This article is by Gail Wilson Lew, M.A. C.C.C., a Speech Pathologist who specialises in stuttering treatment and herself a person who stutters. Her article give a very interesting and enlightened insight into bullying and teasing of children who stutter.

What do you do when your child tells you he was teased at school for his stuttering? Your first reaction might be to enroll him in a karate class! But, fighting back may not be the wisest response because it may only make matters worse. Growing up as a tomboy, my father encouraged me to beat up anyone that teased me when I stuttered. My father constantly recited, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you". He did the best he could, but the words did hurt me. I wish he had sat me down and talked about the issue of teasing and why people tease others.... click here to read more

BULLYING AND TEASING: FACTS

Approximately 35% of all school children report being bullied or teased.

However 82% of children who stutter report experience bullying and teasing at school as a result of their stutter.

Bullying has a marked impact on self-esteem and self-image which may result in feelings embarrassment, inadequacy and shame over their stutter.

The bullying of children who stutter takes on a particular nasty form, such as exclusion, mimicking (pretending to stutter), or being treated as inferior.

Many of the strategies for addressing bullying and teasing are not available to children who stutter. The quick reply or the making fun of yourself, or agreeing with perpetrator about his/her point all put the child at further risk of stuttering and further humiliation. A good reply would be to say, "I didn’t know you stuttered" or "you don’t stutter very well, you need to practise more".  This quick and witty reply would be effective but if you stutter how do you make such a confident reply

Self-help groups and talking with other children who stutter can help people become more excepting of their own stutter. This will also help overcome feelings of isolation and being alone

Teachers and even parents are often unaware of the teasing that goes on.

Children with strong social support (ie strong friendships) are less likely to be targets for teasing and bullying.

People who stutter are just normal people. We know what we want say, but unfortunately sometimes it does not come out as smoothly or clearly as we would like. Because of this little hiccup in our speech, people who stutter often get teased about their stutter.

Teasing will often commence at school in the primary years with somewhat innocent remarks or attention to your stutter. As you get older and enter high school and your teenage years, the teasing often becomes more sinister and hurtful. The teasing can take many forms: mimicking, exclusion from groups, isolation and physical bullying is not uncommon. 

Unfortunately teasing and bullying may continue into adulthood where it may appear as discrimination and unfair recruitment practices in the workplace. Many people who stutter report being overlooked for a job or promotion because of their stutter. 

Regardless of the place, the time, or the type of bullying and teasing that is going on, it is not acceptable. You should not have to put up with teasing and bullying. Many children who experience bullying and teasing at school do not report it to their parents or their school teacher because they feel ashamed to talk about their stutter and because they feel this results in no change in the situation. 

If someone is bullying you:

§         Walk, talk and act confidently - even if you don't feel it. Stay calm

§         Ignore the bully

§         Remember it's OK to tell - you're not dobbing

§         Stay away from places where bullying could happen

§         Stay where your teacher can see you

§         Keep away from children who you know are bullies

§         Keep with a group of friends.  

Try and stop the bullying yourself. Find good ways to solve the problem. If you can talk to your teacher or your mum or dad. They'll help you find ways to solve the problem. 

In the end bullying and teasing is not acceptable and you have a write to have something done about it to make it stop. In order for it to be stopped, you may be able to develop your own coping strategies, or you may need help from a parent or school teacher. If you can stop the bullying and teasing yourself and you are finding it difficult to handle, then get help. It is not a crime to stutter and it is not a crime to seek help from a person in authority when you are being bullied or teased because of your stutter.