By: Catherine Coughlan, M.A., CCC-SLP In addition to speech and language services, there are a variety of stuttering support groups that can benefit children, teens, and adults who stutter. Participation in stuttering support groups is one of the best ways to grow in a supportive community of people who “get […]
Q&A with a Bilingual Stuttering Therapist
Day 1 Q: My child is bilingual- is that what is causing them to stutter or making it worse? A: I want to start by saying stuttering is not caused by learning another language. In fact, there are many places in the world where bilingualism is a way of life […]
National Stuttering Awareness Q& A Week 2018
My pediatrician said my child’s stuttering is “normal” and he will outgrow it. Is this true? I’ve noticed an increase in my child’s stuttering. Why the change and what can I do to help? Why is my child refusing to practice speech/stuttering management strategies for homework? Would it help my […]
How to Clear Four Common Roadblocks to Coverage of Stuttering Treatment
By Brooke Leiman, Katie Gore & Rita ThurmanDealing with fluency issues can be confusing and frustrating for the client and family. Navigating health insurance reimbursement for stuttering treatment can also present challenges for them. In our extensive work with clients who stutter, we’ve learned several tips for getting treatment covered—either […]
Back to School: Self-Advocacy Tips for Students Who Stutter
By Alex Whelan Back to school season fills children with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. They may feel eager to reunite with friends, participate in clubs, sports or other extracurricular activities, and to continue learning (even if they refuse to admit it!) On the flip side, they might be […]
Is My Child Stuttering? Typical Disfluencies Versus Childhood Onset Stuttering
By Jessica Safer MS, CCC-SLP As children grow and develop language, many may display “typical disfluencies” in their speech. These disfluencies are natural as the young child’s language is emerging, and his or her speech system is working hard to put together new words in a variety of ways. Typical […]
For Teachers
Stuttering is a fluency disorder that is defined as a disruption in the forward flow of speech. It is commonly characterized by repetitions (ex. ba-ba-baseball), sound prolongations (ex. mmmommy), or blocks (i.e. no sound). Disfluencies may also be accompanied by negative thoughts and feelings about stuttering, avoidance of sounds, words […]
Helpful Strategies for Communicating with a Young Child who Stutters
The following are tips for enhancing your child’s fluency and promoting healthy communication attitudes and enjoyment for speaking: Reduce the overall pace of your interaction with your child. Do this by slowing your rate of speech and adding pauses within your sentences at natural breaks within a sentence, between your […]
National Stuttering Awareness Week 2015
In 1988 Ronald Reagan declared the 2nd week of May as National Stuttering Awareness Week (NSAW)- a week dedicated to educating our communities about stuttering and its impact on peoples’ lives. Members of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) played a huge role in establishing this week so what better way […]
One Size Does NOT Fit All
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), Australia’s professional organization for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), recently submitted a proposal that suggests that SLPs working in clinics run by the Australian government must be trained in the Lidcombe Program in order to treat pre-school aged children who stutter. SPA is also supporting legislation that would […]