The National Stuttering Association’s recent campaign poster
is unsettling to me. It states that “There
are many ways to help children who stutter – doing nothing is not one of them.”
While I agree whole-heartedly, I fear that this will be interpreted by a
worried parent, as “just get your child to a speech therapist and then you’ve
done the “something” you’re supposed to do.
That was certainly the extent of our plan when our son began struggling
sixteen years ago! Don’t we wish it was
that simple.
Sometimes my message in Voice Unearthed is interpreted as “doing
nothing is safer than doing something.”
This could not be further from the truth. Parents must be aware that there are many
somethings out there and some of those somethings are helpful and some of those
somethings are not – if fact – they can even be harmful when it comes to
treating children who stutter. Parents (and
speech therapists) must educate themselves about all of the possible “somethings”
and fully understand the risks and controversies around each one prior to
enlisting their child in therapy.
I understand that unfortunately there are parents out there who
choose to be minimally engaged in most aspects of their child’s life, and for
those parents, speech therapy isn’t going to be at the top of the list. My heart goes out to those kids for reasons
far beyond their challenge with speaking, but many parents do care and will embrace
finding appropriate and safe support that will focus on the best long-term
outcomes --- keeping their kids talking and engaged in the world around
them. Many things can be done to ensure that outcome
– and yes, “nothing is not one of them.”
Best,
Dori Lenz Holte
