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• SUPPORTING A STUTTERING STUDENT AT SCHOOL

  91-104

  Tiiu Tammemäe

  Sigrid Sõggel

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  339

  Stuttering is a disability of tempo and rhythm in the speech that students, special education teachers, and speech therapists face in their daily work. Previously, stuttering has been researched from the perspective of speech therapy and speech therapists. This research is however based on the opinions of the youngsters in question. One percent of the population are considered stutterers as per Guitar’s (1998) theory — which would mean that in Estonia, approximately 1,500 students are stutterers. Students spend a large and valuable part of their day and leisure time at school. It is therefore essential that teachers and advisors are aware and competent in providing support to stuttering students as needed. These students do not receive enough support and attention, as stuttering is considered a disability that does not distract teachers from doing their job. It can be assumed that teachers do not change their methods and systems in evaluating a stuttering student. It is nevertheless crucial that the student with the impediment feels safe and good at school and can express their thoughts in speech. The aim of this research is to find out how stuttering students cope in their school environment. The research also focuses on the experiences of teachers and support specialists in order to understand their cooperation when assisting a stuttering student.