Stuttering Programs
Young children, school-age children, and adults can receive diagnostic and therapy services for stuttering at MSHC.
Young Children are evaluated for their stuttering symptoms as well as risk factors for persistent stuttering. A language and speech assessment is also conducted. This information is used to make recommendations, which may be weekly therapy, periodic monitoring, or a re-assessment. If therapy is recommended, the parents are part of sessions and learn strategies for supporting fluent speech. Sessions are planned around the child’s interests to make them enjoyable and positive. When needed, children are taught strategies for increasing the level of fluency in their speech.
School-Age Children are also evaluated at MSHC for stuttering severity, level of life impact of stuttering, language skills, and speech skills. If therapy is recommended, sessions are held after school and in the summer. Children often begin with individual sessions and then transition to a small group. A group setting provides a more natural speaking environment and allows children to interact with others who are working on the same skills. Families are also involved with the process. Goals are selected with the child’s priority needs in mind. They can include direct strategies to manage and reduce the severity of stuttering, increasing participation at school and socially, managing challenging speaking situations such as presentations, and how to talk with others about stuttering.
Adults who stutter are evaluated for stuttering symptoms and severity as well as the impact of stuttering on daily communication and quality of life. Adults who stutter may find themselves avoiding speaking situations in which they would like to participate, avoiding certain words and replacing them with other words, choosing a job that doesn’t require a lot of talking over a job they would enjoy, or experiencing a high level of speech-related anxiety. Goals typically focus on the physical and observable features of stuttering as well as the impact of stuttering in daily life. Strategies that decrease the tension and disruption in the flow of speech are utilized, and the limiting behaviors and choices are identified and addressed according to the person’s priorities. Most attend both individual therapy and group sessions.
For more information about stuttering services at MSHC, contact:
Julie Marshall, CCC-SLP
Specialty Recognition in Fluency Disorders
Certified Lidcombe Provider, Stuttering: Early Intervention - Lidcombe Training Consortium
For information about current research projects and how to participate, contact:
Dr. Naomi Eichorn
Additional information about stuttering and treatment can be found at:
www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering.htm
www.stutteringhelp.org
www.westutter.org