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From: Lynne Shields
Date: 19 Oct 2005
Time: 13:20:42 -0500
Remote Name: 68.143.177.2
Tim, I do not think that my advice would vary depending on whether or not there is a predisposition toward stuttering within a family. I don't think we really know at this point whether or not there is a way to prevent stuttering entirely. A few pointers relative to how to interact with new talkers certainly may be helpful, whether or not they act in a preventative manner. I encourage parents to pay attention to their child's message rather than the delivery of the message, so that the focus is on successful communication rather than perfect pronunciation or perfect fluency. Keeping the pressure off regarding communication skills is always appropriate, whether or not the child is demonstrating any disfluencies. And, if parents become concerned about their child's fluency, seeking professional help is advisable. Hope this addresses your concerns. Regards, Lynne