HOW TO HELP YOUR FRIEND

who stutters

Facts about stuttering

Kids who stutter are just

as smart as other kids

Stuttering is not caused

by being a fearful person

Reactions of others may

make stuttering

worse or better

Teasing and bulling makes

everybody suffer

Many

famous people have or

had stutter

What will help?

Telling your friend who stutters: “take a deep breath” or “ just relax”

You take a deep breath and relax while listening to your friend

What we know:

When you tell your friend “take a deep breath,” or “just relax” it makes him or her feel tense

If you look relaxed while listening, it will help your friend who stutters to speak freely and more fluently

What will help ?

Look away from the person who stutters during the conversation

Keep your usual eye contact while talking and listening

What we know:

Looking away from your friend shows that you are uncomfortable listening and/or not respectful (in most cultures)

Normal eye contact with your friend who stutters will release tension and shows your respect (in most cultures)

What will help ?

Talking slowly with your friend who stutters and allowing pauses

Talking less often with your friend who stutters will help him or her

What we know:

Slowing down your speech and allowing pauses will help your friend who stutters to feel more comfortable speaking

Avoiding conversations with your friend who stutters may show that you are disinterested in him or her

What will help ?

While talking with your friend who stutters, wait for your turn as you normally do

Finish the words or sentences that your friend struggles to say

What we know:

Taking turns will help your friend who stutters speak easier and feel respected

Finishing words for your friend can make him or her feel frustrated

What will help ?

Pretend that you don’t notice your friend is struggling to speak

Show that you are interested in the content of what your friend who stutter is saying

What we know:

Pretending that your friend is not stuttering communicate that you are insincere

Make your friend feel that it is OK to stutter.

People who stutter or stuttered

Winston Churchill stuttered

Books to read

Twelve-year-old Patsy keeps a diary of the time following the end of the Civil War and the granting of freedom to former slaves. . .

Twelve-year-old David has never had a permanent home or a real friend, but when he decides to try to hatch an owl egg with the help of a classmate, his life slowly begins to change for the better. . .

Thirteen-year-old Andrea is devastated when her parents announce that the family is moving to Scotland . . .

How to Help Your Friend who Stutters

Educational PowerPoint Presentation References: Dworzynski, K., Remington, A., Rijsdijk, F., Howell, P., & Plomin, R. (2007). Genetic etiology in cases of recovered and persistent stuttering in an unselected, longitudinal sample of young twins.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(2), 169-178. Flynn, T. W., & Louis, K. O. S. (2011). Changing adolescent attitudes toward stuttering. Greenya, John (2012) Bullying. Are schools doing enough to stop the problem. In CQ Researcher (Eds.), Childhood And Adolescence In Society (pp. 131-150).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

PublicationsJournal of fluency disorders, 36(2), 110-121. Howell, P., Davis, S., & Williams, R. (2008). Late childhood stuttering. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51(3), 669-687. Langevin, M., & Prasad, N. N. (2012). A stuttering education and bullying awareness and prevention resource: A

feasibility study. Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, 43(3), 344-358. Guntupalli, V. K., Kalinowski, J., Nanjundeswaran, C., Saltuklaroglu, T., & Everhart, D. E. (2006). Psychophysiological responses of adults who do not stutter while listening to stuttering. International

journal of psychophysiology, 62(1), 1-8. Iverach, L., & Rapee, R. M. (2014). Social anxiety disorder and stuttering: Current status and future directions.

Journal of fluency disorders, 40, 69-82. Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences. Routledge. Phelps, F. G.; Doherty-Sneddon, G.; Warnock, H. (2006). Helping children think: Gaze aversion and teaching.

British Journal of Developmental Psychology 24 (3): 577 *Illustrated by Anna Birstein **Winston Churchill Quote Retrieved from: http://

www.glavo.biz/images-quotes/best-of-churchill-quotes-on-leadership-check-it-out/21554.html ***Books’ Covers are from the Children Literature Comprehensive Database.