What is the Lidcombe Program?/Who delivers it?
The program is a behavioural approach for the treatment of stutters in children under 6 years of age. Parents and caregivers deliver the treatment and are monitored by Speech Pathologists. Parents do the program by encouraging children during everyday situations to speak without stuttering, and measuring their stuttering severity every day. The Lidcombe Programme has a strong evidence base and has been shown to be effective in several studies.
Components of the Lidcombe Program
There are two stages in the program and both must be completed. The goal of stage one is to reduce the stutter in natural conversations. This involves weekly 45-minute sessions with the Speech Language Pathologist and 10-15 minutes home practice daily. Stage two, the maintenance stage, is the most integral part of the Lidcombe Program. During this time, the Speech Pathologist will show you how to ensure that stuttering does not re-appear. You will continue treatment at home, but in a more naturalistic environment.
Treatment Time For A Stutter
The treatment time required for Lidcombe can vary. The average time until there is little or no stuttering is approximately four months. Keep in mind that this is only an average and treatment can take more or less time depending on severity of stutter, frequency of practice, attendance at sessions, and accuracy in the delivery of the program.
But remember, the most important part of the treatment is that your child enjoys it. Therapy sessions should always be fun and interactive!
We can Help
If you’d like to know more about how the Lidcombe Programme can help with your stutter, call or email to talk to us.
