Stuttering Therapy

Stuttering Therapy
Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a speech condition that disrupts the normal flow of speech.
Stuttering typically onsets in children under 5 years old as they develop their speech and language abilities. Many children may outgrow stuttering without treatment however it is impossible to know which children will resolve naturally. Therefore the current best practice is to begin stuttering treatment as soon as possible.
Children who stutter may display the following:
- Repetitions: Repeating sounds, syllables, or words (e.g., “b-b-b-ball”).
- Prolongations: Stretching out sounds within a word (e.g., “ssssssnake”).
- Blocks: Pausing or stopping speech before or during a word or sentence.
- Other behaviours: Visible struggle to speak, such as rapid eye blinking, lip trembling, or facial grimacing, accompanying a verbal stutter.
The exact cause of stuttering is unknown, but several factors may contribute:
- Genetics: Family history of stuttering increases the likelihood.
- Developmental Factors: Delays in speech and language development may contribute to dysfluency.
- Neurological Factors: Differences in brain activity related to speech production.
When to Seek Help
It’s common for children between the ages of 2 and 5 to go through periods of dysfluency. However, if stuttering remains, it is beneficial to consult a speech pathologist. Early stuttering intervention particularly in preschool years can utilise treatment programs that improve speech fluency and help prevent long-term stuttering.
Treatments
There are effective treatment options for stuttering, catering to both children and adolescents. These programs can be delivered in person or via telehealth:
- For Children
Lidcombe Program: This evidence-based program is designed for children under 6 years old but there is some evidence for using this program in the early school years. It involves parents delivering treatment at home under the training and guidance of a speech pathologist. The focus is on positive reinforcement for fluent speech and gentle correction of stuttering with the use of verbal contingencies.
Syllable-Timed Speech Programs: Programs like the Westmead and Oakville Programs use a syllable-timed speech technique to help children improve their fluency. - For Teenagers
Camperdown Program: This speech restructuring program helps individuals learn to control their stuttering by speaking in a slow and exaggerated manner initially, then gradually increasing their speech rate while maintaining fluency.
If you are concerned about your child’s fluency, get in touch with us.
Funding
At Kids and Cubs Clinic we accept the following funding options:

NDIS
- Self-managed funding
- Plan-managed funding

Private Health Insurance
- Please consult your private health provider to determine eligibility and rebate amounts.

Medicare
- Chronic Disease Management plan (previously known as Enhanced Primary Care plan)
- Please discuss Medicare funding options with your GP