Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)
Childhood-onset fluency disorder (COFD), also known as stuttering, is a speech disorder that manifests in early childhood. It is a condition that a disrupts child's smooth flow of speech, problems in speech fluency, such as syllables, repetitions of words, or sounds, and persistent pauses or blocks. This condition leads to challenges in communication, in which a child struggles to express themselves fluently and clearly.
Understanding the Symptoms of Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)
The symptoms of childhood-onset fluency disorder that display in early childhood, when the children starts to obtain language and speech skills.
Repetitions can appear in sounds, syllables, words, or phrases. Children may repeat the initial sounds of words such as "b-b-b-ball" or may complete words such as "I-I-I want to play".
Prolongations show up in the sounds, where a child holds a specific sound for a long duration such as "ssssss-sun".
Blocks can appear in speech, where the child may struggle to initiate a word or produce a sound. This condition can be seen with noticeable stress or effort they try to continue speaking.
Physical tension may exhibit as children who stutter may show up the signs physical tensions along with their speech disruptions. These can be include facial grimaces, neck or shoulder pain, or other body movement specifically when they struggle to speak.
Avoidance may show up in certain words such as children avoiding words or speaking situations altogether. They stay silent or use filler words such as "um" to avoid the word they expect to struggling with.
It is important to differentiate between developmental speech sound problems and childhood-onset fluency disorder, which impacts speech gradually.
Risk Factors for Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)
Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering) in children.
Genetic Factors: Genetics can play a vital role in developing COFD (childhood-onset fluency disorder), children with a family history of stuttering are more likely to develop it.
Gender: Stuttering is more common in boys than girls and boys are at higher risk of developing stuttering.
Age of Onset: The age at which stuttering starts can be a risk factor for developing childhood-onset fluency disorder. Early starts of stuttering (before the age of 5) and is severe is associated with a higher risk of persistence into later childhood and adulthood.
Speech Sound Development: Problems in speech sound development such as in producing sound clearly can increase the fluency problems. Speech sound disorders or articulation difficulties may also contribute to enhancing the risk of developing stuttering in children.
Environmental Factors: Stressful or traumatic life events like major changes in the environment, can play a role in increasing the risk of developing stuttering or the existing stuttering may become worse.
Language Development: Delay in language development such as slower vocabulary development or difficulty with sentence forming can also contribute to increasing the risk of fluency problems.
Understanding the risk factors is crucial for early identification. The diagnosis involves a thorough assessment and can be made by speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
Management of Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)
Management of childhood-onset fluency disorder focuses on improving speech fluency and reducing the emotional impacts of stuttering.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy aims to focus on improving fluency, enhancing speech clarity, and reducing the anxiety related to speaking. Speech-language pathologist (SLP) utilizes specific techniques to help the child produce speech sounds more clearly.
Fluency Shaping Therapy: This approach helps the child speak smoothly and in a controlled manner, by utilizing techniques such as a slower speech rate, smooth transition between words, and controlled breathing.
Stuttering Modification Therapy: This approach aims to teach the child to manage the moments of stuttering effectively. The technique "easy stuttering" helps the child learn to deal with stuttering calmly and using "voluntary stuttering" focuses to reducing the fear of stuttering.
Pausing and Phrasing: The method of pausing and phrasing focuses on teaching the child use pauses in the speech to make it natural and comfortable.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This approach aims to work alongside speech therapy to reduce the anxiety related to speaking. It addresses the negative thoughts and fears that may co-occur with stuttering.
Early intervention and a supportive environment plays a crucial role in helping manage stuttering, enhancing the communication effectively. Family involvement is also essential to support and encourage the child in speaking practices at home.