What is the Lidcombe Program?
The Lidcombe Program is a behavioural treatment that targets children’s stuttered speech. The Program has 2 stages. In Stage 1 the treatment goal is for the child to speak with almost no stuttering, or no stuttering at all. Stage 2 is focussed around maintaining low levels of stuttering over time. Stage 1 consists of weekly appointments where the parent is taught how to do the treatment which is completed at home during “practice sessions”.

How is the Lidcombe Program administered?

• The Lidcombe Program is administered by trained Speech Pathologists.
• The Program is taught to parents in weekly therapy sessions.
• Parents then deliver the Program with continued supervision and training from their Speech Pathologist.
• There are two main aspects of the Program: severity ratings and verbal contingencies.
• Severity ratings:
  • Regular measurement of children’s stuttering severity occurs every day during Stage 1.
  • This helps to determine what the treatment goals will be throughout the program and will show when to transition from Stage 1 (regular weekly sessions with home practice) to Stage 2 (monitoring the child’s stutter).
• Verbal Contingencies
  • Reinforce smooth speech
  • Verbal contingencies are a comment made by the parent after a child does or doesn’t stutter.
  • They occur primarily during practice sessions. Practice sessions are 10-15 minutes of one-on-one play time with the child.
  • The use of verbal contingencies in practice sessions allow the parent to use verbal contingencies correctly, and in a positive way.
  • Verbal contingencies are used following stutter free speech and unambiguous stuttering (when the child definitely stuttered).
  • Some examples include:
    • Praise (“wow that was smooth!”)
    • Acknowledgements (“smooth talking” for stutter free speech and “that was a bit bumpy” for unambiguous stuttering)
  • Practice sessions are lead by the parent to maximise stutter free speech.

Why use the Lidcombe Program?

• The Lidcombe Program is an evidence-based treatment for children who stutter. This means that the program is based on scientific research and has been tested through clinical trials.
• If your child is younger than 6 years of age (in some circumstances the program may be suitable for older children)
• If you like the idea of a treatment approach that doesn’t alter yours or your child’s speech pattern
• As therapy occurs primarily though play… It’s fun!

For more information please visit the Lidcombe Program website, or book in with a Lidcombe trained Speech Pathologist.

Written by Jonathon Cronk – Lidcombe Trained Speech Pathologist