Intensive Stuttering Therapy Program for School-Age Children and their Parents

Kenneth Melnick, Maura Paton and Nicole Bourassa

This study describes the integration of fluency shaping (i.e. slower speech, light articulatory contact, and continuous phonation), stuttering modification (i.e. pullouts), parent and child counseling and parent involvement during an intensive six week summer program for school-age children who stutter. Results demonstrated increased awareness and knowledge of stuttering and use of fluency enhancing strategies for both children and their parents. Findings support previous studies that suggest using these types of approaches (i.e. fluency shaping, stuttering modification, counseling, and parent involvement) with children who stutter and their families.