Stuttering Speech Therapy for Children in Sherwood, OR

Stuttering is the most common fluency disorder and is marked by interruptions in the flow of speech. These disruptions are typically characterized by:

• Repetitions of sounds, syllables, or monosyllabic words (e.g., “Look at the b-b-baby,” “Let’s go out-out-out”);
  
  
• Prolongations of consonants when not used for emphasis (e.g., “Sssssssometimes we stay home”);
  
  
• Blocks (inaudible or silent fixation, or the inability to initiate sounds).
  
  

In addition to these primary behaviors, individuals who stutter may also display secondary behaviors such as eye blinks, facial grimacing, changes in pitch or loudness, avoidance behaviors, and negative reactions such as frustration.

For Stuttering Speech Therapy for Children in Sherwood, OR, the goal is to address these behaviors in a supportive and empathetic environment, empowering children to manage their speech disruptions in a way that reduces anxiety and fosters self-confidence.

Cluttering is another fluency disorder that differs from stuttering in several ways. It is characterized by:

• Excessive over-coarticulation, meaning sounds and syllables are blended together too much, making it sound like certain sounds or syllables are missing (e.g., "ferchly" for "fortunately");
  
  
• Excessive use of "normal disfluencies" such as interjections (e.g., "um, uh, er") and revisions (e.g., "I would like to go—I was thinking about taking a drive");
  
  
• Pauses in places where they’re not expected grammatically, creating speech that sounds "jerky" or "spurty."
  
  

Cluttering is often associated with a lack of awareness of speech issues, a lack of physical tension, and disorganized language or conversational skills.

Stuttering Speech Therapy for Children encompasses more than just techniques to stutter less—it’s about making communication feel easier and more natural. The overall treatment goal is to help children feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear or anxiety. This is achieved through:

• Understanding how the speech mechanism works and why stuttering occurs.
  
  
• Educating both the child and their family about stuttering to foster a deeper understanding of the disorder.
  
  
• Encouraging positive discussions that reduce anxiety and encourage self-advocacy.
  
  
• Fostering a positive identity and helping children develop an openness and acceptance of their communication style.
  
  

The ultimate aim of Stuttering Speech Therapy for Children is to empower kids with the tools they need to communicate comfortably in all situations, building confidence and reducing the social and emotional impacts of stuttering.