Parent question

My child is being teased about their speech. How can I help?

Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

The short answer

Listen first, tell your child it isn’t their fault, and work with the school rather than the other child’s parents. Research shows children with communication difficulties are more likely to report bullying, and that the social impact of speech errors can grow as children get older, so it’s worth taking seriously and telling your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP).

What research says

In a survey of parents of 91 children aged 5½ to 15 being treated for R errors, the items that most separated more-affected from less-affected children were the impact on social interactions, general life satisfaction, and being teased or bullied. Children aged 8 and older had higher impact scores than younger children (Hitchcock et al., 2015).
In a study of more than 4,000 Australian children, those identified with communication difficulties at 4 to 5 reported more bullying, poorer peer relationships and less enjoyment of school at 7 to 9 (McCormack et al., 2011).
In 111 Dutch children aged 4 to 7, children’s views of their own speech were only weakly related to their parents’ views, so it’s worth asking your child directly how they feel (van Doornik et al., 2025).

These studies show associations, not cause and effect. The first surveyed families already seeking therapy, and the second covered communication difficulties broadly.

What helps

Listen without judging, and tell your child it isn’t their fault (StopBullying.gov; AAP).
Don’t tell them to ignore it or to fight back (StopBullying.gov).
Work with the school. Official guidance suggests not contacting the other child’s parents yourself and letting school staff help (StopBullying.gov).
Practise a simple response together, like the AAP’s “stop, walk, talk”: tell the child to stop, walk away, and talk to a trusted adult.
Encourage friendships. Children with a healthy group of friends are less vulnerable to bullying (AAP).
Keep following up. Your child shouldn’t have to change classes or routines to avoid it (StopBullying.gov).

Tell your child’s speech therapist

ASHA notes that children whose speech difficulties persist may be at risk of low self-esteem and bullying, and lists supporting self-esteem and bullying concerns as part of an SLP’s role. Your SLP can help with confidence as well as sounds, and may be able to talk with your child’s school.

Questions parents ask

Should I tell my child to ignore it?

Official US guidance (StopBullying.gov) advises against telling children to ignore bullying or to fight back. Listen, reassure them, and involve the school.

Should I contact the other child’s parents?

StopBullying.gov suggests resisting that urge and asking school staff to help instead.

Can speech therapy help with my child’s confidence?

ASHA describes supporting self-esteem and bullying concerns as part of an SLP’s role. Tell your child’s SLP what’s happening and ask how they can help.