Children who Stutter
Hi! I am a graduate student studying speech-language pathology. When seeing a client who is a child who stutters, myself and some classmates were wondering how you would recommend navigating a parent seeking fluency for their child who may not have prior experience/family history of people who stutter? For instance, how would you encourage them to be more “stutter-positive” and see their child’s stutter as a unique part of them? Are there any resources that you recommend providing to a parent for education/counseling?
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for your question. In my personal experience, many of the parents I work with enter therapy seeking fluency for their child, because sadly, it is the prevailing norm desired in society. So I start off with understanding of their perspective and listening to them. It is natural that this is what they hope for when we live in a world where stuttering is stigmatised, discriminated against, misrepresented and underrepresented and fluency is prized. I will explore why they are seeking fluency and very often, it is just that they want their child to be happy and to be able to do the things they want in life. I can show them how this is possible along with stuttering. At the family’s pace, I will offer education about stuttering, stuttering therapy that welcomes and values stuttering voices, enable them to meet successful adults who stutter, other parents of children who stutter and signpost them to important resources. (I have mentioned some of these in another reply). In a gentle and reassuring way, I can talk with the family about why seeking fluency is unrealistic and potentially harmful, along with the impact that therapies offering fluency may have on a child (hiding/concealment of stuttering and the detriment to quality of life). I also like to talk about children having conversations/communications that are spontaneous, joyful and authentic and how the push towards fluency can be effortful and lack the connections, joy and spontaneity that is intrinsic to our humanity. The work of Chris Constanino, Vivian Sisskin, Hope Gerlach are some of my favourite influencers.
Hi Melanie,
I agree with my colleague Nic Maddy and would like to add a thought to her response.
Just as we might ask our clients the miracle question of “what would your life look like or what would you be able to do if you woke up one day and didn’t stutter?” we can ask the same to parents. “How would your child’s life look different if they didn’t stutter or stopped stuttering?”
We can often find parent’s motives for seeking fluency when they respond to this question and perhaps list off how “easier” their child’s life may be, or how much confidence their child might have. These answers are the parent’s desired treatment outcomes that they believe can ONLY happen if their child stops stuttering or didn’t stutter to begin with. Discuss with the parents how these desired outcomes can be achieved and how their child will be OK if their stuttering persists and how much more beneficial it is to achieve confidence and target the child’s feared speaking situations by doing therapy more focused around accepting the stuttering and coping with it, rather than trying to get rid of it.
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for such an insightful question that resonates deeply, as it reflects a challenge we frequently encounter in my country, Poland. For decades, speech-language therapy here has predominantly focused on achieving fluency as the primary outcome of stuttering therapy, often driven by social pressures and the belief that fluency equates to happiness and success. However, we now understand that this approach can miss the broader and more fulfilling path of helping children embrace their unique voices. I fully agree with Mandy and Nicole’s recommendations, especially the importance of beginning with empathy and understanding the parents’ hopes and concerns. Parents often want their child’s life to be more manageable so that they can feel confident and thrive socially. When we help them recognize that these outcomes are not exclusively tied to fluency, we can open the door to a new perspective that appreciates and values stuttering as a unique part of their child’s identity. Usually, parents benefit immensely from all kinds of forms of stuttering desensitization. This involves not only learning about stuttering as a phenomenon but also encountering stuttering in a positive, real-world context. Meeting other parents of children who stutter, seeing examples of accomplished adults who stutter, and watching their child experience joy and spontaneity in communication—all of these experiences can play a role in shifting perspectives. I encourage parents to explore this journey step-by-step, and I support them with resources, community connections, and therapy activities that celebrate and normalize stuttering. In my experience, parents often find that their focus shifts naturally from achieving fluency to fostering authentic, confident communication, allowing their child to communicate freely without the pressure of hiding or suppressing stuttering. This shift empowers the child and builds a lasting, positive family dynamic around communication.
I wish you all the best!