Double Trouble at School: Stuttering and ADHD

ADHD affects anywhere from 3 to 7% of children in the United States and recent research indicates that as many as 26% of these children also stutter.

A new brochure published by the Stuttering Foundation seeks to answer questions and give helpful tips for parents and professionals dealing with the two complex issues.

The treatment most often used for ADHD continues to be medication; yet, some recent research indicates that some of these medications may actually aggravate stuttering. Non-stimulant medications such as Strattera may be indicated for ADHD children who also struggle with stuttering.

What can parents do? Joseph Donaher, M.A., of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers 5 timely tips for parents and speech language pathologists:

1. Keep instructions simple and clear and have the child repeat them back. Have a consistent organized schedule.

2. Increase activities where the child must concentrate and focus and cut back on activities that promote aggressive or impulsive behavior as do some television programs.

3. Use frequent praise to keep the child motivated and interested.

4. Provide visual cues and concrete examples to help the child better understand and retain information.

5. Use good speaking habits yourself such as keeping eye contact and using a easy relaxed rate.

For more information on stuttering and a free copy of ADHD and Stuttering, visit the Stuttering Foundation at www.stutteringhelp.org

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Bruce Willis

While the world knows Bruce Willis as an A-list actor, few know that he struggled with stuttering throughout his first 20 years.

Walter Bruce Willis was born in 1955 in West Germany to his German mother, Marlene, and his American GI father, David Willis. The family settled in David’s hometown of Penns Grove, New Jersey in 1957, and the couple has three other children.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin, the basketball sensation who was named to the NBA’s All Star Team in 2004, joins other famous people who stutter in a new brochure. The brochure - which unfolds into a small poster - is available free of charge from The Stuttering Foundation.

The poster is intended to give children and adults who stutter inspiration as they grapple with their speech disorder.