin cancer and my future. I didn’t help the cause by "Googling" as much information as I could and confused myself with different images of what was a melanoma or what was an ordinary mole. Eventually, I sought help and got a mole scan, which put my mind at ease. It turned out that I had two moles, which looked sketchy with both having the potential to be cancerous (fortunately, the biopsy results revealed that they were both non-cancerous – let me tell you, the wait for the results was worse than the operation). I think the process of seeking help for stuttering can be similar. It is pretty darn scary and the unknown can be overwhelming…

Which brings me back to the original headlines and the latest research done by Australian researchers. Yes, there were some interesting findings, which looked at recovery from stuttering, language profiles, social emotional-development and temperament of 4 year olds who stuttered. No, this does not discount the fact stuttering can have an adverse affect on one’s life if left untreated, particularly in the early years. Even though the latest research highlighted that children who stuttered did not have lower scores on mental health, wouldn’t it be better to have therapy and prevent any social-emotional or negative impact stuttering has than leave it up to chance? Also, when parents feel supported, anxiety levels drop and confidence increases in helping their children. Let’s not forget that each family who participated in this research had a speech-language pathologist visit every month to check on the child’s stuttering. In the real world, a speech-language pathologist does not conduct monthly check ups, unless you pay for one. It is up to you to be proactive in seeking help.

In terms of being a savvy consumer, look up qualified specialists in the field of stuttering and make contact. Email, ring or chat to a person who knows what they are talking about. Make sure you feel listened to and that you have options to consider before you decide to commit to or delay treatment for your child. Have an evaluation if need be, at least it will put your mind at ease. A great starting point is the referral list on the Stuttering Foundation's website - http://www.stutteringhelp.org/referrals-information or the Board Recognised Fluency Specialists list on http://stutteringspecialists.org/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=usersList&listid=4&Itemid=508&limit=30&limitstart=0

Research can help us make informed decisions, but go with your gut, trust your instincts and be an advocate for your child (or patient). It’s not that scary and you’re not wasting anybody’s time. Whenever I get off the phone with a family, I always commend them on taking that first step in exploring what they can do to help their child or loved one and I make sure that they feel supported.

To the Doctors and Paediatricians – do not tell parents of children who stutter to wait and see or say, “They’ll grow out of it”. Help parents make contact with a speech-language pathologist or refer them to one who specialises in stuttering. The clinic I work in has seen two cases where a 7 year old and an 8 year old has missed out on getting early help because their parents were told to wait. To the parents of both children and the children themselves, stuttering has become a ‘big deal’ and therapy is just that more difficult compared to if they were seen in their preschool years.

I hope this helps families (and doctors/paediatricians) who are confused by those headlines.

Until next time,

Voon

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Bob Love

The late Bob Love dreamt about being a great public speaker since his early days in Bastrop Louisiana, even though, as a young man, he could barely put two words together, let alone speak a full sentence.

In spite of his severe stuttering disability, Bob Love, the son of a sharecropper, rose to become a Chicago Bulls NBA superstar, whose records were eventually surpassed by Michael Jordan. Throughout his entire athletic career, Bob Love kept his stuttering a secret from the fans who adored him, thinking he could do his “talking” on the basketball court.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.