Stuttering question....4 1/2 yrs old bilingual child.?

Question

My son is bilingual and stutters in portuguese (our first language , 24/7 at home) and just a little in English (he speaks english at school). All speech pathologists say it's physiologic stuttering and it is too early to speech teraphy.I got a brazilian S.P. that agreed to see him once a week but she also says we have to wait. No other symptoms, no distress or impatience when stutters or nerv .What can I do...Wait for what?..Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Check out www.stutteringhelp.org as they have tips of things that parents can do at home to help a child who stutters.  They have a brochure on stuttering and the bilingual child under "brochures for all ages" that may be of some help, too.  If you follow their tips, and call them for help if needed, I wouldn't be surprised if you find that you don't need to go to that S.P.

Answer 2

Make sure he is comfortable in at least one language. It depends on which you think would be the most useful. For a small child, being bilingual can be extremely complicated, and he might be confused.

If it is physiologic stuttering, make sure there is nothing in his life that could be causing this.

Answer 3

I am a speech pathologist for preschool children.  I agree with the advice you have been given. Many typical children go through a period of stuttering in their preschool years that they grow out of, without any help. We usually watch without treating for about 6 months to a year.  Here are some things you can do to help him: don't rush him, let him know by your attention that he has all the time in the world to talk to you; don't ask a lot of questions - sometimes that increases stuttering; if he has siblings that interrupt, try to run interference for him; model slow speech - if you talk slower, he will too and be less likely to stutter; don't tell him to "slow down" or "try again" - the less attention you give to the stuttering, the more likely it is to just go away.

Some signs speech therapists look for to say it isn't developmental dysfluency (another word for stuttering) and might be a reason to do therapy right now: if he is showing great signs of frustration or refusing to talk (most preschoolers show little awareness of it); if he stutters on more than 2 words in a single phrase (e.g. I-I-I w-w-w-w-ant to g-g-go to the store) - usually they stutter on the first word of a phrase or on a particular sound; if he is showing secondary characteristics of stuttering, like stomping his foot to get started talking, usually a sequence of actions that worked once to get past a stutter & somehow they think it helps them talk.

Hope that makes sense and helps you out!

Answer 4

My sister used to and still does stutter in chinese and she also stutters in english.The S.P said not to worry when she was 5.It was not a problem cos they said that children tend to tutter in the other  language at first but can inprove.

SUGGESTIONS:

*go to  your local library and search in all the sections.if you can,buy or borrow some portugese story books ,read them to him.

*buy and borrow english books and read them to him.start with really easy books so he will be confident.to make a child like english,make him confident about it and then tell him "i am going to give you a challenge.Read this book and i will give you a star.(i will explain later.)"

STARS!!

stars are a great way in making your child excited about a subject you want them to inprove on.Develop a point system in the house.If you have any other children,count them in as well.Get the child/children to help you make a prize box.buy a few items eg. smiggle scented pens and stationary ,plush toys etc..(please do not put pencils and pens because as a child, i no how dull they are for prizes!)Wrap them up in gift wrap and put them in the box.Whenever somebody  reaches 20 stars,they receive a prize.They can choose but they are not allowed to shake the present.stars are rewarded when a child helps around the house or studys hard ect....ect....Buy a chalkboard or white board and use a permanent marker and draw up a chart with 21 collums and however-many-children- you-have rows.draw the stars on as your child/children earn the stars.After a child reaches 20 stars and receives their prize ,rub off all the stars and start again.put the whiteboard/chalkboard up high where you child/children can not reach so they can not rub others stars

I hope i have provided enough information for you.If you would like any information about children, please feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail]

From Phoebe

age 11

Answer 5

i would trust the pros

but i do believe that early intervention is the best way to go but i would trust the pros i guess

Answer 6

Sometimes stuttering can be from impatience to get the words out and/or lack of practice; when he gets a little older have him read to you out loud from one of his books so he gets familiar with reading and talking and when he is more used to reading out loud/talking he will stutter less. I stuttered most of my life and sometimes still do today but only when I get really excited and can't get the words out fast enough.

Dr Seuss books are best!