Stuttering Therapy (Fluency Clinic)
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder where speech production is interrupted by repetitions, prolongations or blocks. Children who stutter often know what they want to say but may experience the following involuntary symptoms when they talk:
- Repetition of sounds – e.g. h-h-h-hello
- Prolongations – stretching of sounds, e.g. cannnnnn I have some?
- Blockages – hesitations/stoppages/pauses before talking
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These symptoms may also be accompanied by secondary behaviours including facial grimacing, redness in the face, blinking etc. It can also have an impact on a child’s self-esteem and social interactions. Stuttering typically appears when children are 3-4 years of age
How can we help?
Identifying stuttering early is important because treatment is most effective when a child is younger than 6 years of age. There are various treatment options available depending on the type and severity of stuttering, and on your child’s age. Our therapists are trained in the Lidcombe Program for stuttering.