Treatment of stuttering in children in Moscow

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Stuttering is a common pathology in children that can occur for many reasons. It can be congenital or acquired. Often, such a defect causes problems in communication, slows down the child’s personal and intellectual development, and provokes complexes and embarrassment. It is important to understand that treatment of stuttering in children is possible - today there are several proven approaches and advanced treatment methods. The success of treatment depends on how early the pathology is detected and corrective measures are initiated in a timely manner.

What is stuttering

Stuttering, or logoneurosis, is a speech disorder that consists of frequent repetition of individual sounds, syllables or words. Sometimes the patient does not repeat, but lengthens sounds/syllables. Manifestations of stuttering also include frequent stops or “hesitation” of speech.

A child who stutters experiences difficulty when there is a sudden disruption in the function of speech organs and centers during a conversation. The problem can be caused by spasms of the muscles involved in the formation of sounds, as well as the breathing muscles. This leads to the patient suffering from breathing problems and feeling a sudden lack of air.

By type of speech spasms

The main symptom of stuttering is speech convulsions, which, in addition to the muscles of the speech apparatus, can also affect the respiratory muscles. Seizures can be clonic, tonic and mixed (they are also called tonic-clonic), according to this classification they are distinguished:

Tonic type of stuttering is characterized by prolonged tension of the speech muscles during a conversation or when trying to start pronunciation. In this case, the speech apparatus of a stutterer seems to be constrained, and the tension usually affects several muscle groups, including often the respiratory ones. This usually results in a long pause or intense vocalization of a particular sound. The face, and sometimes the neck, can be very tense, which is noticeable from the outside. A person seems to freeze during a conversation, and due to prolonged contraction of the respiratory muscles, there may not be enough air. Such spasms can last several tens of seconds.
Clonic type of stuttering is characterized by involuntary repeated rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the speech apparatus, while a person repeats individual sounds, syllables, and sometimes individual words. In this case, the repetition frequency can be high or low. It is worth noting that this also usually occurs before “complex” sounds, at which a person usually experiences tonic stuttering - since in most cases stuttering is mixed.
Tonic-clonic (mixed) type of stuttering - observed in most people who stutter, combines the phenomena of clonic and tonic types. Over time, the same person may experience one or another type of speech seizures more often.

Causes of stuttering

Stuttering can be caused by internal and external reasons. The main congenital factors include the following:

pathologies during pregnancy of the mother (hypoxia, previous infections, lack of nutrients, etc.);
birth injuries, premature birth;
hereditary tendency;
increased neuro-emotional excitability.

There are more acquired reasons, they can be the following:

psychotrauma (state of grief and loss, attention deficit, etc.);
physiological processes - in this case, stuttering goes away when the insufficient maturation of the cerebral hemispheres is compensated after the age of 5;
past infectious diseases (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, etc.);
traumatic brain injuries (concussions, brain contusion, etc.).

Childhood stuttering may be false: the child imitates adults who stutter. False stuttering is said to occur when the speech style of a significant adult is copied, but there is no true stuttering.

According to the degree of logophobia

Classification of the severity and characteristics of logophobia, which largely determines the nature of stuttering:

Logophobia of a mild degree - there is practically no fear of speech in ordinary situations and comfortable conditions, but when talking in public or with certain people it manifests itself in the form of noticeable but surmountable uncertainty. It is most often observed with mild stuttering, which in some cases can be hidden.
Moderate logophobia manifests itself in the form of significant uncertainty in communication and fear of speech, which can decrease in comfortable conditions.
Severe logophobia - fear of speech and uncertainty in communication in most situations determine the nature of your behavior and life in general. It is characterized by a pronounced avoidant form of behavior and a persistent, progressive violation of social adaptation.

The severity of logophobia almost always changes over time; changes in its degree can be associated with any events, with stressful or pleasant situations, with age, with the influence of psychotherapy, etc.

Symptoms

The main signs of speech impairment are as follows:

spasms of the speech apparatus when the child pronounces sounds;
long pauses between spoken sounds;
repetition of syllables and sounds, words.

However, there are also indirect signs that accompany the main symptoms. These include:

irritability;
communication problems, avoidance of communication;
aggressiveness;
tearfulness, touchiness.

When diagnosing stuttering in children, the doctor will pay attention to the psychological state. The disease may be accompanied by isolation, refusal to communicate with peers and adults, nervous tics, fears, anxiety, phobias, etc. Sometimes a child suffering from a speech disorder may also suffer from insomnia, decreased appetite, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

If stuttering is not treated on time, there is a possibility of developing social phobia, nocturnal enuresis and other ailments. Parents must understand that stuttering does not always go away on its own; measures must be taken so that the illness does not leave an imprint on the child’s personality. If corrective measures are refused, children may experience difficulties in building relationships with others, and developmental delays often occur.

According to the nature of the flow

The wave-like type of stuttering is observed in the vast majority of cases. Stuttering sometimes gets worse and sometimes gets better, and you can often trace the dependence of these fluctuations on the time of year, lunar cycles (many write that speech improves with the waxing moon), and time of day. Improvements or deteriorations also often occur due to natural causes that are difficult to identify.
Stationary type of stuttering - stuttering practically does not change over time, this refers more to a mild degree.
The regradient type of flow is the rarest and most favorable. With it, all the symptoms of stuttering disappear over time. It is more common among children, and also often occurs after concussion injuries or brain contusions in adults.
The progradient type of stuttering is a long-term tendency for speech deterioration. It is most common in children and adolescents. Analysis of information from many subscribers of our group indicates that stuttering often worsens until the age of 18-20, and then levels out to a wave-like or stationary type of course.
Recurrent type of stuttering - there is an alternation of periods of stuttering and normal speech.

When compiling this article, the following information was used:

Research by L.I. Belyakova, E.A. Dyakova, M.V. Sekacheva.

Types of stuttering in children

Based on their manifestation, the following forms of stuttering are distinguished:

tonic: characterized by prolonged pauses, prolongation of vowel sounds;
clonic: in this case, the child does not pronounce individual letters or syllables;
combined: this disease is the most complex, it combines the symptoms of both types.

Based on time and consistency of manifestation, three types of stuttering are distinguished:

stable. It is also called habitual, it appears constantly;
unstable. Stuttering in this case accompanies stress and situations of heightened emotional background;
cyclical. This type of stuttering is characterized by periods of calm, when the child speaks calmly, and episodes of stuttering.

Recommendations for parents

Treatment of stuttering in children, as well as identification of the causes of speech defects, is carried out by a doctor. But the role of parents in therapy is very important. It is important to behave correctly and follow the following doctor’s recommendations:

minimizing emotional stress. Avoid aggressive games, listening to loud music, watching TV for long periods of time, or keeping your child at the computer;
relaxing leisure. Instill in your child a love of classical music and good cartoons, play calm games, read fairy tales, try to get positive emotions and impressions together;
mode control. Make sure your child gets enough rest and take frequent walks in the fresh air.

A friendly home environment is important at all stages of treatment. It is not recommended to scold the child, shout at him or laugh, or criticize his results if the defect persists at first. It is important to encourage the start of therapy and encourage the baby, encourage him to trust the doctor.

It is very important to maintain a positive atmosphere even after successful correction of stuttering in children. Only in this case can the risk of relapse be minimized.

You need to train your mind to speak well

You don't have to wait for anyone to improve your speech. You can improve your speech yourself if you want and learn to control your subconscious mind.
The habit of stuttering can be changed into the habit of speaking well in 30 days.
Positive attitude, enthusiasm. Without desire and faith in yourself, nothing will work out. The main thing is to remember that stuttering is not a death sentence, especially in adolescence. You can get rid of it by controlling your subconscious mind.

Methods and features of stuttering treatment

The question of where to treat stuttering in children worries many parents. It is important to choose a clinic that can implement an integrated approach. The therapy should be carried out by both the primary doctor - a speech pathologist-speech pathologist, and a neurologist, psychologist, if necessary.

The main correction program is compiled by a speech therapist on an individual basis. He will take into account the causes of the defect, age, social environment, and character of the child. Modern approaches are based on normalizing breathing and controlling the rate of speech. Classes are conducted in a favorable atmosphere and in a playful manner. As a rule, the specialist takes an active part in the process - together with the child he reads poetry, sings songs, and trains the speech apparatus with other exercises.

Additional correction methods include:

massage: allows you to relax, improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms;
breathing exercises: its task is to normalize breathing.

It is possible to work with a physiotherapist and teach gymnastics techniques so that the child can continue to practice at home. Drug therapy is relevant in cases where stress/trauma is the cause of childhood stuttering. The doctor will prescribe medications with a sedative effect. In severe cases, tranquilizers and anticonvulsants may be prescribed. Light drug therapy can accompany basic correction methods. An integrated and, importantly, team approach allows you to get impressive results - improving the condition and eliminating the defect.

Stuttering in teenagers

Stuttering is one of the most common speech disorders in adolescents, which is characterized by a violation of the tempo, rhythm and fluency of speech due to muscle spasms of the speech apparatus.

Stuttering occurs about 3-4 times more often in boys than in girls. Stuttering occurs most often in childhood, between 2 and 5 years, when the child masters coherent speech.

In most cases, stuttering becomes chronic and intensifies during adolescence. This is due to the fact that speech activity is ensured by the participation of the respiratory, nervous systems and (as strange as it may seem) hormonal levels. Moreover, the last two components are closely interconnected. During adolescence, changes in the body occur, which entails an exacerbation of the problem. Most often, hesitations appear in the most critical, “difficult” situations. This is, as a rule, an official situation, the need to speak in front of an audience, answer a lesson, take an exam, talk on the phone, answer an unexpected question from a stranger or ask him a question, etc.

Frequently occurring speech difficulties and failures in adolescents lead to increased expenditure of nervous energy, and sometimes to serious mental trauma, which can cause feelings of inferiority, frustration, helplessness, irritability, and despair. They have a feeling of excitement, embarrassment, fear, tense anticipation of speech; sweating, fever or chills, dry mouth or excessive salivation during speech; after speaking - a feeling of fatigue, awkwardness, a desire to withdraw, etc., which contributes to fixation on the disorder, which intensifies with age. In addition, adaptive changes in posture, facial expressions, articulation are noted (treading on the spot, hands having to hold something, fiddling, rubbing the nose, snapping fingers, tricks in the form of embolophrasia: and, here, well, etc.).

The most reliable way out in this situation is to become aware of everything that is happening, because only understanding the causes and the very essence of the phenomena removes the panic fear of them.

Eliminating stuttering is a complex and time-consuming process that requires a comprehensive medical, pedagogical and psychological approach to this problem. Therefore, overcoming stuttering in adolescents should only be carried out through the joint efforts of the stutterer himself, his parents, a neurologist, a psychotherapist and a speech therapist. Such work, as a rule, consists of several successive stages or is carried out in several directions simultaneously:

improvement of the nervous system and the entire body of the person who stutters;
psychotherapy;
direct work on speech;
providing a favorable social environment and living conditions conducive to overcoming stuttering.

Work on speech is the main and leading part of a comprehensive method of overcoming stuttering, which is implemented by a speech therapist with the active participation of the stutterer himself and his immediate environment (parents, teachers).

The main goal of speech therapy is to restore the coordinated, coordinated and relaxed work of the respiratory, vocal and articulatory parts of the speech apparatus, which helps to overcome speech convulsions. To achieve this, first of all, much attention is paid to establishing diaphragmatic breathing, cultivating correct speech breathing and articulatory gymnastics. A set of classes (a set of exercises, their sequence, time and frequency of repetition, etc.) in relation to each specific case can only be qualifiedly selected by a speech therapist. It is very important to perform all exercises and recommendations accurately and consistently. This will help achieve good results.

Eliminating stuttering will require teenagers to be able to make an effort. When starting this process, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

analyze the reasons for your life difficulties and related worries, discuss complex problems with a professional (psychotherapist or psychologist);
During the main course and further maintenance treatment, you should strive to feel calm, confident and balanced in everyday life;
during treatment you need to be active, patient, collected and purposeful, since only hard work in accordance with the recommendations of a specialist leads to the desired result;
You should not despair if you fail; you should repeat the exercises many times and remember that there is a long, voluntary and conscious method of regulating speech activity.

When can I expect results? There is no need to wait for him, he will come himself. Anyone who wins over himself will win over his stuttering! I wish you success!

Teacher speech therapist

Institution "3rd city children's

Clinical Polyclinic" O.A. Mashedo

Advantages of stuttering treatment at the Family Doctor clinic

The treatment of stuttering in children in Moscow is successfully carried out by specialists from the Family Doctor clinic - speech therapists, speech pathologists, neurologists, psychologists, and psychotherapists.
We offer comprehensive comprehensive diagnostics, accurate identification of the causes of speech defects, and a team approach to solving the problem. Modern equipment with precise, reliable equipment allows us to carry out diagnostics and treatment in a short time. Doctors with many years of experience will provide assistance in cases of any complexity, and will also find an approach to young patients. To make an appointment at a time convenient for you, call the single contact center in Moscow, fill out the on-line registration form or contact the clinic’s reception.

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