Fluency (Stuttering)
A fluency disorder (also known as stuttering) is characterized by difficulty producing fluent, or smooth, speech. This can involve repetitions of words or sounds, as well as hesitations and pauses in speech. Fluency disorders can make it hard for both children and adults to communicate effectively. While everyone occasionally stutters or uses fillers such as "um" or "like," people with fluency disorders often do so to a degree that it interferes with their ability to communicate.
If your child is struggling with speech fluency, Chit Chat Speech Therapy can help. We offer speech therapy services in the Twin Cities metro area for stuttering that can make a world of difference. Let's take a closer look at what articulation is and how our speech therapy services can help. Call or text 763-280-3202 or email info@chitchatmn.com or fill out our contact form.
What causes stuttering?
Although the exact cause of fluency disorders is unknown, they are believed to be the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. According to The Stuttering Foundation, there are currently 4 common factors that professionals believe contribute to fluency disorders; genetics, child development, neurophysiology, and family dynamics.
Fun Fact: Speech Therapy was developed to help people with a fluency disorder and we still don't have an exact cause or solution at this time.
When should I look into speech therapy if my child started stuttering?
About 5% of children go through a "stuttering phase" between ages 3-10 and only 1% of children will likely continue to stutter beyond this phase. The phase lasts around 6 months. Most children who go through a stuttering phase will have fluent speech in late childhood. Experts tend to agree that early intervention is the best option if you feel like your child is stuttering. At Chit Chat Speech Therapy, we serve children in the Twin Cities metro area and we not only work with your child on strategies to increase speech fluency, but we can work with you as parents/guardians so you can best support them.
How do you do speech therapy with a child who stutters?
Treatment for fluency disorders typically involves working with a speech-language pathologist to learn techniques for producing more fluent speech. We teach multiple strategies and find a few that work best for your child and focus on using those strategies. At Chit Chat Speech Therapy, we believe in a whole-person approach, so we don't just teach strategies for more fluent speech (as we understand some people may not want to use strategies), so we teach self-advocacy skills so your child can teach others how to best communicate with them. Our approach all depends on what the child and family are wanting to gain from speech therapy.
We want your child to have increased self-confidence, be comfortable with their communication skills, and be able to be as social as they want to be!
How long does speech therapy take?
There is no set time limit on how long speech therapy is needed. It all depends on the child's needs and abilities. Please note that there is no quick cure for stuttering. There are many helpful therapeutic techniques and even some devices, but so far there is no cure-all for stuttering. Speech therapy always has more progress the more the family is involved and is working with the child when the therapist is not present. That's why Chit Chat Speech Therapy does parent training, so YOU can learn how to help your child too!
Contact a Speech Therapist for Stuttering in Minnesota
You want the best for your child, and you've been told that speech therapy might be a good idea, but you're not sure where to start, or what the next step should be. Chit Chat Speech Therapy can help! We provide speech therapy services for children of all ages in a fun and supportive environment in your own home. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your child reach their full potential. Call or text us at 763-280-3202, email us at info@chitchatmn.com, or fill out our contact form.
