STUTTERING
Is your child repeating words or syllables? Is vour child getting stuck on words?
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Stuttering is a speech disorder which causes interruptions to the flow of speech. This may include:
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Sound repetitions - eg. b b b b but thats mine
Word repetitions - e.g. but but but thats mine
Blocks - silent pauses in speech which look like the speaker is stuck, trying to speak with no sound coming
Prolongations - when a sound is stretched out and held for longer than usual. E.g. "buuuuuut that's mine
Other behaviours, both verbal (e.g. grunts, filler words such as "um", "er") and non- verbal (e.g. grimacing, blinking, body movements).
Stuttering can effect children, adolescents and adults., and usually starts in early childhood, often around 3 years of age. It may start gradually (days or months), or suddenly (over hours or a day). Stuttering can vary over time and can change in type and frequency. It may even decrease or seem to go away for periods of time.
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Early intervention is recommended for children who stutter. Research shows that the Lidcombe Program is the most effective treatment for children under the age of 6. Speech restructuring techniques are also successtully used to reduce and manage stuttering in adolescents and adults.
Stuttering Programs
The Lidcombe Program is a direct, behavioural parent training program for young children where the parent is trained at weekly consultations to identify their child's stutters (eg, frequency and severity of stuttering), carefully praise fluent speech and gently correct stuttered speech.
The program is individualised for each client and family. This program is most effective for children under 6 years of age.