As a long-time supporter of Democrats, I’ve been forced into an awful realization during the past few years. None of what transpires under their governance is for the interests of the people they govern. While I am not suggesting the opposite is true of the Republicans, there is one critical difference. When called on to act, however reprehensible the calls may appear to us, steadfast Republican supporters respond.

The Nashville school shooting simply attests to this fact. How? Simply by the fact that the voice of power for unchecked gun ownership is driven primarily by Republicans. They are passionate and they are committed. The issue of abortion is another excellent example of how a dedicated and carefully construed Republican plan to eliminate women’s access to this life-saving option was like a steamroller flattening the people it most affects. How the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and then President Trump worked diligently to stack a Supreme Court with like-minded jurors?

While I type this, Republicans are in the last quarter of a fiendishly well-orchestrated campaign that, in its final steps, will, through a judge in Texas, overrule the FDA approval of a drug that doctors have relied on for decades to induce abortion safely. Where are the Democrats, you ask? Uncomfortably quiet. As they were when Roe v. Wade was overturned.

You see, Democrats absolutely do care, the truth is they may even voice outrage, but at the end of the day, they lack the “true grit” to do what is necessary to ensure the safety of their wives and their children. They don’t dare to stand up for themselves, and for this simple reason, Republicans will continue to ride roughshod over you like sheep. Unlike Charlton Heston’s mantra from the May 20, 2000, National Rifle Association national meeting, they don’t exhibit sufficient fire in the belly to cry out the sensible alternative to: “You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.” 

Before you accuse me of being harsh, let’s examine the issue of gun control and ownership of high-powered, semi-automatic weapons like the AR15, the homicidal maniac’s weapon of choice. After every school shooting, the public sings the same refrain. “This has to stop,” and “let this be the last, ” knowing it will never be. After all, didn’t we think Sandy Hook would be the last? How many lasts have happened since that horrific shooting – a war against children?

A reality check for those who still believe in your elected politicians to look after your best interests. How did the pandemic go, how’s that women’s right to choose plan looking, and is there a bipartisan bill to outlaw AR15s moving through both Houses of Congress? Thought not. Biden and co. will issue platitudes of ire on social media and make passionate statements; a week will pass. Then, like with all the previous atrocities committed in schools, it will be forgotten by all but the bereaved parents, traumatized classmates and teachers – forever emotionally scared.

Your Child Could be Next!!!

If you are privileged enough, do not think you can homeschool your child to adulthood in complete safety either. Shooting in malls, movie theaters, dance clubs and churches mean that nowhere on U.S. soil is your child beyond the reach of these armed maniacs, often themselves only recently children.

You know the risks to your children, and yet you still choose to do nothing. Where is the communal outrage of people assembling and marching in the streets? Since the Vietnam War, America has forsaken its power and the mechanisms of civil disobedience. Even the French shame you and the Republicans; they laugh, load their guns, and head off to the range. They photograph themselves and their families holding AR15s and standing in front of the family Christmas Tree on election campaign greeting cards.

Stopping This Madness is Possible!

It would be best if you acted as a united front to protect your children across the US, and strikes are the most effective means of achieving this. They require no confrontation, and send a message those in power cannot ignore. Act now, or suffer the consequences at the next election, and if you have children of your own, I pity them if you continue to sit idle. If for these two issues alone – choice and gun safety – rally and elect representatives who unite to keep people safe.

Boycott schools, keep your children home, shut down all educational institutions, mobilize the support of academia, administration and teachers who are also in the line of fire and make your voices heard, for the sake of your children and your country’s future. The world is watching and your children are living in fear. School is now a battlefield. Children are sent in buses to the front. Consider the mental anguish you are exposing your children to by your inaction. Consider the mental health of future generations.

While you’re about it, do right by your wives and partners, do right by the women you know and rely on for so much, do right by your daughters, and show them the support they deserve. Stand up for them in the same voice and help restore their access to choice. Help them restore their access to essential healthcare. Support for mothers, sisters, daughters and all children is a shared responsibility. Do not shirk away from this responsibility, I implore you.

The post Trump’s America. Deride Them, But They are Better Than You appeared first on Medika Life.

I rarely write articles if I am pissed off for the simple reason logic tends to fall by the wayside, but in this instance, I forgo that rule as I am roundly and soundly pissed off. To be absolutely clear, in case you’ve been under a rock for the last two years, Pfizer, Moderna, J&J and every company capable of producing treatments have been developing and manufacturing Covid therapies classified by government regulatory agencies as vaccines.

They are not! Full stop, end of sentence, end of debate. These medicines they have developed are a million miles away from a vaccine. They mitigate symptoms, a significant contribution to public health and an amazing response to SARS-COV2. In other words, if you have been immunized, you are far less likely to die from developing Covid after being infected with the SARS-COV2 virus. Vaccines, as best accepted by the public, prevent you from contracting or developing a disease like, for instance, polio. These “so-called” – as a popularized term Covid “vaccines” don’t do that. You still get sick.

Vaccinate, inoculate and immunize are three words that describe the “jab” people get to guard them against serious infectious illnesses. Harmonious – yes – but each offers a different consumer expectation. Did we select the right word to describe these breakthrough medicines? We did not.

Two years into the pandemic, the fallacy continues and has a foreseen side effect, an effect that anyone with sufficient intelligence could easily have and did foresee. By incorrectly calling and labeling these treatments vaccines, people have now associated everything attached to the Covid treatments with other vaccines. In the short span of two years, we may have undone a level of trust in vaccines that took generations to establish.

The public was led to believe by a cascade of voices that the vaccine would likely prevent infection and contagion. When people “fully vaccinated” fell ill, tested Covid positive, and passed the virus along, the belief bar in vaccines as preventive approaches to other deadly and debilitating viral illnesses began to fall. What was lost as the power public health message was that far fewer people who received a “shot” became seriously ill and hospitalized.

Fewer People Trust Vaccines Thanks to Mislabeled Covid Vaccines

In the UK, doctors are encouraging polio boosters as polio makes a reemergence for the first time in two generations. Measles and mumps are on the upsurge as parents shy away from basic, trusted vaccines with a long-established safety history. Thanks to the misconception that Covid treatments as designed to fully prevent viral contagion and fall short of that mark, too many parents have put a knee down on all vaccines. I cannot blame them as I have empathy for their rationale – but not for their action.

World’s Largest Clinical Trial Still Underway

We are engaged in the largest clinical trial the world has ever seen! There are problems with the Covid treatments, not the least of which is the fact that we are still generating long-term data for their safety. These were an urgent effort by governments, economists, public health officials and drug developers to answer the call to action and the needs of a population willing to lower the bar on longer-term standard safety protocols in favor of a quick-fix “I don’t want to die” solution. Billions of people have been jabbed, millions experienced side effects, and we continue with the madness while positioning and selling these incredible disease mitigators – treatments – as vaccines.

Risk versus risk has to be returned to medicine. There are risks associated with drugs and risks associated with not taking a medication. Make no mistake, these treatments have a place in the Covid world, for instance, for those at risk of death from comorbidities. But, we must come to terms that the risk may outweigh treatment benefits for some – PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN.

And now, ironically, it is the children paying the price. As they again fall prey to diseases once eradicated, we have no one else to blame by abandoning good scientific processes – that includes taking sufficient time to study the data. Hopefully, this will work out for the best. If it doesn’t, let’s remember, we did this to ourselves.

The post Real-World Repercussions of Mislabeling Treatments as Vaccines appeared first on Medika Life.

I knew that, one day, I was going to bury her. She had a genetic condition to which most of those afflicted ultimately succumb. Yet, despite playing the movie of her death in my mind a million times, the day I finally faced it was the absolute worst day through which I have ever lived.

Twelve years later, the pain is still fresh. The grief is still suffocating. The deep-seated ache in my heart has never resolved.

As time goes by, I start to forget the circumstances surrounding her death. With my career and family obligations, I naturally am not constantly focused on those last terrible 12 hours of her life. Forgetting is actually part of the human condition, otherwise most people could not move on from a terrible tragedy.

But that forgetting — as merciful as it may be — is painful. This was my very first child. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I fell deeply in love. I never knew I could love someone like that until God gave her to us.

And the love she gave my wife and me in return was nothing short of Divine. It was unconditional, and no matter what, she would shower us with her love and smile that would melt your heart and warm your soul. I miss her so terribly.

And so — feeling so much pain from my forgetting — I sometimes go back in my memory to those last hours of her life. It is still fresh in my mind, and I remember every last detail. But when I do that, it is completely unbearable. And then, facing the horror of her loss all over again, I want to forget.

I am stuck in this vicious cycle now, and there is no way out of it.

Since her death, we have been blessed with so many gifts and so much good. The Lord has showered us with so much comfort and consolation, and for this I am forever grateful. We started a foundation in her name, seeking to “Paint the World Pink” in her honor. Pink was her favorite color, and so today, I wear pink to honor her memory and how much she meant to us.

Moreover, as an ICU doctor, I always share the story of my daughter’s death with my patients’ family members. It is a way for me to let them know that I truly do know how they feel, and it has helped them deal with the loss of their family to critical illness. It is one of the ways the Lord has brought something good out of something so truly terrible.

All of that said, the pain of her loss is still with me. It will always be with me. Like I said before, I hate that I forget, but I can’t bear to remember. All I am trying to do now is to live a life of righteousness so that, one day, I can be reunited with her again. And when that day finally comes, it will be the best day of my entire existence.

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The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine met the FDA’s safety and efficacy criteria to expand the emergency use authorization. Until now, the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in people 16 years and older.

Pfizer previously announced in a press release highly encouraging results from their Phase 3 clinical trial. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was 100% effective and generated a high antibody response in children aged 12–15.

The Phase 3 study included 2,260 US participants. The research detected only 18 cases of Covid-19, and all were in the placebo group. None were in the study participants who received the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine was 100% effective in preventing Covid-19 in this age group.

The side effect profile in children was similar to those in adults. Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever, and joint pain were the most common side effects.

Until recently, infection rates in children have been low. Children are often asymptomatic carriers but can pass the infection on to parents, teachers, and grandparents. The rise of variants such as B.1.1.7 is changing the way we view Covid-19 in children.

A March outbreak linked to youth sports in Minneapolis was a public health wake-up call. Health policymakers noted how fast Covid-19 infections in children can spread to the general public.

The FDA press release reports the CDC has confirmed 1.5 million Covid-19 cases in children age 11–17. The American Academy of Pediatrics data shows over 3.85 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.

Fortunately, most children infected with SARS-CoV-2 do well. Children account for only 0.00%-0.21% of all Covid-19 deaths. 

Vaccinating children helps prevent the further spread of Covid-19 and helps the US move closer to herd immunity. 

Like the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, the Pfizer vaccine does not contain a live virus. One cannot catch Covid-19 from these vaccines. The mRNA vaccines do not enter our cells’ nucleus and do not alter vaccine recipients’ DNA.

These vaccines do not use an adjuvant to enhance vaccine efficacy. An adjuvant is an agent used to provoke a more robust immune response. These vaccines do not make use of adjuvants.

Immunity does not come immediately after vaccination. It takes time for your body to build up protection. The Pfizer mRNA vaccine requires two doses. The first shot primes the immune system to produce protective antibodies. The second dose kicks it into high gear.

Here is what we know about post-vaccine immunity with the two Covid-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S.: In phase 3 clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine showed a 95% efficacy seven days after the second dose. The Moderna vaccine offers 94% immunity at least 14 days after dose number two.

Two weeks after completing the vaccination course, recipients can breathe a sigh of relief. Their risk of severe disease from Covid-19 is very low. But we must remember that the risk is not zero.

The post FDA Approves Covid-19 Pfizer Vaccine for Kids Age 12–15 appeared first on Medika Life.

What is infant immunization?

Immunizations are also called vaccines. From the time a baby is born through their first 15 months, they will receive many vaccines, which will protect your baby from getting sick with diseases and illnesses that can make them very ill, cause life-long health issues, or cause death.

Because most people are now vaccinated and most people chose to vaccinate their children, we forget how life was before vaccines — when debilitating childhood illnesses caused severe complications or death almost every day. Today’s children get more shots than previous generations — this is good thing! It means our children are better protected from more than we were (or our parents). Gone are the days of chicken pox, polio, and mumps!

Vaccines work many ways, depending on the vaccine, but all of them are meant to keep your baby safe. The benefits of vaccines far outweigh any possible side-effects.

Children will receive vaccines from birth until 18 months, and are given boosters in throughout childhood from ages 4–6, and again at 11 years.

What is the infant immunization schedule?

The current vaccine schedule has been created by the CDC. It is important to stick to this schedule. Information on the internet or from your friends and family about “alternative” vaccine schedules may be well-intended, but it’s not a schedule or a plan that has been tested. Providers and medical offices which support untested, “alternative” vaccines schedules are not practicing evidence-based medicine.

• Going against the CDC’s vaccine schedule is risky and can cause harm to your baby (which we would never want!). Here is why:
• The “alternative” schedule has NOT been tested. The clinical trials and research studies that should bring confidence are swapped with schedules that have no evidence for success or safety.
• Delaying certain vaccines increase risks for infection because your baby hasn’t built up the proper immunity — meaning every play date, trip to the grocery store, or kiss from grandma is a risk.
• While there is NO data to support “alternative” vaccine schedules, there IS data to support that delaying or slowing vaccination increases the risk of some types of seizures after vaccination.

There is only benefit

There is no benefit to delaying vaccines or opting for an untested schedule. There is only risk. It is important to talk to your child’s medical provider if you’re considering an “alternative” schedule. Pediatricians will take the time to explain each vaccine your child receives, answer any questions you may have, and assure you that you are making the best decision to protect your child. After all, there is nothing more important to you than your child, and making sure they are safe from anything that could harm them.

Written by Erin Cox, Practice Manager at MacArthur Medical Center; reviewed for clinical accuracy by Dr. Nehal Shah.

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What is RSV?

RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild cold symptoms but can cause more severe illness in children under two years old. Premature infants and babies with heart or lung conditions are more susceptible to severe illness caused by RSV.

Each year, RSV leads to 2.1 million outpatient visits and over 50,000 hospitalizations in children under five years old (CDC).

How is RSV spread?

RSV infection is passed from person to person through respiratory droplets. Tiny amounts of the virus spread from person to person when someone coughs or sneezes. We can reduce the risk of respiratory transmission by avoiding sick people, washing hands frequently, and wiping down surfaces and toys that your baby will touch.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

RSV shares many of the symptoms associated with the common cold. For many children, symptoms of RSV infection may include:

1. Runny nose
2. Cough
3. Fussiness
4. Poor feeding
5. Fever > 100.4

Sometimes a cold is not just a cold

Although most RSV children will experience mild symptoms, this viral illness can progress and cause a more severe disease called RSV bronchiolitis. The respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis is when the lungs’ bronchioles become swollen and full of mucus, which may cause wheezing or difficulty breathing in babies. Bronchiolitis typically resolves on its own but sometimes requires treatment or hospitalization to monitor or provide respiratory support.

More severe symptoms of RSV and bronchiolitis may include:

1. Wheezing
2. Fast or labored breathing
3. Grunting or nostrils flaring
4. Lips or fingernails turning blue (caused by low oxygen level)

If your baby shows RSV symptoms or has any wheezing or labored breathing, you should call their healthcare provider.

You should also call their healthcare provider immediately if your baby is under three months old and has a fever of > 100.4.

Call 911 if your baby is struggling to breathe or if their lips are turning blue.

How can we manage mild RSV at home?

If your baby has mild symptoms, the illness can safely be managed at home.

Parents can use nasal saline and a suction bulb to remove mucus from their baby’s nostrils gently. Put 1–2 drops of saline in one nostril. Gently lean your baby back for a minute so the saline can thin out the mucus. Squeeze the suction bulb. Place the tip in the nostril and release the suction bulb to remove mucus. Then, repeat on the other side.

Nasal irrigation is most helpful before the baby breastfeeds or takes a bottle before going to sleep.

Parents can also use a humidifier in their baby’s room at night time. This will help thin out secretions and relieve congestion and cough.

If your baby has a fever and is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give them Motrin if they are six months or older or Tylenol if they are two months or older. Follow the age-adjusted dosing instructions listed on the bottle.

Many parents request prescriptions for antibiotics. Remember, RSV is a virus. Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Antibiotics will not treat a virus or help reduce the symptoms.

How can I prevent my baby from getting RSV?

It is important to remember that you can help prevent your baby from getting RSV by avoiding sick contacts and washing hands frequently. Breastfeeding is also protective against RSV.

RSV can also be prevented by a vaccine given as a monthly injection during RSV season (late fall to spring). We recommend the RSV vaccine for the following high risk groups:

1. Premature infants
2. Infants with chronic lung disease
3. Infants with congenital heart disease

This article was contributed by MacArthur Medical Center’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Abby Boynton. 

The post RSV: What Parents Need to Know About Respiratory Syncytial Virus appeared first on Medika Life.

DATE OF ISSUE: Aug. 28, 2020

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — New research suggests that children can shed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they never develop symptoms or for long after symptoms have cleared. But many questions remain about the significance of the pediatric population as vectors for this sometimes deadly disease, according to an invited commentary by Children’s National Hospital doctors that accompanies this new study published online Aug. 28, 2020 in JAMA Pediatrics. The commissioned editorial, written by Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Meghan Delaney, D.O., M.P.H., chief of the Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, provides important insight on the role children might play in the spread of COVID-19 as communities continue to develop public health strategies to reign in this disease.

The study that sparked this commentary focused on 91 pediatric patients followed at 22 hospitals throughout South Korea. “Unlike in the American health system, those who test positive for COVID-19 in South Korea stay at the hospital until they clear their infections even if they aren’t symptomatic,” explains Dr. DeBiasi.

The patients here were identified for testing through contact tracing or developing symptoms. About 22% never developed symptoms, 20% were initially asymptomatic but developed symptoms later, and 58% were symptomatic at their initial test. Over the course of the study, the hospitals where these children stayed continued to test them every three days on average, providing a picture of how long viral shedding continues over time.

The study’s findings show that the duration of symptoms varied widely, from three days to nearly three weeks. There was also a significant spread in how long children continued to shed virus and could be potentially infectious. While the virus was detectable for an average of about two-and-a-half weeks in the entire group, a significant portion of the children — about a fifth of the asymptomatic patients and about half of the symptomatic ones — were still shedding virus at the three week mark.

Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney write in their commentary that the study makes several important points that add to the knowledge base about COVID-19 in children. One of these is the large number of asymptomatic patients — about a fifth of the group followed in this study. Another is that children, a group widely thought to develop mostly mild disease that quickly passes, can retain symptoms for weeks. A third and important point, they say, is the duration of viral shedding. Even asymptomatic children continued to shed virus for a long time after initial testing, making them potential key vectors.

However, the commentary authors say, despite these important findings, the study raises several questions. One concerns the link between testing and transmission. A qualitative “positive” or “negative” on testing platforms may not necessarily reflect infectivity, with some positives reflecting bits of genetic material that may not be able to make someone sick or negatives reflecting low levels of virus that may still be infectious.

Testing reliability may be further limited by the testers themselves, with sampling along different portions of the respiratory tract or even by different staff members leading to different laboratory results. It’s also unknown whether asymptomatic individuals are shedding different quantities of virus than those with symptoms, a drawback of the qualitative testing performed by most labs. Further, testing only for active virus instead of antibodies ignores the vast number of individuals who may have had and cleared an asymptomatic or mild infection, an important factor for understanding herd immunity.

Lastly, Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney point out, the study only tested for viral shedding from the respiratory tract even though multiple studies have detected the virus in other bodily fluids, including stool. It’s unknown what role these other sources might play in the spread of this disease.

Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney note that each of these findings and additional questions could affect public health efforts continually being developed and refined to bring COVID-19 under control in the U.S. and around the world. Children’s National has added their own research to these efforts, with ongoing studies to assess how SARS-CoV-2 infections proceed in children, including how antibodies develop both at the individual and population level.

“Each of these pieces of information that we, our collaborators and other scientists around the world are working to gather,” says Dr. DeBiasi, “is critical for developing policies that will slow the rate of viral transmission in our community.”

About Children’s National Hospital
Children’s National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children’s National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, construction will be complete on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children’s National has been designated twice as a Magnet®  hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery.

This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation’s seventh-highest NIH-funded children’s hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE Children’s National Hospital

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Famous people such as Winston Churchill, Bruce Willis, King George VI, and Marilyn Monroe all stuttered. Stuttering affects people of all ages but occurs most often in children. 

As I watched this courageous adolescent boy stand up and share his experience, I wondered what caused stuttering?

Once I wiped the tears from my eyes, I was able to begin my research. 

More than 70 million people worldwide stutter, but scientists do not know the exact cause of this language disorder. According to the New England Journal of medicine, stuttering may be the result of a glitch in key regions of the brain. Our best understanding is stuttering is caused by a combination of genetic, neurological, and developmental factors. 

What is stuttering? 

Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by recurring problems with speech disruptions and the flow of speech. This communication disorder causes speech patterns in an atypical rate and rhythm. 

Some may demonstrate repetitions in sounds, syllables, words, and phrases. Stuttering causes broken repetitions, prolongations of sounds, or abnormal stoppages known as blocks.

Our brains send signals through nerves to coordinate precise muscle movements to create speech sounds. The coordinated movements between breaths and muscles help form words. Muscles in the face, throat, palate, tongue, and lips all play a role.

People who stutter know what they want to say but have trouble producing the words or certain syllables. The medical term is dysfluent speech. 

Speaking may result in unusual facial or body movements such as rapid eye blinking or lip tremors as muscle tension and coordination is disrupted. 

Who stutters?

Roughly 1% of the world stutters. It is most common in children age 2–6, when language development occurs. Stuttering is five times more common in boys. The prevalence is similar in all social classes

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of all children stutter at some point during language development. 75% grow out of it, but 25% continue with a lifelong communication disorder. 

What causes stuttering? 

Experts do not know the exact cause of stuttering. Stuttering is divided into two categories: developmental and neurogenic. Neurogenic stuttering occurs after a stroke, head trauma, or other types of brain injury. Developmental stuttering is the most common. 

NIH research summarizes our current understanding of developmental stuttering as a combination of four factors :

1. Genetics– 60% of those who stutter have a family history. Twin studies also show a familial link. Researches identified four different genetic mutations to be associated with stuttering.
2. Neurophysiology– Recent brain imaging studies have shown consistent differences in those who stutter compared to nonstuttering peers.
3. Family dynamics -High familial expectations and stress may contribute to stuttering. 
4. Child development– Some evidence shows developmental stuttering occurs when children’s speech and language abilities are unable to meet the child’s verbal demands.

How is stuttering diagnosed and treated?

Speech pathologists are health professionals who diagnose and treat these language disorders. A basic workup includes evaluation of:

1. The onset of stuttering
2. Family history
3. Motor stuttering behaviors
4. Overall speech and language abilities
5. Triggers
6. The impact of stuttering on the child’s life

The speech pathologist will assess if the child is likely to outgrow the behavior or benefit from continued therapy. The NIH provides a directly of organizations that offer help for communication disorders here.

There is currently no cure for stuttering. Health professions often recommend speech therapy if stuttering has persisted for six months or if there is a family history of dysfluent speech. 

Speech therapy helps children learn techniques to minimize stuttering by slowing down speech patterns, regulating breathing, and coping with anxiety. 

Self-help groups help people who stutter find support and recourses to help overcome the challenges. Westutter.org is the largest non-profit organization in the world designed to provide education, advocacy, and research for those who need help. 

Impact of stuttering

The individual experience with stuttering varies from person to person. A constant struggle to communicate with others impacts the quality of life and relationships. 

Many individuals develop social anxiety and avoidance behaviors that impact future job opportunities.

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