Treatment for stuttering includes individualized goals that focus on increasing fluency, reducing secondary/avoidance behaviors (if applicable), improving self-confidence, and supporting the child and his/her family.
Treatment can begin after a child receives a stuttering diagnosis. The earlier treatment begins, the better the outcome.
Indirect Treatment (environment):
Direct Treatment (altering a child’s speech):
Indirect Treatment (environment):
Direct Treatment (altering child's speech):
Speech modification strategies are designed to enhance/create fluent speech. The strategies below are used to alter a child's breath, articulation, and rate of speech.
They include:
Stuttering modification strategies help to bring awareness of stuttering to the child and reduce any physical tension or struggle.
Some examples include:
A large portion of stuttering treatment will be to counsel the child and his/her family on stuttering.
Many children and family members have a lot of fear wrapped up in stuttering and it is your job as an SLP to ease these fears, discuss and help reduce anxiety, and come up with strategies to support your client.
Once a child can use strategies within the therapy room, he/she has to use those strategies outside the therapy room.
This can be a hard transition since the world can be an unpredictable place. There are many environmental stressors that trigger stuttering.
When starting generalization activities, begin with a low-pressure situation. This varies depending on the child.
Once a child is successful in a low-pressure situation, move up to a SLIGHTLY higher pressure situation. Make sure the child can be successful. You want to build confidence!
Bridget is an ASHA certified, practicing speech-language pathologist. She is passionate about providing parents with information on child speech and language development as well as provide functional, easy activities to do at home! Parents have the power to make a real difference. Follow Bridget at Facebook and Pinterest for more fun!
Reference: Childhood Fluency Disorders. Retrieved 4 October 2017, from http://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Childhood-Fluency-Disorders/