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From: Ken St. Louis
Date: 10/9/03
Time: 10:35:17 AM
Remote Name: 157.182.12.31
Hi Jennifer,
This question is perfect for Woody. I hope he answers it and tells you about the subgroup of young stutterers he has identified that fits your daughter quite closely. Maybe Nan Ratner will weigh in as well with some of the recent, questionable, data about the effectiveness of parents slowing or simplifying their language.
But here is my answer. I have found that if you can slow your rate of speech and increase turn-taking pauses a little without sounding robotic, breathy, stilted, or low pitched, and if you can simplify your language to about the level your daughter can comfortably handle (not baby-talk though), try it. I would suggest one or two times a day only when things are as calm as possible and when you can structure the situation so that there is less need/opportunity for your daughter to tell you all she can. These sessions should have no other distractions and competition (e.g., no other kids present) and might last 15 minutes or so. If possible, they should become part of her daily routine. If you find that you are getting comfortable doing this and your daughter is still stuttering, try inserting a few easy repetitions into your speech as you model the slow, easy, simple speech, e.g., "Ba-Ba-Barney is funny in that picture."
Whether it is the rate change, linguistic complexity change, or overall ambiance change that is responsible, I have found that a routine of these kinds of interactions tend to reduce a child's propensity to "get it all out," "tell you all she knows," and simply relax a bit more that usual. Modeling an easier form of stuttering often helps the child to speak in an easier way.
My last bit of advice is to seek an evaluation of a qualified speech-language pathologist.
Maybe this will help.
Ken