Stuttering Clinic Toowoomba

Our Stuttering Clinic assesses and treats stuttering in children and adults of all ages. Dr Lisa Hudson leads our team of fully qualified and experienced Speech Pathologists who provide services to people who stutter using the Lidcombe Program for younger children, and Smooth Speech techniques for older students and adults. Research evidence has shown that the treatment of stuttering in older children and adults is most effective when conducted in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). If required, CBT can be provided by our experienced Psychologist.

What is the aim of the stuttering clinic?

  • To assess stuttering, including potential contributing factors such as speech or language difficulties.
  • To develop and implement an effective intervention program to remove, reduce or control stuttering behaviours (dependent on age).
  • To educate parents, teachers, and family members about stuttering.
  • To develop the skills of parents and family members in supporting their child’s communication and reducing or managing stuttering (age dependent).
Register for the stuttering clinic

Who is best suited to attend the stuttering clinic?

Those who are best suited to attend the stuttering clinic are:

All children who stutter – as soon as they start stuttering.

All adults who stutter when they are ready to commit to a program of self-improvement.

Stuttering can include all or some of the following features:

  • Repeating sounds, syllables or phrases (‘c-c-can’, ‘da-da-daddy’, ‘I want-I want-I want to go’)
  • Prolonging sounds or parts of words (‘caaaaaaan I go?’)
  • Blocking – may be silent and look like they are stuck and trying to speak but no sound is coming out.

 

The “wait and see” approach of the past is now considered to be a “wait to fail” approach. Research shows that immediate intervention delivers the most effective results and reduces the risk of a child’s self-esteem and social skills being impacted by stuttered speech.

How does the stuttering clinic work?

The stuttering clinic is tailored depending on the age of those who attend.

Under the age of 6

  • Children and parents are taught skills to prevent and remove stuttering such as reducing speech rate, breathing practice, and daily talking time as per the Lidcombe Program.

Over the age of 6

  • Students and family members are taught strategies to control and manage their stutter:
    • Preventative strategies to create optimum communication conditions.
    • Strategies to reduce stuttering that are most relevant for the specific characteristics of their stutter.
    • We support adults to link with the Australian Speak Easy Association (https://www.speakeasy.org.au) and facilitate participation at the Australian Speak Easy Annual Retreat held in the beautiful Scenic Rim, Queensland.


To preview some of the strategies that adults can use, check out Dr Lisa Hudson on Ezy Speech TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycA8PCB5gFw&t=4s

Ben and Fraser