STUTTERING
Whatever the cause of stuttering, there is no known cure. But,
according to one leading speech specialist, it can h prevented.
In the view of William H. Perkins, Ph.D., director of the
University of Southern California's Stuttering Center, the condition is
triggered by a dominance conflict Like Rodney Dangerfield, a child feek a
listener accords him less respect than he deserves, yet doesn't feel free
to protest.
The resulting conflict retards how fast the child can integrate
syllables and sounds; at the same time it makes him feel as though he has
to push ahead to say what he needs to say. And it tightens the muscles of
the throat, mouth, and chest.
The stuttering that results "can be addictive to a child, who
begins to stutter in frustration and finds that it is the only way to get
the attention he wants from his parents," says Perkins. "Anything that
disempowers the child can be the cause of stuttering. Speech starts
flying over, around, and through him, and he is unable to make an
impact."
Perkins believes that parents can help young stutterers overcome
the problem by modifying their own behavior and speech to allow their
children a chance to be more assertive.
o Never tell a child who stutters to slow down; instead, do it by
example and slow down yourself.
o Pay attention to your child when he isn't stuttering, not when he
is.
o Listen carefully to what your child has to say.
o Reduce the stress your child is expertencing at home, at school,
or both.
o Help him to feel confident and assertive in and out of the
home.
"It's a matter of making me child feel like he can have an impact
and some control of the effect he produces," says Perkins. "Children who
are secure and able to control communication are able to get attention
when they need it."
However the effect, Julius believes the results warrant therapeutic
action right now. "Anger suppression can classify a person as high or low
risk, and trying to change a hhavior pattern has less risk of side effect
than medication later on."
Tags:
children,
dominance,
listener,
muscles,
parental care,
prevention,
rodney dangerfield,
speech,
stutter,
stuttering,
university of southern california
