Health Tip: When Children Stutter

Suggestions on how you should respond

May 7, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- Children who stutter can become embarrassed and anxious about speaking, which can make the situation even worse.

While speech therapy can help, a proper response from parents, friends and teachers also is very important, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

The agency offers these suggestions:

Try to keep the child away from stressful situations. Also, teach the child how to help manage stress.
Make sure you allow the child plenty of time to speak.
When you talk to the child, speak slowly and stay relaxed to encourage a similar slow, relaxed response.
When the child starts to stutter and gets frustrated, acknowledge it and say that it's OK.