HOW TO HELP YOUR FRIEND who stutters

What do these people have in common?

Facts about stuttering

Kids who

stutter are as smart as

other kids

Stuttering is not caused

by being a fearful person

Reactions of others may

make stuttering

worse

Teasing and bulling makes

everybody suffer

Many

famous people have or had stutter

What will help?

Tell your friend who stutters, “take a deep breath” or “ just relax”

You take a deep breath and relax while listening to your friend

What we know:

When you tell your friend “take a deep breath,” or “just relax” the stuttering usually becomes worse, and it makes him feel bad

If you look and feel relaxed while listening it will help your friend who stutter to speak freely and more fluently

What will help ?

Look away from the person who stutters during the conversation

Keep your usual eye contact while talking and listening

What we know:

Looking away from your friend shows that you are uncomfortable listening and/or not respectful (in most cultures)

Normal eye contact with your friend who stutters will release tension and show your respect (in most cultures)

What will help ?

Talking slowly with your friend who stutters and allowing pauses will help

Talking less often with your friend who have such difficulties to talk will help

What we know:

Slowing down your speech and allowing pauses will help the your friend who stutter to feel more comfortable speaking

Avoiding conversations with your friend who stutter may show that you are disinterested in him or her

What will help ?

While talking with your friend who stutters, wait for your turn as you normally do

Finish the words or sentences that your friend struggles to say

What we know:

Taking turns will help your friend who stutter speak easier and feel respected

Finishing words for your friend usually makes the stuttering even worse

What will help ?

Pretend that you don’t notice your friend is struggling to speak

Show that you are interested in content of what your friend who stutter is saying

What we know:

Pretending that your friend is not stuttering communicate that you are insincere

In stead, make your friend feel that its OK to stutter.

Famous people who stutter or stuttered

Winston Churchill stuttered

Books to read

Stuttering

Lesson plan and PowerPoint to address stuttering in middle school classroomsReferences: Anderson, J. D., Pellowski, M. W., Conture, E. G., & Kelly, E. M. (2003). Temperamental characteristics of young children who stutter. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing

Research, 46(5), 1221-1233. Dworzynski, K., Remington, A., Rijsdijk, F., Howell, P., & Plomin, R. (2007). Genetic etiology in cases of recovered and persistent stuttering in an unselected, longitudinal sample of young twins.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(2), 169-178. Flynn, T. W., & Louis, K. O. S. (2011). Changing adolescent attitudes toward stuttering. Journal of fluency disorders, 36(2), 110-121. Howell, P., Davis, S., & Williams, R. (2008). Late childhood stuttering. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51(3), 669-687. Langevin, M., & Prasad, N. N. (2012). A stuttering education and bullying awareness and prevention

resource: A feasibility study. Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, 43(3), 344-358. Guntupalli, V. K., Kalinowski, J., Nanjundeswaran, C., Saltuklaroglu, T., & Everhart, D. E. (2006). Psychophysiological responses of adults who do not stutter while listening to stuttering.

International journal of psychophysiology, 62(1), 1-8. Iverach, L., & Rapee, R. M. (2014). Social anxiety disorder and stuttering: Current status and future

directions. Journal of fluency disorders, 40, 69-82. Related articles: Safran, J. S. (2002). Supporting students with Asperger’s syndrome. Teaching exceptional children, 1(61). Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences. Routledge. Phelps, F. G.; Doherty-Sneddon, G.; Warnock, H. (2006). Helping children think: Gaze aversion and teaching.

British Journal of Developmental Psychology 24 (3): 577