Talking with parents as an SLP
Hi, my name is Bri! I am a current SLP graduate student in a class about stuttering. My question is what information/advice would you want parents of children who stutter to know based on your own experiences?
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Talking with parents as an SLP — 3 Comments
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Hi Bri!
Be empathetic and be patient. My mom especially showed me these qualities and it helped tremendously. But also, tell them to give themselves a break if they’re having a bad day and they don’t show as much patience as they should. If this is the case, have them explain to their kids that it was a bad day and that it wasn’t anything personal.
My parents had these days, which I certainly came to appreciate as I became an adult myself.
I hope that helps!
I talk a ton about this on my instagram – but my answer is always — let parents be parents and the SLP be the SLP. Parents shouldn’t be doing techniques at home.
Home should be a safe place to speak however the child speaks. They should stutter openly if they don’t want to hide it. Encourage them to talk. Always wait for them. Never apologize for their voice to other people. Those people can learn to wait.
Hi Bri and thank you for your important question.
I’ve been a leader for stutter camps for many years. And met lots of parents who are sad over their children who stutter. As a parent, you don’t want your child to struggle and want them to have a great life and speak freely. Well, that’s exactly what you should aim for. I once found a parent crying. I asked why and she said “I thought this camp would help my child stop stuttering. And meeting you I realize this might never happen.” I than asked her if I seem unhappy. Married, mother, career, friends, etc. She suddenly smiled and realized my point.
See a speech therapist, so that you as a parent get answers and advice, but dont become one. Parents, home, should be a safe environment where you can speak freely, without judgement. I was judged by my parents, where fluency was good ans stuttering bad. So, I learned early that I was bad, as I stuttered. Make parents focus on the qualities of the child, its strengths, its personality.
Sure, see a speech therapist also with your child to get some answers, but make sure it’s a therapist that knows what s/he’s doing. Not focused on fluency, not letting the parents become the therapist, but someone who makes your child talk, laugh, find its self-worth, its super powers. Also teach them how to answer questions about stuttering, and how to deal with bullies. Tell them to not accept that and to talk to an adult when that happens. As they have the right to speak, just like any other. And every single person has issues. For some it’s stuttering, for another it might be big feet, concentration problems, you name it. And that it’s not the child obligation to become fluent, but the listener’s job to simply wait and be respectful.
Also educate the school, as many don¨t have a clue. Tell them it’s the right of the child to get help and that it’s the duty of the teacher to make sure what help that is. To talk with the child and ask how to help. Bring an adult who stutters to the classroom, or even to talk to the parents.
Keep them talking
Anita