08/05/2023
Excellent recommendations for questions to ask! Thank you,
Not all SLPs/SLTs are trained in stuttering. In fact, a startling amount have never worked with someone who stutters, even during grad school clinical hours!
As such, not all SLPs are equal for your stuttering child. They don’t need to be an expert on stuttering to answer these questions well. And if they’re open to learn, there are so many good resources for them.
That said - how do you know if this SLP would be a good fit for the stuttering child? Besides waiting on them to tell you, here are 4 questions you can proactively ask!
If your SLP has never worked with stuttering OR they seem fixated on measures of fluency for success, it means one of 2 options for you…
Option A: You recommend they get involved with organizations for stuttering. Have them start with Spero Stuttering, Inc. - who can get them plugged in and learning from reputable sources.
Option B: Time to find a better fit. Spero’s website allows you to search for those in your state with the “Ally of Stuttering ™ Seal”. It’s a free and accessible acknowledgment that speech therapists can get that says they are committed to and are demonstrating continued education about stuttering.
Good luck, parents and caregivers. You got this. Save this post to come back to whenever you need it.
