"If a child stutters, do not scold them" - expert on the causes of stuttering and parents' mistakes

"Do not scold a child if they stutter" - specialist on the causes of stuttering and parents' mistakes

What causes stuttering, what are its early symptoms, and what should parents pay attention to?

Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder in which a person, while speaking, may repeatedly pronounce certain sounds or syllables, prolong them, or experience difficulty starting a word. This condition occurs in both children and adults.

According to psychologist Dono Qulunchakova, children aged two to six make up a large portion of those who consult specialists regarding stuttering.

"At two years old, a child's speech is just forming. At five or six years old, changes begin, such as moving to a new group in kindergarten or preparing for school. In some children, these processes are accompanied by fear and excitement," says the specialist.

She emphasizes that speech-related difficulties can manifest more strongly, especially in children who are shy and feel uncomfortable among strangers.

However, it is incorrect to explain stuttering solely by a child's character or cowardice. Hereditary factors and factors related to speech development are also important in its occurrence.

During the conversation, special attention was paid to the unhealthy atmosphere in the family, disagreements between parents, and pressure on the child.

According to Dono Qulunchakova's observations, frequent quarrels in the family, and a child living with fear and constant anxiety can also negatively affect their speech.

"Young parents may lack experience in raising children. Fear arises in a child due to various quarrels and conflicts," she says.

The specialist also drew attention to children's excessive use of phones and other gadgets. According to her, in some families, a child spends most of the day watching cartoons or videos, while adults do not communicate with them enough.

"Children who are four or five years old whose speech has not yet formed are also brought to us. The family members do not talk to them, do not converse with them," says the psychologist.

Stuttering can sometimes be noticeable all at once, and sometimes it can gradually increase.

Dono Qulunchakova stressed that parents should be attentive to changes in the child's speaking process.

According to her, some children find it difficult to say words when entering a circle of strangers, when having to speak in front of a crowd, or when excited. Sometimes severe tension is felt before speaking.

"Parents should pay great attention to their children's actions. If they notice such situations, they should consult specialists," says the psychologist.

Not every hesitation in a child's speech means stuttering. But if repetitions increase, if speaking becomes difficult for the child, or if they start avoiding speech, it is advisable to contact a speech therapist or a specialist working with speech disorders.

An important part of the conversation was about how adults should treat a child who stutters.

According to the psychologist, some parents, after noticing difficulty in their child's speech, try to solve the problem by scolding or rushing them.

Remarks like "Why are you stuttering?", "Don't keep hesitating", "Don't you know how to speak correctly?", "You weren't like this before" accelerate this condition in the child.

"The child tries to hide this condition so as not to be scolded by my mother or my father. As they hide it, their excitement can become even stronger. This is one of the biggest mistakes of parents," says Dono Qulunchakova.

The specialist recommended not constantly reminding the child of speech difficulties, communicating with them more, going for walks, and following a daily routine.

Most importantly, when the child is speaking, one should focus on the thought they want to say, not on their words.

One of the interesting aspects of stuttering is that it manifests differently in different situations.

Some children speak much more fluently when left alone with their parents. However, when visiting guests, in kindergarten, or in front of strangers, hesitations in their speech increase.

"Parents say that at home, when speaking with me, they don't stutter, but when going to kindergarten or visiting guests, they stutter severely. Because a new place, unfamiliar people, and being in front of a crowd increase the child's excitement," she says.

The specialist emphasized that stuttering can also worsen under the influence of relationships at school and kindergarten.

For this reason, she advised parents to take into account the individual characteristics of their child, to cooperate with educators and teachers, and, if necessary, to contact a psychologist and speech therapist at the educational institution.

A common situation in daily life: a child has difficulty saying a word, and adults finish their sentence intending to help them.

At first glance, this seems like care. However, the specialist does not recommend doing this.

"One must listen to them patiently to the end. Words like 'Speak faster', 'Hurry up', 'Why are you stammering?' should be abandoned. Conditions must be created for the child to finish their thought themselves," says the psychologist.

According to her, rushing the child can increase their excitement.

Therefore, it is important for adults not to interrupt the child's speech, not to answer in their place, and to allow enough time for them to express their thoughts.

Hereditary factors of stuttering were also discussed in the interview.

According to Dono Qulunchakova, a predisposition to stuttering in some children may be a familial characteristic. For example, if such a condition was observed in their father or mother, it may also recur in the child.

"When stuttering is noticed in a child, information such as 'it was also in his father' or 'it was also in her mother' should not be hidden. By hiding this, one cannot help the child," she says.

How much time is needed to eliminate stuttering is also one of the main questions that interest parents.

According to Dono Qulunchakova, in some cases where help is sought early, positive changes can be observed over several months.

She noted that in her practice, depending on the child's condition, work is carried out with the participation of a psychologist, a speech therapist-defectologist, and a neurologist.

However, "Some parents attend sessions for one month, and if their child starts speaking better, they stop everything. If the treatment process is not fully completed, stuttering will 100% recur again," says the specialist.

In her opinion, it is important not to arbitrarily stop the work started with a specialist.

At the same time, it cannot be guaranteed that all children will fully recover in two or three months. The result depends on the characteristics and duration of stuttering, and the individual condition of the child. Medications are also not necessary in every case of stuttering; they are prescribed by a doctor only when there are appropriate medical indications.

At the end of the interview, Nigora Hasanova asked the specialist for the most important advice for parents.

Dono Qulunchakova emphasized that relationships in the family play a special role in this regard:

"First of all, a beautiful atmosphere must be created in the family. A peaceful, quiet atmosphere. We must love our children and hug them more."

One of the most difficult situations for a child who stutters is others laughing or adults reprimanding them.

At such a time, rather than demanding the child to "speak correctly", it is more important to listen to them calmly, give them the opportunity to say their thought to the end, and organize necessary specialist help.

Stuttering does not mean that a child's mental ability is bad. Most importantly, one must not turn the difficulty in their speech into a fault and not leave the child alone with this problem.