3yo DS has a stammer - how will they treat this??

[minko]

We were referred to a speech therapist a couple of months ago by the doctor but haven't heard anything yet. At the moment I am not too worried as DS is unaware of it and quite happy.

I'm just wondering what the specialist will do and if there's anything we can do in the meantime to help him. He has good and bad spells but at the moment it is really bad and he's really struggling to get his words out.

Bump...

Hi,
My DS Nearly 4) has a mild stammer and he is growing out of it, we didn't get around to doing anything. My friends DD is 3.5 and also has one, she was referred and from what I can remember one of the main things was that they were not to ask her any questions at all - pretty hard when you think about it. Because it puts pressure on them to reply. So no asking what colour is this? What shape is that? (They learn anyway apparently!) What do you want in your sandwiches.... she is improving but I have to say my DS has improved to the same degree without referral and just time.
With my DS I am just patient and sometimes say "slow down" or encourage him to think about what he wants to say before trying to say it. With him I think he is trying to get it out too quickly before older sister butts in.
Sorry I can't remeber any of the other things they were advised by the speech therapist, hope your appointment comes soo and he improves.
Whiz

Thanks for replying. I'll try the no questions thing. It makes sense as it is when he thinks too hard about what he wants to say that nothing comes out. He is really bad at the moment. I'm worried about when he starts school and the other kids laugh at him... His dad and grandad had stammers too. DHs went when he was about 8-9, grandad still has his...

Stammering is genetic and more prevalent amongst boys.

I have a stammer. The best thing you can do is ignore it. The worst thing you can do is finish sentences for him, tell him to slow down or tell him to think about what he wants to say. Stammers fixate on what they want to say and then it becomes more of a issue.

SOme children grow out of it, others don't. The more you make a big deal out of it the worse it will get.

Speech therapy doesnt give any answers and sometimes (if you're very lucky) provides short term solutions-which soon stop working.

Just ignore it and hope for the best.

hi, victoria's advice is good, just ignore it for now, especially as your ds isn't aware of it. But would add still go to the SALT when your appt comes up, esp as stammering runs in the family. There are ways they can help you - the Lidcombe Technique has very good outcomes for the under 5's.

The lidcombe therapy is working wonders for our DD i would definately recommend going to speech therapy.