A significant advancement in speech therapy services is unfolding across the Dutch Caribbean region as specialized training programs enhance care for children who stutter. Suriname currently hosts an intensive professional development course bringing together speech therapists from Suriname, Curaçao, and Aruba with the primary objective of improving support systems for young stutterers and their families.
Fifteen speech therapists from Suriname are participating in the ‘Stuttering in Children’ certification program, while seven colleagues from Curaçao and Aruba are attending via virtual platforms. The training is conducted by certified stuttering therapists Irma Uijterlinde and Liesbeth Zoontjens, who traveled specifically to Suriname to deliver the specialized curriculum according to therapist Gracia Nelson.
Zoontjens emphasized the critical need for expanded expertise, noting that only three specialized stuttering therapists currently serve the entire Dutch Caribbean population. ‘With improved knowledge and techniques, speech therapists can provide more targeted guidance to both children who stutter and their parents,’ she explained. Uijterlinde reinforced the importance of early intervention, stating: ‘The sooner a child receives appropriate help, the greater their chances of recovery and normal developmental progression.’
Medical statistics indicate that approximately 1% of the general population experiences stuttering conditions. The phenomenon is more prevalent among young children, with about 8% of children under six years old undergoing a stuttering phase. Notably, one quarter of these children will develop persistent stuttering patterns without professional intervention. Timely therapeutic support can substantially reduce the long-term impact on communication abilities and social development.
The comprehensive curriculum addresses multiple facets of stuttering management, including diagnostic procedures, parental guidance strategies, and collaborative approaches with educational institutions. The initial training days focus on therapeutic techniques for children under six years old, followed by specialized modules addressing the needs of children aged six to twelve years. A follow-up session is scheduled for March to reinforce learning outcomes and clinical applications.
The professional development initiative commenced Monday at the Association of Medici building and will continue through January 17th, representing a concerted effort to address regional healthcare disparities in speech pathology services.