What it is VS. What it sounds like (for now anyway)

So my sweet Kassie has something called "speech dysfluency" also called pseudostuttering. It is the occasional repeating of sounds or syllables that children make when they are learning to speak. It occurs in many children showing up between 18 months & 5 years. It happens because the mind is able to think of words faster than the tongue can make them. It increases when the child is tired or overexcited. Normal dysfluency only lasts for 2 or 3 months if handled correctly.*

What it sounds like is stuttering, and it has this mamma STRESSED OUT. I started to notice it about a month ago (guessing) and it seems to be getting worse - or maybe because I noticed it I see it more. Dan doesn't see it as much as I do, but today a babysitter & her mom picked up on it. Yesterday she had her annual doctor's visit/check-up (more on this later) & the doctor - who I trust implicitly - diagnosed it as speech dysfluency and gave me some literature on it & what we should be doing to help her. For now we are on a be patient & let her grow out of it path (with the following suggestions) - but it breaks my heart when she is trying so hard to speak to me & can't get the words out - I want to help her NOW!!! She struggles to say things that just a month or so ago flew out of her mouth, which is why I think this is so hard for me. I've been researching online (in addition to what the doctor gave us) and it all seems to say the same thing & offer the same suggestions. We were going to keep this close to home (read - not tell anyone), but my research says to tell anyone who she may be around - teachers, family, friends, etc. so they will be aware of what to do & what not to do as to best enable her growth & not cause stress/trauma which could turn this into a full blown stuttering problem. So here goes....

If you are around Kassie (you know the cute little girl who looks like this):

 And you have the opportunity to talk to/with her - there are somethings we hope you will keep in mind:

• Keep the conversation pleasant, low-key & fun. Don't ask her to mimic you ("verbal performance")
• Ignore any stuttering.
• Be reassuring such as "Don't worry, I can understand you."
• Don't correct! Things like "think before you speak", "take your time it's ok" are NO NOs - they call attention to the problem & can make things worse (think self-confidence issues - we want to encourage talk/speech - if she's self conscious she may regress & stop speaking all together or the stuttering may worsen) - remember it's not something she can control & is considered normal for her age.
• Also avoid praise for good speech (this one is hard for me) it implies that the previous speech wasn't up to standard
• Don't interrupt - give her time to work through it & finish her own thoughts, don't complete her sentences for her.
• Don't ask her to repeat what she said. Listen closely - only if you don't understand what she says (and we aren't nearby  to help) and it seems important should you ask her to repeat
• If you are reading to her - take your time - don't rush
• Don't ask her to slow down, instead model it for her - speak slowly, clearly and look at her when you talk to her. Relaxed speech is our goal for now.
• We will be trying to slow down our pace of life - especially for her - backing off anything that might cause her anxiety or pressure her to perform (such as potty training) until she has the chance to catch up.

They say this only lasts a few months, fingers crossed this will soon be a distant memory - if not I've already discussed a referral for a speech pathologist with the pediatrician.

It's days like this I lean on the promise that the Lord won't give me more than I can handle. It's very hard for me to wait for Kassie to express to me what she is trying to say, it breaks my heart to watch her struggle so much, so for now it is on my faith I will rely. My faith that our pediatrician is a good one, my faith that I can handle whatever challenges are given me, my faith that with Him all things are possible.

*This & the suggestions (recommendations to prevent her dysfluency from developing into stuttering) above are from the information the doctor gave me at her appointment.