Stuttering and the bilingual child--new ways to help.What should parents of a child who stutters do if their child speaks more than one language? According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. speech-language pathologist pa·thol·o·gist n. A specialist in pathology who practices chiefly in the laboratory as a consultant to clinical colleagues. Pathologist Rosalee Shenker, Ph.D., of the Montreal Fluency flu·ent adj. 1. a. Able to express oneself readily and effortlessly: a fluent speaker; fluent in three languages. b. Centre, "Many treatment programs suggest that when young children are stuttering stuttering or stammering, speech disorder marked by hesitation and inability to enunciate consonants without spasmodic repetition. Known technically as dysphemia, it has sometimes been attributed to an underlying personality disorder. , it's best to simplify the language that's being spoken to them. This has added meaning when the child speaks more than one language." Research shows that a child's language skills can affect his or her fluency, according to the nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. Stuttering Foundation of America. Bilingual bi·lin·gual adj. 1. a. Using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency. b. children in the beginning stages of stuttering may stutter stut·ter n. A phonatory or articulatory disorder characterized by difficult enunciation of words with frequent halting and repetition of the initial consonant or syllable. v. To utter with spasmodic repetition or prolongation of sounds. more when they use new or longer vocabulary words, use more complex grammar, or mix words from both languages in a sentence. "No evidence has been found to suggest that speaking two languages in the home since birth causes stuttering. In fact, this may be the best time to input a second language," Shenker said. "However, if the child is bilingual and he of she begins to stutter, there are steps the parents can take to help." She recommends: * Monitor the stuttering in the child's strongest language, as that is generally where the most frequent stuttering will occur * Speak one language at a time * Allow the child to mix vocabulary in both languages, but then model the word in the primary language * Simplify your own language: try to decrease rapid speech and questions when talking with your child * If stuttering persists for more than six months. see a speech pathologist specializing in stuttering. Parents need not be afraid to introduce a second or third language to children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old, as long as language skills are developing normally. "Additional languages are often introduced around age 4, which can be a crucial age for language learning and stuttering," Shenker noted, adding, "If your child's strongest language is not developing appropriately for his or her age, or you notice the beginning signs of stuttering, you may want to hold off on the introduction of an additional language until after age 6." The Stuttering Foundation's brochure Stuttering and the Bilingual Child offers 10 tips for talking with your child. You may obtain a free copy by downloading downloading - download it from the Foundation's Web site at www.stutteringhelp.org, or by calling the Foundation toll-free at 800-992-9392. |
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