The terminology – What term should we use? Dysfluency? Stammering? Stuttering? Is there a difference?All therapists have different ways of working and with this they use different terms to talk about the same difficulty. This could be depending on where they trained, where they have worked or where they currently work. No matter which term is used: dysfluency, stammering or stuttering – they all mean the same thing. The best way to decide what to call it is to ask your child how they would like to refer to their non-fluency and then use the term they feel most comfortable with.Difference between normal non-fluency and stammeringEverybody stammers from time to time and it can be difficult to know the difference between a child showing normal non-fluency and the beginnings of stammering. Below are some characteristics of normal non-fluency:• Whole word or phrase repetition • Pausing or use of interruptions (e.g. ‘err’) • One or less dysfluencies per 100 words • Periods of fluency interspersed by periods of non-fluency • No evidence of tension, struggle or avoidance • Happily communicates and is unaware of non-fluencyA few facts:• Stammering often runs in families • About 5% of children stammer • About 1% of adults have a stammer • Boys are more likely to stammer than girls (4:1) • The environment may influence the way you speak • The severity of a stammer may vary, but it is not always easy to see why

So how can we adapt our communication and support children who stammer?

• Use positive language and focus on their times of fluency and strengths in communication to increase their confidence and self esteem • Praise the child’s attempts and times of fluency – Tell them they are doing okay • Give them extra time to think and to speak and get their ideas out by themselves (don’t answer for them as tempting as it may be when you see them struggling) • Talk to them on their own about what they would prefer you to do when they are stammering • Model a slow and relaxed style of speaking • Maintain eye contact • Reach out to other families who have a child with a stammer if possible. Often your child will be the only child in their school with a stammer, which can make them feel isolated and alone.