Stuttering on the rise

In its resolve to address stuttering or stammering in children, the Mysore-based All-India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), a premier institute in the field of speech and hearing, has roped in school teachers and anganwadi workers and are orienting them for early identification of the problem among schoolchildren.

According to AIISH, stuttering in children is on the rise and causes problem to their development and studies if left untreated.

Five percent

Stuttering is seen in about five percent of children and about one percent of the adult population. The onset of the problem in most cases is between the ages of three and five years, and is four times more predominant in boys, according to Y.V. Geetha, chairperson, Fluency Unit, AIISH, Mysore.

October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day to create awareness among the public about this problem and methods for its prevention and control.

“Teachers and anganwadi workers are the ideal persons to identify stuttering among children at an early stage and refer such cases to specialists for treatment,” Ms Geetha told The Hindu .

Ms. Geetha, in a write-up, said the role of teachers in handling a child with stuttering in a classroom is very crucial. The child may face ridicule in front of peers causing humiliation and embarrassment. The child may also avoid talking or participation due to anxieties or fear of failure, leading to further negative feelings and poor self-confidence.

This may have serious repercussions in his psychological, social, emotional and educational growth, she explained.

The day-long programme held at the AIISH campus here on Tuesday was attended by parents and children with stuttering, besides teachers from various schools, workers and assistants from anganwadi centres. The fluency unit at the institute handles at least 15 cases of stuttering daily. During school vacations, the number of cases goes up and sometimes crosses 50, she said.

“Parents should not neglect stuttering in their child and should consult a speech-language pathologist as soon as they suspect the problem,” she said.