What is Fluency?

Fluency refers to the continuous, free flowing speech with appropriate rate, rhythm and information. It helps in effective communication.

A fluency disorder is when the forward flow of speech is interrupted by hesitations or repetitions or prolongations or hard attacks and/or silent blocks.

Often during the developmental stages a child goes through a period of normal non- fluencies. If given required help at this time, a lot of anxiety and emotional disturbances could be reduced.

At this stage, parents play an important role in the child’s life. With professional help and guidance from a Speech Language Pathologist they would be able to ease the fluency of the child’s speech.

Do’s

• Listen to what your child says not the way he says.

• Let the child feel relaxed.

• Reinforce him positively.

• Make the verbal experience enjoyable.

• Give him opportunities to speak.

• Decrease pressures.

• Decrease anxiety.

• Increase his confidence.

• Provide an appropriate speech model.

Don’ts

• Do not make him aware.

• Avoid correcting his speech.

• Do not punish the child for his speech.

• Resist finishing his words.

• Avoid negative reactions, both verbal and non verbal.

• Don’t give any suggestions such as “speak slowly” or “Take your time and speak.”

• Don’t suggest substitution of a difficult word by an easy one.

• Decrease demand for verbal performance.