(HealthDay News) -- Children who stutter can become embarrassed and anxious about speaking, which can make the situation even worse.
While speech therapy can help, a proper response from parents, friends and teachers also is very important, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.
The agency offers these suggestions:
- Try to keep the child away from stressful situations. Also, teach the child how to help manage stress.
- Make sure you allow the child plenty of time to speak.
- When you talk to the child, speak slowly and stay relaxed to encourage a similar slow, relaxed response.
- When the child starts to stutter and gets frustrated, acknowledge it and say that it's OK.
