If you have a student in your classroom who stutters, there’s a lot you can do to make your classroom a safe and welcoming environment for their participation. 

Some basic facts about stuttering

There are many myths surrounding stuttering. Stuttering is a complex disorder that defies simplistic definitions and explanations. Many different factors contribute to its development. There is much that we do not yet know about stuttering. Here are some facts that we DO know:

• Stuttering is not linked to intelligence or emotional disturbance.
• Stuttering is a genetically determined disorder that is neurologic in origin.
• Stuttering occurs in roughly 1% of the adult population and around 5-7% percent of young children.
• There are no “quick fixes” for stuttering, and even with early intervention, approximately 20% of children who stutter will continue to stutter into adulthood. ‍

When speaking with children who stutter

There are some general guidelines to help children who stutter to communicate effectively:

• ‍Listen patiently and maintain normal eye contact. Convey that you are listening intently and try to keep eye contact even if the child looks away. ‍
• Do not finish their sentences. Allow children to complete what they want to say, even when it seems like it is taking a long time. Do not guess at what you think they are saying. Reflect back what you have heard so they know that you have understood them; then, give them an opportunity to repair the message if necessary.‍
• Do not rush children to finish. Time pressure is a problem for many children who stutter. When children feel a need to speak quickly, tension can build up in their speech muscles, thereby causing increased stuttering.
• ‍Do not give simplistic advice. Simple suggestions such as “Slow down,” “Take a deep breath,” “Start over,” and “Think about what you are going to say,” may be well-meaning and seemingly helpful for children who stutter. Unfortunately, these suggestions can put unnecessary pressure on them and actually make it harder to speak. ‍
• Do not praise fluency but rather praise content. When we praise a child for being fluent, we are sending the message that we prefer fluent speech, thereby suggesting it is better than stuttering. Instead, respond positively to what the child is saying, not how they are saying it.

The variable and cyclic nature of stuttering

Speech-Language Pathologists are often asked, “Why is this child more fluent on some days and struggling more on others?” The short answer is that stuttering is, by nature, both cyclical and variable. These “good days” and “bad days” add to the mystery surrounding stuttering, but they are a fact of life for children who stutter. There are many interpersonal and environmental factors that may disrupt fluency, and it is not particularly helpful (or possible) to try to figure out what makes a child stutter more on one day and less on another. Accepting and learning to tolerate variability is an important component of the therapy process—for children as well as for those in their environment.

Secondary behaviors

When children who stutter increase tension or “push” to get words out, they may begin to push harder and harder, building tension in their facial muscles or other muscles of the body. These movements are not done on purpose; they develop naturally as the child tries anything to try to push words out. Sometimes it seems that pushing helps a child talk more fluently, but most of the time, the excess tension actually contributes to the overall communication problem. As children learn to tolerate moments of stuttering, and as they find themselves in increasingly accepting environments, they usually struggle less with their speech and stutter less. A speech therapist who specializes in stuttering can help the child explore these complex behaviors without stigmatizing them.

Avoidance behaviors

Some children use “tricks” in an attempt to avoid the moment of stuttering. Examples include not saying certain sounds or words, not talking to certain people, changing words when they think they are about to stutter, pretending to be confused when called upon to read or answer questions, saying, “I don’t know,” even when they do, leaving the class to go to the bathroom before it is their turn to talk, not volunteering to read or answer questions, allowing others to answer for them in group activities, and more. Children do these things because they do not want others to observe them struggling. Unfortunately, avoidances such as these actually contribute to the development of more negative ideas and emotions about stuttering, ultimately increasing the severity of the problem.

By knowing about these possibilities, you can be aware if such behaviors are present and support children by creating a safe environment where it is acceptable for them to stutter. They should be encouraged (but not forced) to say what they want to say, even if it takes a bit of extra time to do so.

The teacher’s role: create a positive communication environment

You not only set the learning atmosphere in your classroom; you also set the communication atmosphere. You can help children who stutter by minimizing interruptions, modeling thinking and planning time, allowing increased response time, and focusing on what children are saying, not how they say it. You can also consider the following specifics:

• Try to create a relaxed communicative atmosphere with minimal time and communicative pressure. You might remind the student, “It is ok if you need some extra time to talk.” But again, it is best not to suggest that they slow down, take a breath, or take their time.
• If another child asks about stuttered speech, it is appropriate to say something like, “Your classmate has some bumps in their talking sometimes, and that’s ok. We are going to be good listeners.”
• Try to encourage good verbal turn-taking in the classroom. It is particularly disruptive to stuttering speakers when other people interrupt them.
• Address bullying or teasing immediately (see our bullying blog post below for links and ideas!)

Useful links:

Stuttering Foundation of America: www.stutteringhelp.org/teachers

When Stuttering Meets Bullying: https://www.stutteringtreatment.org/blog/when-stuttering-meets-bullying

Classroom Accommodations for People Who Stutter: https://www.stutteringtreatment.org/blog/classroom-accommodations

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