How to treat stuttering in a child of 9 years. What to do if a child stutters: various methods and means of treatment. Forms of stuttering in children

Stuttering is a speech defect associated with the psycho-emotional state of a child 3-5 years old. It is at this age that the formation of speech begins, the child tries to repeat individual sounds, words and sentences after others, so it is especially important to help him in this difficult period for him. Logoneurosis is a convulsive contraction of the articulatory organs, it manifests itself in 2% of children (more often in boys) with a broken rhythm, interruptions, stops and repetitions in speech. Why does a child suddenly become a hostage of such a disease?

Causes of stuttering

Experts recommend making a psychological portrait. The most predisposed to stuttering are children with weakly expressed strong-willed qualities, timid and embarrassed in large crowds of people, overly impressionable, who love to fantasize. A speech therapist, a neurologist and a psychologist, first of all, determine the causes of logoneurosis and only then proceed to treatment.

• Heredity

Stuttering can be laid down at the genetic level. If the family has a stuttering relative, then it is necessary to control the development of the child's speech already at the first stages, that is, at about 2-3 years. Weakness of the articulatory apparatus is accompanied by excessive impressionability, anxiety, embarrassment or fears.

• Severe mother's pregnancy

Difficult childbirth or even an incorrect, careless lifestyle of the mother during pregnancy can also affect the baby's speech. Typically, stuttering can be associated with brain damage due to birth trauma, birth asphyxia, intrauterine infections, fetal hypoxia, or hemolytic disease of the newborn.

• Rickets

Rickets is a disorder of the bone and nervous systems, accompanied by a deficiency of mineralization and softening of the tubal bones. The child becomes restless, irritable, shy and capricious. Bone deformities cause not only physical, but also psychological discomfort. As a result, stress can lead to impaired speech.

• Traumatic brain injury

Concussion and various head injuries can provoke stuttering not only in small children, but also in adult children.

Especially dangerous is the age of 5 years, when the child learns the world, runs, jumps and hooligans. During this period, it is desirable to protect the child from falls and bruises, since frequent visits to the doctor are associated precisely with blows and wounds.

• Hypotrophy

Chronic eating disorders and dystrophy are one of the most terrible causes of logoneurosis. Hypotrophy can cause not only stuttering, but also a violation of breathing, cardiac activity. A child is a big responsibility, so young parents are obliged to organize proper care and the most comfortable conditions for development and education.

• Speech disorders

There are other speech disorders that can provoke stuttering in children: takhilalia (too fast pace of speech), rhinolalia and dyslalia (we recommend reading: - incorrect sound pronunciation), dysarthria (immobility of the speech organs, impaired innervation of the speech apparatus). The last disease is considered the most dangerous.

• mental turmoil

External mental influences, for example, unexpected fear, stress, intimidation by parents or strangers, conflicts with peers can also lead to logoneurosis (we recommend reading:). Shocks can be not only negative, but also too positive / joyful.

Also, left-handed preschoolers who are trying to wean writing with their left hand may begin to stutter, but this phenomenon is quite rare. The main thing is not to put pressure on the child, as excessive perseverance, nervousness and screaming will only aggravate the situation.

Symptoms and types of stuttering

The causes of stuttering have been clarified. Now the doctor conducts an examination and makes a diagnosis based on the etymology of the disease:

1. Neurotic logoneurosis is a form of functional disorder in which the child begins to stutter only in a nervous environment: excitement, embarrassment, strong emotion, stress, anxiety, fear. In such psychotraumatic situations, the disease comes in waves: convulsive hesitation is replaced by an even conversation for a while, after which it intensifies again.
2. Organic (or neurosis-like) stuttering is a consequence of damage to the central nervous system. The child does not want to sleep, is constantly agitated, moves awkwardly due to poor coordination and impaired motor skills, starts talking late, but monotonously and haltingly. The defect is permanent and aggravated by fatigue and overexertion after active physical and mental exercise.

In addition, it is customary to distinguish between forms of stuttering in children according to convulsions and the nature of the course. So, a mild degree of stuttering is accompanied by convulsive hesitation - for example, when answering an unexpected or unpleasant question, the child is nervous. With an average degree, the baby stutters constantly during a dialogue, but in a severe form, convulsive hesitation interferes with any communication, even a monologue. According to the nature of the course, stuttering is divided into three types: undulating, permanent and recurrent. Identification of the type of stuttering and its degree is within the competence of the doctor.

Diagnostics

At the first symptoms, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will not only make a diagnosis, conduct speech diagnostics (assessment of tempo, breathing, motor skills, articulatory spasms, voice), but also select correct method treatment. Dr. Komarovsky recommends a comprehensive examination in any case to prevent possible relapses in the future.

If convulsive stutters in speech are associated with lesions of the central nervous system, then diagnosis may be necessary through magnetic resonance imaging or electroencephalography.

It is worth contacting a pediatric neurologist first. If stuttering is caused by traumatic situations, then a psychologist will help you figure it out.

Treatment Methods

The treatment is based on the normalization of the functions of the speech circle - in particular, the inhibition of Broca's center. How to cure stuttering in a child? It is possible to identify several effective methods:

• drug treatment;
• breathing exercises;
• hypnosis treatment;
• logarithmic exercises;
• also do not forget about the prevention of folk sedatives.

Medical treatment

For 3-year-old children, in addition to general therapy, vitamins, tranquilizers, sedative pills, anticonvulsants, nootropics, or homeopathic drugs may be prescribed. Especially popular are valerian extract, motherwort, children's Tenoten, Actovegin (see also:). The doctor will select the medicine individually.

Hypnosis

Not all parents decide on hypnosis treatment, but this method is recognized as the most effective. Already after 4-10 sessions with an experienced and professional hypnologist, speech can be fully restored, as the emotional experiences of the child and the underlying signs of the disease are examined. Hypnosis is not used for young children.

Four-year-old children are already able to repeat the movements of their parents and perform special exercises that help strengthen the diaphragm, improve cerebral circulation, and develop proper nasal and oral breathing. Gymnastics teaches stuttering children to control inhalations and exhalations, helps to pronounce difficult sounds and words calmly and without hesitation. In combination with breathing exercises, relaxing baths and massages help well.

logorhythmics

Logorhythmic exercises are a new technique for preschoolers and schoolchildren that allows you to combine words and phrases with movements and music: for example, singing children's songs, listening to classical music, playing musical instruments, reading rhymes. Speech therapy classes help the child open up, believe in himself and trust his leader.

Folk remedies

Herbs and infusions are better than any pills to help calm down and relax. The most effective and harmless for children are chamomile, St. John's wort, lemon balm, nettle.

In such a difficult period of life, a stuttering child should feel needed and loved. The family should take care of a comfortable home atmosphere and try to contact their child more often and help him. Conversations should be calm and legible, in no case should you interrupt the baby, otherwise he will close up and refuse to “open his mouth” at all.

We must try to captivate the stutterer by reading books aloud, this will help to work on the correct pronunciation. The main thing is not to force or overload, classes should be interesting and positive.

Prevention of stuttering

It is very important not to miss the moment of speech formation, because it is very difficult to correct and cure speech defects in the later stages. It is necessary to motivate the child, explain to him what is possible and what is not, to captivate, interest and teach. A few tips for new parents:

1. Observe the regime of the day and sleep. The most capricious age is from 3 to 7 years. The baby should sleep 10-11 hours at night and 2 hours during the day. For older children, you can reduce nighttime sleep to 8-9 hours at night and up to 1-1.5 hours during the day. Try to get rid of the habit of watching TV in the evening before going to bed.
2. Educate moderately demandingly and do not forget to praise for successes (even some minor ones). The child should strive to learn something new, be self-confident and purposeful.
3. Talk to children, read together, dance, sing, play sports. A friendly atmosphere in the family will help protect the child from psychological trauma. It is better to limit preschoolers from communicating with stuttering people so that they do not take an example from them.
4. Work with a speech therapist. The doctor will suggest the right games, books, exercises, teach the child to use his voice, speak smoothly and rhythmically.
5. Don't be intimidated. Some parents make the mistake of frightening their children with “bobs”, telling scary stories, or locking them alone in a room, especially in a dimly lit one, as punishment. Logoneurosis caused by such psychological trauma is more difficult to treat later.
6. Watch your nutrition. Do not overfeed with sweet, fried and spicy foods, it is better to add vegetable and dairy foods to the diet.

Prevention of stuttering, like correction, is a very difficult process for parents. Children preschool age especially capricious and susceptible, so you should be patient and help the little stutterer to overcome the disease. By the way, breathing exercises are also useful for adults, certain exercises help to relax and supply the body with oxygen, which is so necessary during active physical and emotional stress.

The formation of speech in children is a very complex process, which involves the respiratory tract, lungs, glottis, soft palate, teeth, tongue, lips, and brain. If there is a malfunction in the work of any of these organs, and even more so - brain structures, problems with speech can be diagnosed. Among them, the most common is stuttering, which is defined as a periodic spasm of the upper respiratory tract, leading to a violation of the pronunciation of words. Some doctors equate it with neuroses.

This phenomenon interferes with the social adaptation of the child, and in a neglected form will affect his further success in learning. It is very important to help stutterers at an early stage of speech formation in order to cope with this ailment by school.

The disease is described even in ancient historical manuscripts, but the causes of stuttering in children became clear only thanks to the Russian scientist I.P. Pavlov, who, having formulated the concept of higher nervous activity, helped to understand the origin of neuroses. Violations can be determined by internal or external factors.

Pathologies of the brain

Predisposition to diseases of this nature can be explained by the following reasons:

• heredity;
• intrauterine infections during pregnancy;
• prematurity;
• choleric temperament.

In most cases, this kind of problem is determined by genetic abnormalities. If a child began to stutter as soon as he learned to speak, the reasons must be sought precisely in the pathologies of the brain.

External influences

But if the child began to stutter later, at 3-4 years old, the reasons must be sought in external circumstances. The disease could be provoked by the following factors:

• CNS infections: encephalitis;
• brain injury: concussion, bruise;
• functional immaturity of the cerebral hemispheres in children under 5 years of age: such stuttering disappears without medical intervention;
• ear infections, upper respiratory tract infections;
• diseases that provoke a weakening of the body: rickets, frequent acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections;
• concomitant diseases, secondary conditions: insomnia, enuresis, fatigue, nightmares;
• psychological trauma: from fright, fear, chronic stress;
• improper upbringing: spoiledness, effeminacy, or, on the contrary, too high demands;
• problems with the formation of children's speech: if the parents themselves speak quickly and nervously;
• imitation of adults.

Parents should understand why the child stutters: this will help to choose the right course of treatment and protect him in the future from such provocative factors (meaning external ones).

A lot depends on the emotional environment in which he grows up. If it is favorable, the baby feels parental care (in moderation), is not deprived of love, has never experienced serious stress loads, and has no problems with speech. If everything is exactly the opposite and the family suffers from constant conflicts, the baby is pinched, and as a result, he is diagnosed with stuttering in one form or another.

through the pages of history. First detailed description stuttering can be found in the writings of Hippocrates, and this is the 4th century BC. e.

Symptoms

One very important feature is characteristic of the clinical picture of the disease. If stuttering is caused by neurosis, it intensifies with psycho-emotional overstrain, but practically disappears in a calm environment.

If the cause is a pathology of the brain, the problem will be permanent. At the same time, muscle spasms of the tongue, larynx, palate, and diaphragm are manifested by various speech disorders:

• forced pause at a certain point in the word: sob ... aka;
• repetition of the same sound when the child stutters on the first syllable or sound: s-s-dog, co-co-dog;
• a combination of the two previous types of speech disorder.

Additional symptoms of stuttering are:

• tension, nervousness of the child;
• grimacing, which in certain cases reaches nervous tics;
• isolation, which can develop into social phobia;
• psychological discomfort during communication;
• neurological disorders: tearfulness, irritability, various phobias, aggressiveness,.

Stuttering forms a child's logophobia - this is the fear of verbal communication with other people. He expects his failures in advance, is afraid of misunderstanding and ridicule, closes himself and refuses to talk. Therefore, the role of adults in his life is so important: they must help him overcome all these barriers.

Correction of speech disorders is possible and brings good results with constant practice, but everything will depend on what form of stuttering the baby suffers from.

With the world - on a string. The most famous stutterers are the prophet Moses, orator Demosthenes, physicist Isaac Newton, writer Lewis Carroll, beauty Marilyn Monroe, politician Winston Churchill, actor Bruce Willis and many others.

Kinds

There are different types of stuttering, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics and requires a specific correction scheme. At this point in time, there are several classifications of this speech disorder.

Depending on the reason:

• pathological / genetic stuttering is caused by disorders in the brain;
• nervousness is due to problems with the nervous system.

Depending on speech

• tonic stuttering, when the child makes a forced pause at a certain point in the word;
• clonic, when the same sound, syllable or word is repeated;
• mixed, when a combination of tonic and clonic stuttering is diagnosed.

Depending on the form of the course of the disease:

• a permanent form in which stuttering is a constant companion of the child in any situation;
• a wave-like form, when it sometimes increases or decreases, but does not go away at all;
• the recurrent form is the appearance of stuttering after a period of its absence.

When examining a child, a speech therapist identifies the type of his stuttering and after that he prescribes one or another correction method, each of which is selected individually. The main thing is to take the baby to a specialist in time and go through the entire path of treatment to the end. And you have to start with the usual diagnostics.

Curious fact. According to historical sources, in Ancient Rome stuttering was treated by cutting the tongue.

Diagnostics

A full examination of children with stuttering involves consultations with the following specialists:

• speech therapist;
• pediatrician;
• neurologist;
• psychologist;
• psychiatrist.

With the help of various tests and instrumental examinations, doctors check:

• medical history;
• heredity;
• information about the early development of the child - psychoverbal and motor;
• circumstances and time of occurrence of stuttering;
• localization, form, frequency of speech convulsions;
• features of the tempo of speech, voice, breathing;
• concomitant disorders (motor or speech);
• logophobia.

Stuttering children are examined for sound pronunciation, lexical and grammatical content of speech, and phonemic hearing. The speech therapy conclusion contains a description of the form, degree of stuttering and the nature of seizures. Pathology must be differentiated from takhilalia, dysarthria, stumbling.

To identify an organic lesion of the nervous system, a neurologist may prescribe:

• rheoencephalography;
• MRI of the brain;
• EchoEG.

Only after all these examinations, doctors can say how to cure stuttering in a child in one case or another, because each of them is individual and almost unique. A complete recovery can only be guaranteed by regular classes, perseverance, desire and strict adherence to all the recommendations of specialists. Treatment must be comprehensive.

According to statistics. Stuttering is diagnosed in 4% of children and only 2% of adults.

Treatment

What does comprehensive treatment of stuttering in children mean? It involves the correction of speech disorders in several directions at once. Not only professionals in specialized conditions should work with a child. Much depends on homework, which parents themselves must organize. This is the only way to get rid of this pathology forever and send the baby to school already without complexes.

Professional correction

It is quite logical that parents are interested in which doctor treats stuttering in children: a neuropathologist and a psychologist determine only its causes, a psychotherapist, if necessary, can prescribe medications. But only a defectologist-speech therapist eliminates primary and secondary disorders of speech function with the help of specific correctional programs, selected individually.

There are special speech therapy exercises that allow you to work on the fluency of children's speech and develop breathing when talking. As a result, the child overcomes the barrier of stuttering and begins to speak at the right pace. Classes will be effective only if the atmosphere of the environment is favorable.

• funny carousels

The speech therapist together with the child slowly, measuredly walk in a circle and pronounce the phrase at every step: “We are funny carousels - opa-opa-opa-pa-pa, tatati-tati-tata”.

• Conductor

The speech therapist waves his hands rhythmically. For each stroke, the child sings out vowels, syllables, words - whatever he wants.

• funny chickens

The child alternately jumps on one or the other leg, imitating a chicken and each time changing the phrase on duty: “Clap-top-clap! Ap-tap-tap! Uf-iv-af! Tap-tip-rap-rop-chick-chick!"

• bear cub

The speech therapist pronounces various words in a singsong voice, very slowly. For each vowel, the child should clap their hands. Gradually, the exercise becomes more difficult: along with the swoop, he must also stamp his foot.

• Artists

Invite the child to read any short poem by heart, but in a singsong voice, to calm music (it is better to take a classic or an instrumental melody). The goal is to get on the beat. If the little patient performs well, a longer poem can be taken.

However, the correction of stuttering in preschool children is not limited to speech therapy fun exercises. Since this is not only a psychological and speech problem, but also a physiological one, it requires the intervention of other specialists in the treatment process. For example, a massage therapist.

Massage

To eliminate stuttering in a child, sign him up for a massage with a specialist. It is not recommended to carry it out on your own at home, because you can inadvertently damage a muscle or larynx. Only an experienced children's masseur, who specializes specifically in the treatment of speech disorders, can guarantee the effectiveness of the procedure.

The basic rules for its implementation are as follows:

• slow and unhurried pace;
• creating an atmosphere of calm, comfort and warmth for a small patient;
• the sound of soothing music;
• warm hands of a massage therapist.

The procedure is carried out sequentially by zones:

1. upper shoulder girdle;
2. mimic muscles;
3. lips;
4. larynx.

The main purpose of such a massage is to relax the muscles that are in constant tone in a stutterer. The full course is 12 procedures. If necessary, it is repeated after 2 weeks.

To logopedic correction stuttering in children and massage were the most effective, for disorders of the nervous system, doctors may advise drug therapy.

Medications

Medications for stuttering are prescribed only for severe disorders of the psyche, nervous system. For the most part, these are anticonvulsants, sedatives, or tranquilizers (in extreme cases). It can be:

• Phenibut;
• Galloper;
• Haloperidol in different variations: decanoate, acri, apo, ratiopharm;
• Glycine;
• Gopantam;
• Pantogam;
• Pentocalcin;
• Senorm;
• Tenoten;
• Magne B6;
• Citral;
• Phenazepam;
• Tazepam;
• Sibazon;
• Elenium.

You can also find a homeopathic remedy for stuttering for children, which will also have a powerful calming effect. Large selection:

• Nott;
• Baby Sed;
• Nervochel;
• Valerianakhel;
• Hare;
• Leovit;
• Edas;
• naughty;
• Dormikind.

It is impossible to independently select medical treatment for stuttering for a child. If the nature of the speech disorder is not at all in the problems of the nervous system, such therapy will aggravate the patient's condition. Only a neurologist or psychotherapist can advise you on this issue. Even phytotherapy is not always indicated.

Folk remedies

Sometimes doctors may advise treating stuttering in children with folk remedies, i.e. soothing herbs. You can collect them yourself, or you can buy ready-made pharmacy fees and brew them in dosages recommended by a specialist.

Help relieve stress:

• valerian;
• motherwort;
• herbal collection of dry mint, valerian, nettle, chamomile;
• gargling with a decoction of white ash or fragrant rue;
• nettle juice;
• goose cinquefoil;
• hops and heather;
• viburnum berries.
• honey (any kind)

If a child stutters, parents should understand that simply rinsing with decoctions of herbs and honey compresses on the tongue will not be able to eliminate such a severe speech disorder. They will only help the main course of therapy, but they are not an independent and full-fledged direction in the treatment of children's stuttering. Game activities will be much more effective.

Games

To support speech therapy exercises and increase their effectiveness, parents can conduct games for children with stuttering at home.

You should not choose them yourself: it is better to consult with a specialist who is already involved with the child. Considering his individual speech development (read about the norms and deviations of speech development for children 3-4 years old), the defectologist will select the most optimal options. Here are the most popular ones.

• Unlucky artist

The child examines the pictures and names inconsistencies with reality: for example, autumn is depicted, and the leaves on the trees are green. The competitive aspect is important here: he must do it as quickly as possible.

• Farm

The child must repeat after the adult the sounds that various pets utter. At first he does it slowly, in a sing-song voice, trying not to stutter. As soon as he starts to succeed, the pace needs to be accelerated.

• Creation

If the kid draws well, invite him to draw something and at the same time give comments, tell what he depicts. Usually, in a creative impulse, tension is removed and speech becomes smoother. Instead of drawing, it can be modeling, singing and other hobbies.

Game lessons with stuttering children at home train and reinforce the correct speech and behavior skills in difficult conditions. This is a kind of, but very necessary bridge for transferring acquired skills from game conditions to ordinary ones. And most importantly, the child learns to behave correctly in different speech situations, which brings up in him right attitude to the environment and the team.

Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises will help to save the child from stuttering, which is carried out first with a specialist, then with parents at home. The technique of A. N. Strelnikova is especially popular.

Its task is the development of proper breathing with impaired speech functions. It is ideal for classes with children both at 3 years old and at 6 years old, that is, there are no age restrictions. It includes breathing exercises that combine a short and sharp breath with movements. The activity of various parts of the body provokes a surge of oxygen to the tissues.

• Pump

The child assumes a vertical position. Hands down. He takes a short and sharp breath while leaning forward. The back is rounded, the head goes down. Then he rises slightly, while exhaling (any - you can through the nose, you can through the mouth).

The whole exercise should consist of 8 breaths, 12 repetitions with an interval of 5 seconds. But the child may not immediately cope with such a volume. Come to it gradually. If the baby complained of dizziness or lower back pain, let him try the next time to perform the “pump” from a sitting position.

Since this breathing exercise gives an enormous load on various organs, there are several contraindications for its implementation: head injuries, problems with the spine, high blood pressure(and any - arterial, intraocular or intracranial), stones, myopia, poor health, exacerbation of any disease.

• Embrace your shoulders

This exercise is performed from a vertical position. The arms are bent, the hands are raised at shoulder level. The child should bring them towards each other, at the same time taking a short noisy breath. He should, as it were, hug himself by the shoulders, while the elbows converge on the chest.

When the exercise is performed correctly, the arms should be parallel to each other, and not, as is often the case, crosswise. At the moment of exhalation (it can be done through the mouth or through the nose), the hands diverge, forming a square. The total number of breaths is 8. In total, the exercise must be done 12 times at short intervals. Contraindications - heart failure and other serious diseases.

These breathing exercises will help cure stuttering in preschool children so that there are no learning problems. For two months, with correct technique their implementation, deep and smooth breathing appears, which was not there before. And the next examination will show that the vocal cords have become flexible and mobile.

Parents should understand that it is impossible to treat stuttering in children at home without the involvement of specialists. To eliminate this serious speech deficiency, massage, speech therapy exercises, and drug therapy are needed. Only a set of measures will give the desired result.

This is interesting! In 1841, Dieffenbach, a German surgeon, proposed the treatment of stuttering by removing part of the muscles of the tongue.

Forecasts

Naturally, every parent worries about whether stuttering in a child can be cured. Forecasts depend on many factors (age of the patient and form of the disease), and in each case they are individual:

• if the treatment was carried out in a timely manner, it will be much easier to get rid of the pathology;
• if there are congenital pathologies of the speech apparatus, the prognosis promises to be no longer so favorable;
• recovery also depends on the form of stuttering: respiratory convulsions can be treated more easily and faster than tonic ones;
• The greatest effect can be achieved if the child is only 3-5 years old: starting from the age of 12, the disorder is no longer so easy to correct;
• under the influence of psychological factors in stuttering, a relapse of the disease can occur.

The main thing is that parents should understand what to do if the child stutters: to help him by any means, to attract specialists, to create a favorable psychological atmosphere. And even better - to do everything possible so that this problem does not arise at all, that is, to engage in prevention.

Did you know that... Is there an international stuttering association that has its own charter on the rights and obligations of all stutterers?

Prevention

Stuttering in children can be avoided with appropriate preventive measures:

1. Creating a friendly, supportive atmosphere in the family.
2. No conflict between parents.
3. Exclude scary stories and films out of sight of the child.
4. If the baby is afraid of the dark, it is necessary to leave him a lamp turned on at night.
5. Give him more love and care, but do not indulge and do not overestimate the requirements for him.
6. You need to protect him from psychological trauma.
7. Careful attitude of mother to her health during pregnancy.

As practice shows, calm children who grew up in a favorable atmosphere and do not experience shortages parental love and worries rarely suffer from stuttering unless the problem is heredity or genetics.

If this still happened, you do not need to consider your child special and not like everyone else. This speech disorder is a common disease that can be cured. This should give hope for recovery and complete social adaptation.

Delayed speech development, stuttering and other speech disorders of the child of the first years usually do not cause concern to parents. The rule “Everyone is individual - will outgrow” is triggered. However, by the age of three, when the child is sent to kindergarten, the existing problem for the first time becomes an obstacle to the normal process of social adaptation. Correction of stuttering in children 3 years of age is determined by the causes, and treatment should be directed directly to the etiological factor. The effectiveness of therapy largely depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and the beginning of work on the problem.

Stuttering: a mechanism for the development of pathology

Stuttering is a speech disorder that is characterized by a lack of fluency in the pace and rhythm of conversation, inconsistency, repeated repetition of sounds and involuntary pauses. The disease is considered predominantly a childhood pathology, more common in boys. However, under the influence of strong shocks, stuttering can also occur in an adult.

The occurrence of oral speech disorders is associated with involuntary contraction of the muscles responsible for articulation and sound pronunciation. Pediatric neurologists say that there are two types of stuttering in children:

In addition, in children under 4 years old, a mixed variant of the pathology is often diagnosed: periodic manifestation in speech and tearing pauses and sound repetitions.

Important! Many people normally have repetitive hitches with "uh" when talking. However, they speak of pathological stuttering if interruptions make up more than 10% of all speech.

Periods of development of a child's speech

The characteristic symptoms of speech disorders appear at certain periods of a child's development. The first attempts at oral communication occur at the age of one year with the help of babble and separate syllables.

Up to 2 years of age, speech is dominated by passive lexicon(200-300 words that the child does not pronounce, but understands the meaning), active - used words make up 10%. This period is considered the first critical in the development of the child, since changes occur and the formation of the speech center in the cerebral cortex. The impact of a strong emotional shock or a small physical trauma to the head becomes a real threat of disruption of the functions of the speech center.

The second critical period falls on the age of up to 4 years, when oral speech develops at a fast pace, active and passive vocabulary increases. At the same time, there is an imbalance between the nervous and endocrine regulation of body functions. In the brain, the synthesis of biologically active substances with a stimulating effect (dopamine, serotonin) is enhanced. However, the mechanism of control over the action of hormones is not sufficiently formed by the nervous system.

Children of this age, when they find themselves in a stressful situation or under the emotional pressure of others, often begin to show active negativism: they refuse to perform assigned tasks, they stop talking. In a less pronounced version, they begin to stutter.

The third critical period is associated with the development of written language at the age of 6-7 years. The first academic year at school is accompanied by the depletion of the adaptive capabilities of the child's body. In addition, the emergence of the need to express thoughts in writing is a serious strain for the speech center.

Causes of stuttering in children

A single established factor that provokes the development of pathology in childhood, does not exist. The famous pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky shares the congenital and acquired causes of the disease:

Damage to the development of the fine structure of the fetal nervous tissue due to trauma, hemorrhage, infectious or toxic effects primarily affects cognitive functions. Violation of the motor or sensitive spheres are the most severe consequences of injuries.

In addition, a child with an irascible temperament stutters more often than his balanced and phlegmatic peer.

Emotional turmoil and psychological trauma after the divorce of parents, the death of loved ones, natural Disasters and man-made disasters - acquired causes of stuttering associated with the influence of internal anxiety on brain structures.

In addition, Komarovsky talks about the influence of society on the development of speech. Excessive attention to speaking errors, frequent corrections, tight and long-term communication with stuttering - all these factors contribute to the development of pathology in a child

Traditional treatments for stuttering

The elimination of stuttering in preschoolers is carried out by the joint efforts of parents, teachers and doctors. The traditional methods are:

In addition, speech therapy massage is often used in an integrated approach to treating a child. By mechanical action on the active points of the body, a “switching” of the dominant (main) excitation occurs. The course of procedures lasts from two to five months.

Speech therapists-masseurs also conduct a special instrumental (probe) massage, which improves blood flow and lymph outflow directly in the muscles of the larynx and pharynx. A contraindication for this manipulation is the child's age under two years, as well as a feeling of nausea and impending vomiting when exposed to the pharyngeal mucosa.

Breathing exercises for speech disorders

Exercises in the complex of respiratory gymnastics contribute to the elimination of speech defects. In addition, the method is effective for developing the respiratory volume of the lungs, expanding and improving the drainage capacity of the bronchi.

A feature of breathing exercises is the combination of the act of breathing with the contraction of other muscles of the body. Thus, there is an effect on the respiratory system, the musculoskeletal system, as well as on the central nervous system.

In other words, the brain "trains" to combine volitional muscle contractions with breathing. To cure stuttering in a child, it is necessary to coordinate the contraction of the respiratory and vocal muscles, which is achieved by performing a set of exercises.

Known pediatrician, Evgeny Komarovsky, strongly recommends following these rules when performing gymnastic exercises:

Important! The exercises used in the complex are performed under the strict supervision of a speech therapist or parents if the treatment is carried out at home

Articulation for stuttering

Classes with a speech therapist are held for children over the age of three, because in the first two years of life the child is not able to understand and fulfill the request of the teacher.

Articulatory exercise involves the implementation of small and precise movements of the tongue, lips and other facial muscles. The method is used to treat not only stuttering, but also other speech disorders (lisping, nasal, burr). For the production of each individual sound, different exercises are used.

The most used movements are presented in the table:

Stuttering in children 2-3 years old - causes, tactics of loving parents

Stuttering in children develops between the ages of two and six. How to recognize stuttering in a child 2 or 3 years old? How to understand that these are speech problems, and not just a stage in the formation of speech skills?

Causes of stuttering in children 2-3 years old

The causes of speech disorders at the age of 2-3 years are varied, but are more often associated with disruption of the central nervous system, with brain damage, and disorders of the structure of the speech apparatus. Therefore, to solve the problem, not only classes with a speech therapist are recommended, but also a consultation with a neurologist, a psychotherapist.

The causes of stuttering in children at the age of two or three are:

Signs of stuttering in a child 2-3 years old

During the dialogue, the baby makes frequent pauses, while it is noticeable how the muscles of the face and neck tense up.

The child flails his arms, clenches his fists, or shifts from foot to foot if he can't make a sound or word. With additional movements during stuttering, he helps to express what could not be conveyed with the help of speech.

When pronouncing difficult words in children with stuttering, lips tremble.

Please note that the baby can simply imitate the elders. Young children imitate adults in everything. And if there is a person with stuttering (logoneurosis) in the immediate environment, the baby will imitate him, copy the incorrect pronunciation of words.

What to do if a child stutters at 2 years old or at 3 years old?

Make an appointment with a neurologist and a speech therapist, a psychotherapist. To get rid of stuttering at 2 years old, you should clearly follow all the doctor's recommendations, in some cases, add medication.

For successful treatment of stuttering at the age of 2-3 years, follow the rules of communication with a child who has begun to stutter.

Remove speech pressure from children, do not start conversations with the child, do not insist that he answer all your questions.

Reduce emotionality in conversation to a minimum, speak slowly, calmly, clearly. If the child is in a hurry, remind him not to rush.

Organize a clear daily routine, strictly adhere to it.

Cartoons and watching TV up to 15-30 minutes a day, no more. Try not to let your child watch ads.

Limit new trips, communication with strangers. Do not insist that the baby talk to them.

Read to the child yourself, but a little, until the moment when you see the first signs of his fatigue.

Prefer games that do not cause strong emotional arousal - sandboxing, water pouring, playing with cereals.

A great option is to sign the baby up for swimming if he loves the water and enjoys the pool with pleasure. For children who are afraid of water, you should not create unnecessary stress.

Do not send a child who has begun to stutter to kindergarten before the age of three. Adapting to kindergarten will dramatically worsen his pronunciation and speech formation.

Stuttering in children 3 years old

Stuttering is a violation of the pace, rhythm of speech, breathing during speaking, caused by overstrain of the muscles of the speech apparatus. In speech, it manifests itself as sudden hesitation and repetition of individual syllables. Most often, stuttering manifests itself in children of 3 years old - with the beginning of a period of active speech development. Boys are more prone to stuttering than girls because they are less emotionally stable.

The child began to stutter at the age of 3: causes

1. Physiological. Stuttering is not inherited, but a predisposition is possible. Also, problems with speech can be caused by birth trauma, organic disorders in the structure speech centers of the brain, as well as infectious diseases - measles, whooping cough, typhoid fever and diseases of the speech organs - larynx, nose, pharynx.
2. Psychological. Stuttering of a neurotic nature is called logoneurosis in children. It can be provoked by sharp emotional upheavals, childhood fears, sudden fright. This is due to the fact that when a child is worried, his speech does not keep up with the brain, and hesitation occurs.
3. Social. This group of reasons is sometimes the most difficult to identify, since at this age children are very impressionable and susceptible to influence. So, for example, they can unconsciously copy the speech of stuttering peers. Often, stuttering occurs when a three-year-old child is overloaded with speech material, for example, when studying several languages ​​at the same time. Also, the cause of stuttering at 3 years old can be excessive severity of parents and an unfavorable psychological atmosphere in the family.

In addition, there are a number of provoking factors that can contribute to the manifestation of speech disorders, for example, overwork, tooth growth, the predominance of protein foods in the child's diet, adenoids that cause respiratory failure.

Stuttering in children 3 years old - treatment

Treatment of stuttering consists in a set of measures prescribed by a speech therapist. In this case, it is important to establish trusting relationship between the parents of the child and the specialist in order for the therapeutic interaction to be most effective. If a child stutters at 3 years old, the following recommendations should be followed first of all:

4. compliance with sleep and wakefulness. Between the ages of 3 and 7, a child needs at least 10 hours of sleep at night and 2 hours of daytime sleep. Daytime sleep is simply necessary, since it has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of the baby;
5. attention should be paid to educational games, reading children's books, minimizing watching cartoons and TV shows;
6. in no case should walks be ignored, the minimum duration of a daily walk for a 3-year-old baby is 2 hours;
7. creating a favorable environment in the family, conflicts and showdown should be minimized. Also, one should not focus on the problem of a child's stuttering, discuss it with strangers in front of him, and, moreover, laugh;
8. communicate with the child correctly. In daily communication, the child should hear beautiful, smooth speech that meets lexical norms.

To date, there are the following methods of treating stuttering in a child:

1. clonic. Characterized by uncontrolled repetition or stretching of sounds, syllables, or words. When talking about stuttering in children, this type of disorder is most often meant.
2. tonic. It is characterized by pauses or blocks when the child cannot pronounce any sound.
3. mixed. Combines signs of clonic and tonic stuttering.

The clonic type of stuttering, in which the child effortlessly repeats or stretches sounds or syllables, is considered the safest and "healthiest".

Signs of stuttering in children

Symptoms or signs of stuttering in children vary depending on the severity of the disorder. So, for example, signs of normal, or temporary, stuttering in children are characterized by the following manifestations:

4. A single or double repetition of a sound, syllable or word. This also includes the use of various interjections to connect words.
5. Stuttering is variable: disappears for a few weeks and reappears. If the child is from 1 to 5 years old, then this reflects the phases of language learning.

Signs of moderate stuttering in children are more pronounced and are characterized by the following symptoms:

• Repetition of sounds, syllables more than two times.
• Tension and effort when pronouncing sounds can be seen on the facial muscles, especially around the mouth.
• A sharp rise in the tone of the voice during stuttering.
• Pauses, or blocks, in speech for a few seconds.

Logoneurosis in severe children is due to the following symptoms:

Stuttering in children also varies in frequency and severity. The sooner a speech disorder is detected and treatment is started, the greater the chances of a full recovery.

Diagnostics

Early diagnosis of stuttering and initiation of treatment is very important. But many parents are in no hurry to resort to the help of speech therapists, fearing that this will only develop shame in their child for their speech disorder. Scientists believe that if a child is over 3 years old and stutters for more than 6 months, parents should take him to a specialist for a diagnosis. Some characteristics of the speech of stuttering children are difficult to determine by ear for a non-specialist. The speech therapist will decide whether the case requires intervention and follow-up therapy, or if the help of a doctor can be dispensed with.

Signs that parents should look out for and seek professional help include:

It is important to remember that stuttering is not a disease in the usual sense of the word, and it cannot be completely cured. Think in other categories.

A child's stuttering is a feature of his speech, with which he must learn to live as comfortably as possible and communicate successfully. And this will help various methods and techniques for the treatment of stuttering.

Treatment methods for stuttering in children

When working with a speech therapist, parents need to be realistic about their expectations. There is no cure for stuttering, and there are no clinically tested medications. However, there are a number of methods that will teach the child to control speech and reduce to one degree or another the manifestations of logoneurosis.

A speech pathologist works with a child to develop individual behaviors that can help them pronounce words effortlessly or teach them to speak without stuttering. Treatment options vary and depend on the severity of stuttering and the specific environment the child is in. Therapy should be tailored to each individual child.

There are two main methods of treating stuttering in children. The first focuses on developing the child's fluency in speech. This can be achieved when the child can take care of himself, has the skill of self-observation. In the beginning, work on the pronunciation of one word as slowly and relaxed as possible. Then the number of words is increased until the child can pronounce whole sentences smoothly. For example, "ball" - "red ball" - "big red ball" - "I have a big red ball." The advantage of this treatment method is that it is suitable for children of any age.

Another method aims to reduce the secondary signs of stuttering, such as twitching, blinking, and jaw clamping. Classes with a speech therapist have a positive effect on most children with long-term stuttering. In some cases, the problem disappears completely, in others - speech becomes much better. Regardless of the outcome, therapy will increase your child's self-confidence as they learn to deal with stuttering and improve their communication skills.

There are many things parents and other family members can do to help a child with stuttering overcome their speech problems. Psychologists and speech therapists recommend that parents:

It is very important that parents are not afraid to talk to their child about stuttering. If he asks questions or shares his experiences, listen carefully and respond in a way that helps him understand that speech disorders are completely normal and everyone has them in one form or another.

Instead of a conclusion

Treatment of stuttering in children requires effort not only from the child during classes with a speech therapist and in Everyday life but also from the whole family. Success depends on the environment, the psychological atmosphere at home, the patience of parents and their ability to allocate time for classes and communication with the baby. And this requires some work on their behavior and communication style of all family members. A child with a stutter needs to feel understood, supported, and accepted for who they are. Family support is especially important, as people with stuttering and other speech disorders are still stigmatized in society.

The joy of parents when the child pronounces the first words and phrases can soon be overshadowed by the appearance of stuttering in the baby. What to do? Can it be cured? Such questions arise before parents and make them rush from a speech therapist to a neurologist, and from doctors to traditional healers. We will try to figure out what the problem of stuttering in children is, what are the causes of the phenomenon and what treatment can be applied in case of an ailment.

What is stuttering?

Stuttering is understood as a violation of the smoothness and rhythm of speech. This is a complex speech pathology caused by the muscles of the speech apparatus. Most often, stuttering appears in children from 2 to 5 years old, when phrasal speech is formed and actively develops. Its occurrence can be sudden, and in the process of development of the baby, it can intensify.

Small children often repeat normally spoken words: "Give, give, give me water." But only sounds can be repeated by a child: "G-g-give me water." Experts believe that repeating a sound more than 2 times is the initial manifestation of stuttering.

Among the children's contingent, stuttering is noted, according to world statistics, in 2-3% of children. In girls, this pathology of speech occurs 4 times less often than in boys. It is believed that this is due to the greater emotional stability of girls. Stuttering increases in the first year of school and during adolescence. It affects the behavior of the child and his adaptation in the team.

For some children, stuttering occurs only during periods of excitement or stress. In a calm environment, the child seems to forget about his speech problems. And when talking on the phone, communicating with an unfamiliar person, in public speaking, he stutters strongly.

Causes of stuttering

Stuttering is the most common childhood neurosis. It is usually called logoneurosis. The delay in the pronunciation of sounds and syllables is associated with convulsions of the speech muscles: muscles of the tongue, lips, larynx. They can be tonic and clonic.

With tonic convulsions (tension of these muscles), it is difficult to overcome a failure in speech, and therefore there are difficulties with the pronunciation of consonant sounds. With clonic convulsions, there is a repetition of the initial sounds or syllables of a word, the pronunciation of extra vowels (i, a) before a word or phrase. Although quite often stuttering is tonic-clonic.

The immediate cause of a child's stuttering may be:

1. Physiological disorders:

• damage to the nervous system after birth trauma;
• smoking and drinking by the mother during pregnancy;
• hereditary predisposition;
• trauma;
• diseases of the organs of speech (larynx, nose, pharynx);
• changes in the nervous system due to an illness (, infectious diseases);
• retraining left-handed to right-handed.

1. Psychological reasons:

• stressful situations, psycho-emotional shocks;
• loss of loved ones;
• neurotic reactions: children's fears (fear of the dark, punishment, etc.);
• a pronounced feeling of resentment, jealousy;
• desire to attract the attention of parents;
• strong fright (thunderstorms, dogs, horror scenes in the film).

1. Social reasons:

• excessive parental strictness;
• imitating a stuttering family member or another child;
• overloading the baby with speech material (early learning of a foreign language or even several languages);
• insufficient parental attention in the formation of speech, which leads to fast, hasty speech and skipping syllables;
• transfer of a child to another kindergarten or school;
• moving to another place of residence.

TO provoking factors can be attributed:

• overwork of the child (loads according to the school curriculum, uncontrolled viewing of TV programs, long computer games, etc.);
• family troubles and scandals;
• problems at school;
• unbalanced diet with excess protein in the diet;
• period of teething and transitional age;
• endocrine system disorders;
• infectious diseases.

Parental tactics

When stuttering is detected in a child, it is not necessary to focus the baby’s attention on this speech disorder, so as not to fix its occurrence as a conditioned reflex. The kid needs to be made clear: what is interesting is what he wants to say, and not how he says it. Parental anxiety about a speech defect further depresses the child.

An important task for parents is to protect the baby from ridicule, in order to prevent the development of an inferiority complex and a decrease in self-esteem. Children are often violent, and there may be a fan of bullying a stuttering child in the team.

If the caregiver cannot correct the situation, and ridicule, forced isolation of the child in the team continues, then the baby should stop visiting for the period of treatment. kindergarten. Otherwise, the developed shyness and closeness of the child will further increase stuttering.

To help the child cope with the ailment that has arisen, parents and other family members must follow simple rules:

• monitor your speech: speak slowly and smoothly, make a short pause after each phrase; the child will try to imitate and say the same;
• do not interrupt the baby, always give him the opportunity to finish the speech himself;
• you can learn songs with your child;
• use when talking to a child short phrases and suggestions;
• avoid fuss and chaos in the family lifestyle; avoid quarrels and tension in the family;
• strictly monitor the child's compliance with the daily routine, exclude the possibility of overwork and overexcitation of the baby;
• do not force the child to repeatedly repeat difficult words;
• the baby should make comments less often and praise more often;
• prevent the constant “background” operation of the TV in the apartment; exclude watching TV programs by the child before bedtime;
• not create any privileges for the child in behavior and discipline in the family in connection with his stuttering.

In some cases, stuttering goes away on its own without treatment. Stuttering, which can go away on its own, has the following symptoms:

• the child does not have any psychological difficulties during communication, he is not embarrassed by his defect;
• stuttering periodically disappears for a long period of time;
• the child does not withdraw and does not avoid conversational communication;
• short words and phrases are easy to pronounce.

If the child tenses up during a conversation, grimaces, pauses in speech with interrupted breathing, draws out vowel sounds, avoids the use of some words and sounds, answers questions (even obvious ones) “I don’t know!” - you need to consult a speech pathologist. And you should find a specialist who already has experience working with such children.

Treatment for stuttering

Stuttering can be treated and completely cured. You should contact a speech therapist and a neurologist or psychoneurologist for qualified help. True, there is no such pill, from taking which stuttering will disappear once and for all. The joint efforts of both specialists and patient parents are important.

The most successful treatment is in the early stages, even at preschool age. The rules of conduct for parents are set out above. It is important to create a favorable calm environment in the family. All conversations with the child should be carried out at a slow pace. Relations with all children must be built in such a way that they do not have feelings of jealousy and rivalry for parental attention.

The child must be sure that he will be listened to carefully, despite the speech impediment. We must find time for mandatory communication with him and joint activities, interesting to the child. Even a 10-minute conversation before bed can have a relaxing effect. Of course, during this conversation, one should not make claims to the child and set any conditions. Only from watching TV (even cartoons) before going to bed should be abandoned.

The topic of stuttering should not be avoided in conversations with the child. It is important to praise him if he manages to achieve some success in treatment. Even if it's minor. He should feel emotional support from his parents. You should encourage the child and instill in him confidence in the success of the treatment of this temporary disease.

There are enough stuttering treatment methods:

• speech therapy lessons;
• breathing exercises;
• computer programs;
• acupressure;
• hypnosis treatment;
• drug treatment;
• restorative treatment.

On the speech therapy lessons exercises are selected to relieve tension and make speech smooth and rhythmic. The child repeats the exercises at home, achieving expressiveness of speech. Exercises are selected taking into account the age of the patient.

Breathing exercises are one of traditional methods treatment. They allow you to train the muscles of the speech apparatus and vocal cords, teach you to breathe deeply, freely and rhythmically. Exercise has a beneficial effect on respiratory system generally. In addition, exercise is an additional method of relaxation.

Computer programs is one of the effective treatments for stuttering. They use the synchronization of the speech and auditory centers of the brain. A child at home, sitting in front of a computer, speaks words into a microphone. Slightly delaying them with the help of the program allows the child to hear his own voice, and he tries to adapt to it.

This makes speech fluent. The program allows you to conduct a conversation in situations with emotional coloring (joy, anger, etc.) and suggests how to cope with circumstances and improve speech.

In many cities there are clinics and centers for the treatment of stuttering. hypnosis for children over 11 years old. By the method of suggestion, the doctor removes the spasm of the speech muscles, the feeling of fear of public speaking. Speech after 3-4 sessions becomes smooth and confident. This is an emotionally impressive method of psychotherapy.

Alternative medicine offers treatment for stuttering point method massage. The specialist has an impact on certain points on the face, back, legs, chest. With the help of this method, the regulation of speech from the nervous system improves. Acupressure is recommended to do constantly.

Medical treatment - an auxiliary method in the treatment of stuttering. It is carried out according to the appointment of a neurologist. Anticonvulsants may be used. Treatment contributes to the normalization of the function of the nerve centers. Of the sedatives, decoctions and infusions of herbs (motherwort, valerian root, lemon balm) are used. Stuttering cannot be cured with medication alone.

General strengthening methods contribute to the treatment of stuttering. These include daily routine, balanced diet, hardening and general protective regime, excluding stressful situations. Of particular importance for the child is adequate sleep (at least 9 hours). To get a deep sleep, you can take in the evening warm shower or a relaxing bath (for example, coniferous). Computer games and TV viewing in the evening should be excluded.

Stuttering (logoneurosis) is a complex speech disorder associated with psychophysiology, in which the integrity and smoothness of a person’s speech are disturbed. This manifests itself in the form of repetition or lengthening of sounds, syllables, or words. It can manifest itself in the form of frequent stops or indecision in speech, as a result, its rhythmic flow is disturbed.

Speech is one of the most difficult activities. Speech interaction is a necessary condition of life. The development of brain systems that provide speech function does not end in the prenatal period, but continues after birth. Speech function, ontogenetically the most differentiated and late maturing, is fragile and vulnerable - the place of least resistance. And as you know, where it is thin, it breaks there.

Logoneurosis - speech neurosis - a variant of systemic neurosis. The inconsistency of the speech control system and speech reproduction is manifested by a violation of the smoothness of speech. And the greater the fear for the outcome of speech, the more speech is disturbed, since fixation of attention affects. Logophobia increases the severity of logneurosis and makes it difficult to treat.

Most often, stuttering occurs in children from 2 to 5 years. Genetic predisposition plays an important role in the development of stuttering. Speech disorders are diagnosed three times more often in boys than in girls. At preschool age, the skills of correct oral speech are formed.

Reasons for stuttering:

• increased tone and periodically occurring convulsive readiness of the motor endings of the speech centers of the brain;
• consequences of acute and chronic stress in childhood;
• genetic predisposition (some types of stuttering are inherited);
• consequences of perinatal damage to the central nervous system;
• tendency to convulsive response;
• various brain damage;
• injuries, consequences of infectious and endocrine diseases;
• violation of the normal development of speech in children (early speech development and delayed psychomotor development);
• children can mimic a stuttering person, but after a while they will develop a stable defect;
• when trying to retrain a left-hander in childhood;
• lack of affection, love, understanding in a child.

IN three years old in young children, the development of the coordination system of speech movements and verbal thinking occurs. Speech at this age is the most vulnerable and vulnerable area. Speech development disorders are due to the fact that young children are very easily overexcited, some of them have a tendency to convulsions. A feature of the neurophysiology of this age is the fact that they lack strong inhibitory reactions. An excitable child is much more likely to develop stuttering than a phlegmatic child.

Stuttering in children can occur as a result of strict upbringing, increased demands on the child. Some parents want to raise geniuses from their children, force their children to memorize long poems, pronounce and memorize difficult words and syllables, which in turn can cause speech development disorders in the child. Stuttering in children can get worse or worse. Provoking factors for strengthening stuttering can be overwork, a cold, a violation of the daily routine, punishment. If a small child has the first symptoms of a speech disorder, you should immediately contact a specialist, this will not go away on its own.

It is necessary to cure stuttering in children even before school. In order to understand how to get rid of stuttering, parents with children aged 2-5 years old turn to a speech therapist.

Speech disorders observed in puberty, is one of the manifestations of neurosis. Speech disorders may resolve as a person grows older. According to statistics, only one percent of the adult population suffers from stuttering.

What to do if a child stutters?

Treatment of stuttering in children is carried out jointly by a psychologist, speech therapist and pediatrician.

The task of the pediatrician is to treat concomitant pathology, strengthen the body, prevent colds especially diseases of the ear and vocal cords. It is necessary to treat chronic diseases, reach a stable, long-term remission. It is important to prescribe physiotherapeutic procedures for the child: swimming pool, massage, electrosleep.

The therapist helps the child cope with his illness, helps to feel comfortable in any situation, helps not to be afraid of communicating with people, helps the child to realize that he is not inferior and does not differ from his peers around him. Classes with a psychologist are necessarily held together with parents, who also help the child cope with the disease.

Classes with a speech therapist help the child cope with the disease faster.

Classes with a speech therapist

Classes are held according to a certain system, have stages, sequence. At first, children learn the correct narrative presentation of the text. They read poems, retell homework. The peculiarity of this story is that the child feels comfortable, he knows that he will not be assessed, and no one will laugh at him. The speech of children during such classes is measured, calm, without changing intonation. When it is possible to achieve the absence of stuttering in a narrative story, the child is asked to bring emotional coloring to speech: somewhere to raise his voice, somewhere to make an accent, somewhere to make a theatrical pause.

In the classroom, various life situations are modeled in which a child may find himself. This helps him cope with his stuttering outside the speech therapist's office.

Mandatory support for the child Have a good mood . The child should be rewarded for their achievements. Let it be just praise, but the child should feel the significance of his achievements.

Examples of correct speech should be present in the classroom. This may be the speech of a speech therapist, the conversation of other children who have already successfully completed the course of treatment.

A very important section in the treatment of children with stuttering is the use of such a technique as speech therapy rhythmics. This technique includes exercises for vocal, facial muscles, outdoor games, exercises and games with singing, round dances.

Be sure to give your child homework since treatment should not be limited only to the speech therapist's office.

Never, under any circumstances, raise your voice to your child., this can only exacerbate the stuttering.

The use of modern speech therapy methods helps the child quickly cope with the disease and lead a full life. It is very important to try to cope with stuttering before the child enters school (and for this you need to contact a speech therapist as soon as possible and strictly follow all his instructions), since in school curriculum includes public speaking when answering questions from the teacher, which can be a big problem for the child.

Overcoming stuttering becomes more difficult with age due to the strengthening of incorrect speech skills and related disorders. Therefore, the sooner treatment is started, the better the result will be. As a result of treatment 70% of preschool children completely get rid of stuttering; 30% have residual effects; 20% of schoolchildren are cured completely; in 80% - improvement of speech of varying degrees.