THERAPY SERVICES

Support with Stammering

What is Stammering?

Stammering, also known as stuttering is a speech difference when people may repeat words and sounds, make sounds longer, which is known as “prolongation”, or get stuck when saying a word, also known as “blocking”. In some people, you may see physical tension in their face or body, such as head or body movements, clenching their fists, or blinking. Stammering can sometimes be hidden, where people avoid speaking in certain situations, change words or speak in shorter sentences.

There is no single cause of stammering, it is a complex speech difference that is different for everyone. It often starts in children around the age of two to five years old. This is when language skills typically develop at a quick rate and children are starting to use longer words and speak in longer sentences. We often hear that parents are worried they have caused their child to stammer, this is not the case and parents do not cause their child to stammer! Research has also shown that there are a range of factors which can impact stammering.

For further up to date evidence- based information about stammering, you can visit the Michael Palin Centre website: What causes stammering? - The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering

Our Approach

We see stammering as an acceptable and valid way of talking; rather than it being a speech “difficulty”, we see it as a speech “difference”. We understand however, that stammering can cause concern for parents and can impact a child’s or young

person’s self-esteem and confidence. If parents are concerned, or a child or young person’s stammer is holding them back from doing what they want to do, or is causing upset and frustration, we are here to help.

Annabel offers virtual sessions which enables her to provide specialist support to families across the country. This delivery approach is widely used within Speech and Language Therapy and can be convenient and allow more flexibility in people’s busy schedules. Children may feel more comfortable accessing their appointments in a familiar setting and we ensure that sessions are engaging and fun by using resources that we are able to share with the child on the screen.

How Can We Help

Therapy for stammering is individualised for each person and depends on the child’s age and awareness. We are guided by information gathered at the initial consultation.

In this appointment we discuss your concerns and best hopes for therapy, interact with your child to informally assess their speech, language and communication development, engage your child in a child friendly conversation about their stammer and how they feel about it, agree on the next steps and discuss any recommendations we may have.

If it is recommended that you and your child would benefit from further support, we can offer the following:

Therapy for younger children

For younger children, we use the Michael Palin Parent Child Interaction (PCI)

approach which Annabel has attended specialist post-graduate training in.

This is an approach is an evidence-based internationally known therapy programme, developed through research at the Michael Palin Centre, the national centre for stammering in the UK. The approach aims to:

Help parents and children learn more about stammering and feel confident about knowing how to support their child at home.

Reduce the negative impacts of stammering that may be felt by the child or their parents.

Develop positive and open attitudes to stammering.

Support children to communicate confidently whether or not they continue to

stammer.

Enhance young children’s fluency.

Therapy is tailored for each child guided by the information you and your child share with us and your best hopes for therapy.

The approach is centred around fostering stammering friendly interactions with your child, using video recordings of you and your child playing, to coach you in understanding what is working well and if there is anything you would like to focus on within your interaction. We typically suggest six sessions, followed by a consolidation period with a further review following this. We are also able to share information with your child’s nursery and school regarding how they can support your child in this setting.

Therapy for older children and teenagers

For older children and teenagers there are a different options dependant on the impact of stammering, their level of concern and their best hopes for therapy. We work with the young person to problem solve how to make things more achievable and easier for them. We usually explore their thoughts and feelings about their stammer and support and empower children and young people to be confident communicators, regardless of their stammer. We use therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), which Annabel has attended post-graduate training in.

For some families, we may suggest a family communication therapy approach, similar to therapy for younger children, where both parents and the young person learn more about stammering and communication skills to foster a stammering friendly environment at home. We can also provide further information for school or college regarding how to support your child in these settings.