Parental communication dynamics with children who stutter: A scoping review.
Idillette Hartman, Daleen Klop, Leslie Swartz
PMID 39502044WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children who stutter often avoid talking openly about stuttering because they fear making it worse or upsetting the child.
Children want these conversations to reduce shame. Clinicians should coach parents on using neutral, simple language and inviting questions.
Key findings
01Parents hesitate to discuss stuttering with their children due to fears that open communication will aggravate the stutter or cause embarrassment.
02Children who stutter often feel shame when stuttering is treated as a taboo topic, and they express a need for open discussion with family.
03Effective communication strategies identified include using neutral language, answering questions simply, allowing time for speech, and focusing on content rather than fluency.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Only 14 records were included, and four were expert opinions rather than empirical studies. The search was limited to English-language literature, potentially missing relevant cultural perspectives. Most included studies focused on parent-child communication rather than the specific act of disclosure to others. The review synthesizes qualitative themes and expert advice, so it does not provide evidence of effectiveness for any specific communication strategy.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the communication strategies listed (such as using neutral language) as proven interventions that will improve stuttering outcomes. These are preferences reported by participants and advice from expert opinions, not tested clinical techniques with demonstrated efficacy.