The environments in which we communicate on a daily basis
have changed drastically given the global pandemic, but there are still many ways to facilitate successful communication. The following is a top ten list of suggestions for teachers and clinicians that they can use to help children who stutter navigate the challenges unique to communicating effectively and meaningfully during this time of social distancing.
10) Explain to students that eye contact is still key to communication, but that it will be different as they will be looking more at the center of the screen as opposed to directly into the eyes of the person or persons they are talking to and this takes practice to master.
9) Remind students to smile at least a little when they are talking – emphasize that no matter the distance,if the student is frowning while talking, they will look like they do not want to participate in that exchange and the person(s) they are communicating with will not want to participate either.
8) Tell students to stay “inside the box” – instruct them that if they cannot see themselves on the screen, no else can see them either.
7) Train your students to speak a little louder than usual to ensure that they can be heard via a video platform,while being sure to also remind them to shift their voice volume back to what is a typical level of loudness when they are talking to someone in person.
6) Help your students to practice self-kindness; prepare and support them through the challenge of seeing themselves, and, even their stuttering, on the screen as they are talking as they will likely make self- observations and encounter feelings that they have never experienced before.
5) Encourage your students to share that they are a person who stutters – instruct them to disclose prior to speaking with new people, prior to presentations for class, prior to interviews, etc., and to notice how that disclosure reduces listener assumptions and, increases their own ease with the exchange.
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