Normal Nonfluency - Easterseals



Normal Nonfluency

At times a child may have a normal nonfluency. Repeating a sound or word, pausing, holding sounds and general confusion of “thinking and talking” are typical at this age. Children between 3 and 4 years have experiences they want to talk about, but do not know how to put enough words together to express themselves smoothly. This is different than stuttering.

These are ways to react to your child’s nonfluency:

1. Pay attention to your child when they talk to you. Let them know that you’re listening. Don’t rush them.

2. Don’t insist that they talk if they are obviously upset. Calm them down first.

3. Don’t put them on the spot for by having them recite stories and little rhymes for others.

4. Keep your own speech slow and easy to understand when you are talking to them. Let them hear talking that is easy for them to copy.

5. Don’t interrupt when they are talking, or complete their sentences out loud.

6. Don’t make suggestions to them about talking in a better way. Never make comments like “Slow down,” “Think about what you are going to say,” or “Start over.”

7. Whenever possible, avoid situations where they feel they are failing. The amount of nonfluency in their speech will often depend on how they think about themselves.

8. If they are frustrated and complain they can’t say that word or can’t talk right let them know that some words give you trouble too.

9. Tell other people not to imitate or joke about their nonfluent speech.

10. Never discuss their nonfluency when they can over-hear you.

If you have questions regarding your child’s speech and language development please contact Easter Seals Northern Ohio at 888-325-8532.

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