By Mostafameraji - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yesterday, as I was about to leave the office, a parent approached me seeking advice about his child, one of our students who stammers. From his tone and demeanor, it was evident he hoped I would recommend a medical solution. I explained that the closest thing to a medical approach would be consulting a speech therapist. Unfortunately, speech therapists are quite rare in our society, making this option difficult to access.
I decided to share my personal experience with him. A few months ago, one of my own children suddenly started stammering. At first, it felt like our world was crumbling. I imagined all the challenges he might face in a world that’s already tough for people with normal speech, let alone for someone struggling to express themselves without frequent stammering.
His mother was especially distraught and eager to correct the problem. Her approach, however, was counterproductive. She would interrupt him mid-sentence or shut him off completely, assuming he was imitating a classmate at school. Initially, I was also unsure of the best course of action. I shared her concern, as I didn’t want him growing up with a speech impediment. However, it became clear that this was more than mere imitation - our son was becoming a full-blown stammerer.
The mother’s reaction only made things worse. Our son began avoiding speaking altogether, staying silent most of the day out of fear. When he did attempt to speak, he would cover his mouth with his hand, showing how deeply the situation and her reactions were affecting him mentally. And let’s not forget - he was just 3 years old.
I decided to do some research and came up with a more effective approach. I asked myself: What’s the worst that could happen? Even if he grew up with impaired speech, that wouldn’t necessarily mean he lacked mental capacity. Many brilliant people, including scientists, politicians, and public speakers, are either stammerers or have overcome stammering. Recognizing this helped me change my perspective.
I explained to his mother that while stammering was concerning, it wasn’t the end of the world. I also pointed out how her approach was exacerbating the issue instead of resolving it. I asked her to stop interrupting him and instead follow my lead.
Whenever our son tried to speak and struggled, I would sit with him, encourage him, and patiently wait for him to finish his words or sentences without interrupting. This simple act of support gave him the confidence to keep talking. Over time, we deliberately began ignoring his stammering altogether, treating it as a non-issue. I simplified our conversations so that he wouldn’t feel overwhelmed, making it easier for him to respond naturally. This significantly reduced his stammering over time.
Now, as he approaches 4 years of age, he still stammers occasionally, but we’re no longer worried about it. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that his stammering becomes more pronounced when he’s in new environments or interacting with unfamiliar children. However, with patience and continued encouragement, we’ve seen remarkable progress.
From this experience, I learned that patience, perseverance, and a supportive approach can greatly help parents manage stammering in their children. It’s also important to remember that the wrong approach - such as frequent interruptions, criticism, or frustration - can worsen the condition and damage a child’s confidence in the long run.
If you’ve ever dealt with a stammering child, I’d love to hear your approach. Was it successful, or is there something you would have done differently? Sharing experiences like these can help other parents navigate similar challenges.
Thank you for reading.
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