What do I need to receive therapy at home?

You will need reliable internet, a tablet or computer (preferably not a phone), and a distraction-free space to work.

Is there a cure for stuttering?

There are those who claim to offer a cure for stuttering. Please know there is no magic pill, procedure, machine, or app that can “cure” your stutter.   Let me share some good news: about 75-80% of young children will stop stuttering on their own. Although we cannot yet predict which child will or will not achieve spontaneously fluent speech, a look at certain risk factors can help guide our decision-making on whether or not speech therapy is appropriate. Some of the risk factors to consider include the child’s gender, family history of stuttering, what age the child was at the onset of stuttering, and how long the child has been stuttering.

As children grow into their school age and teen years, the chances that their stutter will spontaneously resolve greatly diminishes. However, through hard work and commitment, stutter-free speech or greatly improved fluency is possible for many people who stutter.

Does online therapy really work?

There are numerous studies across age groups and diagnoses showing online speech-language therapy (also called telepractice or teletherapy) to be as effective as face-to-face therapy. Here are summaries of recent studies which looked at teletherapy for stuttering:

The effect of tele-speech therapy on treatment of stuttering (Jahromi, Ahmadian, and Bahaadinbeigy, 2020)

Exploring Telepractice for Stuttering: A Case Study (Barnett, 2020)

Clients’ Experiences of Telepractice for Stuttering (McGill, Cullen, and Webb, 2019)

Webcam Delivery of the Lidcombe Program for Early Stuttering: A Phase 1 Clinical Trial (O’Brian, Smith, and Onslow, 2014)

Review of Telehealth Stuttering Management (Lowe, O’Brian, and Onlow, 2013)

What causes stuttering?

While there have been many theories about the cause of stuttering (environment, temperament, parenting style), scientists now seem to agree that stuttering is genetic and neurological in nature. In a recent conversation on The Stuttering Foundation Podcast dated December 2019, Dr. Dennis Drayna, a human geneticist with the National Institute of Health, stated that 80% of stuttering can now be attributed to genetics. Specifically, scientists have identified 10 genes (locating 4 of them so far) and believe there are likely more involved in stuttering. He explains that people with mutations in these genes have differences in their brain. According to Dr. Drayna, areas of differences include: the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right hemispheres; Broca’s Area, located in the left hemisphere and important for speech and language production; and a specific cell type called glia. 

It is important to note that stuttering is multifactorial. Meaning, while the underlying causes are genetic and neurological, the onset and severity of stuttering can be influenced by many factors such the child’s language development, temperament, and environment. Therefore it is important to understand and treat the whole person, not just their stutter. One additional point: the human brain is highly plastic. While we don’t fully understand how, we know the brain can adapt, change, learn new things. Just as we can learn to play a musical instrument, learn a sport, or re-learn how to speak after a brain injury, so can people who stutter learn to speak with fluency.

Here’s an excellent article with more from Knowable Magazine:

https://www.knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2020/new-neuroscience-stuttering

Stay tuned!  There is always much more to learn.

How long will I or my child have to be in therapy?

It is difficult to predict, and unethical to promise that your speech goals will be reached within a certain number of sessions.  There are many factors which impact the duration of therapy such as the age of the client, level of adherence to home practice assignments, and frequency of sessions. After a thorough evaluation, we will decide together on the best goals for you and the method we will use to work toward those goals. Once this is determined, I can provide you with information on a general range, knowing that the length of therapy is highly individualized. For example, a young child who responds immediately to therapy may only need 6-8 weeks of sessions before we begin phasing out of therapy. A school-age child with more severe stuttering and avoidance behaviors may require once- or twice-weekly sessions for an extended period of time.  Some adults, when appropriate, may opt for intensive therapy for a short period of time followed by less frequent “check-ins” over a longer period. Please know that my goal is NOT to keep you or your child in speech therapy indefinitely! I offer the most effective and efficient therapy I can so you or your child can meet your communication goals in the most timely manner possible.