What Is the Best Therapy for Stuttering in Children?
If your child has started stuttering, you may be wondering:
What is the best therapy for stuttering in children?
Early intervention plays a key role in reducing the severity of stuttering and supporting long-term communication confidence. Fortunately, a number of speech therapy programs for stuttering have been researched—and some, like the Lidcombe Program, show strong evidence for effectiveness, particularly for preschool-aged children.
The Lidcombe Program: Gold Standard for Childhood Stuttering
When it comes to treating stuttering in preschool children, the Lidcombe Program is the most well-researched and widely recommended approach. This program is a behavioural treatment delivered by parents under the guidance of a qualified speech pathologist. It involves daily practice sessions at home, with a focus on encouraging fluent speech and gently correcting moments of stuttering.
Research shows that this program is highly effective:
An analysis by Onslow et al. (2012) found that children receiving the Lidcombe Program were 7.5 times more likely to achieve near-zero stuttering than those who did not receive it—even before completing the full course of treatment.
de Sonneville-Koedoot et al. (2015) found that 76.5% of children treated with the Lidcombe or RESTART programs were considered nonstuttering at 18 months post-treatment.
Long-term results are also strong: Jones et al. (2008) found that most children maintained near-zero stuttering five years after completing therapy.
Other Speech Therapy Options for Stuttering
While the Lidcombe Program is the most studied, other evidence-based stuttering therapies for children also show promise:
The Demands and Capacities Model (RESTART) produced similar outcomes in some trials, helping to reduce stuttering by adjusting environmental and linguistic demands.
For school-aged children, syllable-timed speech has been shown to reduce stuttering by over 50% in many cases (Andrews et al., 2012).
Multimodal approaches—which combine behavioural therapy, speech restructuring, and even digital or cognitive strategies—are gaining attention, particularly for older children and adolescents (Johnson et al., 2023; Iimura et al., 2022). While promising, more research is needed in these areas.
What Makes Stuttering Therapy Most Effective?
Across all intervention types, the research highlights three essential ingredients for successful therapy:
Active parent involvement
Consistent, daily practice at home
Professional support from a qualified speech pathologist
Whether your child is in the early stages of stuttering or has been experiencing it for some time, early and evidence-based intervention makes a real difference.
Looking for Help with Stuttering?
Dr Kylie Smith specialises in stuttering assessment and therapy for children of all ages. She can provide individualised stuttering treatment plans grounded in current research and tailored to your child’s needs. If you’d like to learn more about the best therapy for childhood stuttering or book an assessment, get in touch here or schedule an appointment.
Is Stuttering in Children Normal?
Why Early Assessment of Stuttering in Young Children Matters: Advice from a Melbourne Speech Pathologist
If your child has started to stutter, it’s natural to wonder whether you should wait and see if it resolves on its own—or seek professional advice. While stuttering can come and go in early childhood, early assessment by a qualified speech pathologist (also known as a speech therapist) is strongly recommended.
Why Early Assessment of Stuttering Is So Important
Stuttering often begins between the ages of 2 and 4. For some children, it will resolve on its own. However, research has shown that it is not possible to reliably predict which children will recover naturally and which will continue to stutter without support. Early intervention offers the best opportunity to reduce stuttering and prevent long-term impacts on communication, confidence, and social development.
Left untreated, stuttering may persist into adolescence and adulthood, potentially affecting a child’s emotional well-being, academic performance, and social interactions. Early assessment gives families clarity, reassurance, and access to evidence-based therapy options tailored to each child’s needs.
What Happens During a Stuttering Assessment?
A comprehensive stuttering assessment for young children includes:
A friendly, play-based session to help your child feel at ease
A detailed case history to explore the onset and nature of the stuttering
Collection of speech samples (from within the session or via recordings from home)
Discussion with caregivers about the impact of stuttering on the child and family
Clear, practical recommendations tailored to your child
It’s important to know that your child doesn’t need to stutter during the session for the assessment to be meaningful—speech samples from home and parent observations are equally valuable.
Expert Stuttering Support in Melbourne – Telehealth or Face-to-Face
Dr Kylie Smith is a Melbourne-based speech pathologist with over 25 years of experience. For the past 17 years, she has worked exclusively in stuttering, supporting children and families with evidence-based, compassionate care. Her approach is collaborative and client-centred, designed to build confidence and reduce the burden of stuttering on daily life.
Appointments are available face-to-face in Melbourne or via telehealth for families across Victoria and Australia.
Book an Assessment or Learn More
If you're concerned about your child’s stuttering, don’t wait. Early assessment can make a real difference.
To book an appointment or learn more about stuttering therapy for young children, contact Dr Kylie Smith today.
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