Skip to main content
Admissions guidance, study banks, and career tools — get started on Shalyam
Research News

Helping Children Who Stutter with Resilience Training

Mayur Tembhare
  1. A new study from the University of Mississippi has found that a telepractice resilience program can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills.

  2. The program was led by Gregory Snyder, an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Emily Williams Thornton, a graduate student at Ole Miss.

  3. Around 3 million adults in the United States stutter, while about 5% of children experience a period of stuttering.

  4. The resilience program included 12 live online sessions over six weeks for six children aged 8 to 12.

Topic: Health

A new study from the University of Mississippi shows that a telepractice resilience program can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills. The program, led by Gregory Snyder and Emily Williams Thornton, included 12 live online sessions over six weeks for six children aged 8 to 12.

A new study from the University of Mississippi has found that a telepractice resilience program can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills. The program was led by Gregory Snyder, an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Emily Williams Thornton, a graduate student at Ole Miss.

For many children who stutter, one of the biggest challenges is not the stuttering itself, but rather the teasing, bullying, and negative social reactions they face. This can affect their participation in school and social life. Snyder said that he was told as a child to 'not talk if you can't talk fluently,' which can lead children to constantly monitor their speech and anticipate judgment.

The resilience program aimed to address these challenges by teaching children practical ways to regulate emotion, respond to unkindness, ask for support, mentor others, and continue participating in school and social life. The program was based on a character education video series from resilience educator Brooks Gibbs, which was adapted for the pilot program.

The study found that the program helped the six children who participated develop coping and self-advocacy skills. Snyder said that the program 'gives children practical ways to regulate emotion, respond to unkindness, ask for support, mentor others, and continue participating in school and social life.'

It's worth noting that stuttering is a neurological condition that can reveal itself in handwriting, sign language, and other nonspoken forms of communication. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, around 3 million adults in the United States stutter, while about 5% of children experience a period of stuttering.

Why It Matters

This study is important because it shows that resilience training can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills. In India, where bullying and teasing are common issues in schools, this research can be applied to help children who stutter build confidence and participate fully in their education.

Key Facts

  • A new study from the University of Mississippi has found that a telepractice resilience program can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills.
  • The program was led by Gregory Snyder, an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, and Emily Williams Thornton, a graduate student at Ole Miss.
  • Around 3 million adults in the United States stutter, while about 5% of children experience a period of stuttering.
  • The resilience program included 12 live online sessions over six weeks for six children aged 8 to 12.
  • Stuttering is a neurological condition that can reveal itself in handwriting, sign language, and other nonspoken forms of communication.

Key Terms

Telepractice
Using technology to deliver services remotely
Resilience training
Teaching children how to cope with challenges and build confidence

Implications

This study is important because it shows that resilience training can help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills. In India, where bullying and teasing are common issues in schools, this research can be applied to help children who stutter build confidence and participate fully in their education.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2026-07-resilience-children-stutter.html

Leave a comment

← All research

Get Exclusive Insights with Every Issue

Join Shalyam Newsletter

Stay ahead in education, research, and innovation—straight to your inbox.