What does stuttering therapy for children look like?

Not every child who stutters needs therapy. Especially in young childhood there is a high spontaneous healing rate in stuttering children. However, if a child becomes mentally conspicuous or develops behavioral patterns to avoid speaking, stuttering therapy should be considered.

Often stuttering therapy then takes the form of intensive therapy. This includes speech therapy, which takes place once a week. Other methods such as respiratory therapy, psychotherapy or hypnosis are also used.

It is important that the therapy is tailored to the individual needs of the child concerned. A serious stuttering therapy should have the following contents: Intensive learning and consolidation of the new stuttering-free speech pattern An intensive, clearly structured aftercare phase An accompanied transfer of the learned material into everyday life A constant control of success Depending on the age of the child, stuttering therapy for children is carried out according to the child’s age and needs. Thus, group sessions often include joint practice, speech and play rounds in a group. In addition, it is essential for the success of the therapy that the parents are trained and actively support the children in the stuttering therapy.

Intensive learning and consolidation of the new stutter-free speech pattern
An intensive, clearly structured aftercare phase
An accompanied transfer of what you have learned in everyday life
A constant success control

What does stuttering therapy for adults look like?

Stuttering therapy looks slightly different in adults than in children. Speech therapy, breathing therapy, psychotherapy and hypnosis or body coordination are the basis of stuttering therapy. Since adults are usually involved in a professional and/or family life, there are offers for intensive therapies over two weeks or therapies that take place once a week for months.

Adults do exercises, such as speech exercises on the computer or joint reflection in group sessions. Similar to children, stuttering therapies for adults often involve group sessions in which people practice and talk together. Typical exercises for adults include speech training in the form of lectures and reading and telephone exercises.

Situations are practiced that are typical for the everyday life of an adult. For example, those affected should practice speaking to passers-by or conducting a sales conversation in a store. After stuttering therapy, adults are solely responsible for aftercare. Often the affected persons are given Internet programs and refresher courses for at home, which they should use in a structured way for practice. The aftercare of a stuttering therapy serves to consolidate a more fluent way of speaking.