Treatment: how to get rid of stuttering? Medication? Psychotherapy and exercise

The treatment is comprehensive (holistic treatment).

The success of treatment depends on how long the speech disorder lasts.

In children, it is possible to cure stuttering completely; in adults, complete elimination of stuttering is uncertain.

Treatment requires cooperation, patience of the patient and the environment.

Treatment depends on the facts

• How much the child stutters
• How the child reacts when stuttering
• How stuttering affects the child's life
• How other people react to the child's stuttering
• The age of the child

Treating a preschool-age child

Direct strategies are used to change the way a child communicates.

Indirect strategies focus on ways to facilitate communication, for example, slowing down speech, asking fewer questions.

Treating older children and adults

Treatment focuses on managing stuttering, using tension reduction.

Treatment includes psychotherapy and exercise.

Psychotherapy and speech therapy

The first symptoms appear in preschool children. It usually frightens parents, provokes insecurity, anxiety and even anger.

Therefore, parents need psychotherapy or psychological support so that they do not transfer their insecurity and fear to the child.

Children with a genetic predisposition or mild brain dysfunction syndrome are not very resilient to stress. Severe stresses or stressful situations can trigger stuttering in them.

In young children, treatment is in the form of play.

School-age children often suffer from teasing and imitation in groups, which makes it difficult for them to fit in with their peers.

Parental help

Do not stress the child and do not demand that he or she always speak accurately and correctly. Speaking should be enjoyable and fun.

Use family communication, for example at mealtimes. Remove all distractions such as radio, television.

Avoid criticism and correction during the child's communication, do not remind him to take deep breaths or speak quickly so as not to lower his self-esteem.

Do not force the child to communicate when he/she is stalling too much, e.g. when forced to answer. Try to use another form where there is no need to communicate too much.

Do not interrupt the child's communication and do not force him/her to repeat a word over and over again.

Do not tell him to think before he speaks.

Ensure a pleasant and calm atmosphere in the home.

Communicate slowly and clearly with the child and other family members in his/her presence.

Allow the child to finish the thought.