Is it time to seek stuttering therapy for my child?
“Don’t let anyone tell you “don’t worry.”
You’re a parent, and you have the right to be concerned about your child .
And you have the right to choose what to do.”
Things to remember when thinking about seeking speech therapy:
What Type of parent are you?
Tolerant Parent
Are you able to “watch-and-see” and tolerate allowing some more time, and give your child the opportunity to sort it out themselves?
Concerned Parent
Are you more concerned, risk-aversive and more comfortable being more proactive rather than applying a more patient approach?
What ABOUT YOUR CHILD? And They’re Temperament?
Is your child reactive and fussy?
Is your child easy-going and unbothered?
IF Parents and kids are not concerned…
If neither parent, nor the child is concerned - it can be a legitimate option to allowing more time. There is no objective need to rush to therapy sooner than later.
(In some cases there can be reasons to seek therapy sooner than later", but it’s not always true that “early intervention” is always the best policy.)If you choose to “watch and see,” then put a date on your calendar to follow-up (4-12 weeks later). Something like this: “If by this date, nothing has changed, let’s give therapy a try.”
Click here for a practical infographic - when to seek professional stuttering evaluation for your young child who stutters.
For more - see the video above.
Uri Schneider, Co-Director Schneider Speech