Pediatric Stuttering Program

Our Stuttering Program is a specialized treatment program for children, ages 3 and over, who stutter, regardless of severity.

The program is comprised of:

• Individualized treatment sessions to focus on reversing the progression of the disorder by increasing fluency and addressing the emotional aspects which often accompany stuttering
• Direct parent training and conferencing with weekly observations of treatment sessions
• A home program designed specifically for your child
• A resource of library books, pamphlets, and videotapes about stuttering available for checkout
• Peer group treatment session

What is Stuttering?

Stuttering is a complex group of behaviors that interfere with normal, fluent speech. These dysfluencies are experienced by some children as they develop language, usually between the ages of 2-7 years. For most children, these dysfluent patterns will come and go, and eventually cease. But for some, these patterns continue.

Skills of Clinicians

Our nationally accredited staff members are clinically certified in Speech and Language Pathology and are specialists in working with children who are diagnosed with stuttering. In addition, our department is a recognized training center for physicians and graduate-level students in speech and language pathology.

Skills of Speech-Language Pathologists

The clinicians who have specialized training in assessing and treating fluency disorders recommend appropriate treatment plans. Individual, group and supportive counseling programs are available.

A diagnostic evaluation is often recommended when a child:

• Repeats the first sound or syllable of a word (CCC-Cat)
• Stretches out or prolongs a sound
• Adds the"uh" sound while repeating (Buh-Buh-Ball)
• Makes faces or moves body when talking
• Changes the pitch or loudness of the voice in order to stop the repetitions and prolongations
• Avoids or appears fearful of speaking situations

Benefits

The clinicians help establish new fluency patterns, as well as:

• Help children who stutter to develop fluent speaking patterns
• Provide coping skills for the child and their families
• Conduct intensive individual treatment sessions
• Facilitate group treatment sessions with peers, allowing application of new fluency patterns in social settings