Categories for Lidcombe Stuttering

What causes stuttering?

What Causes Stuttering?   (This was adapted from the Stuttering Foundation of America) Stuttering Facts and Information What is stuttering? Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Stuttering is also referred to as stammering. What causes stuttering? There are four factors most likely to contribute to the development of stuttering: genetics (approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also); child development (children with other speech and language problems or developmental delays are more likely to stutter); neurophysiology (recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter); and family dynamics (high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering). […]


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Posted on June 3, 2020 9:00 pm by

How can you help your child who stutters over tele health…

During these stressful times stuttering can increase. Even in a pandemic stuttering can be helped.   Despite homework and chaos, children deserve to communicate. If your child is stuttering several things can be done to get them help. These include: Reduce questions…comment more.. Allow more time to speak..pause before answering Do not interrupt Do not allow them to interrupt you Help them phrase out your words… Positive praise Take turns Keep good eye contact If you are interested in our Lidcombe Plus parent program please email Lori@allislandspeech.com www.allislandspeech.com  


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Posted on May 5, 2020 12:54 am by

Masks-The impact on communication, speech and hearing…It will be huge..

The real and new truth is this.. We will all have to have more patient now. Of course wearing masks is essential for our health but it does create communication and hearing issues. It has become our new normal. I just came back from the supermarket, which has been a stressful experience for all. I While ordering items from the deli counter I realized people were repeating items three times due to the fact that it is harder to project or see lips. People who are are hearing impaired often read lips. Well, those days are gone. People who stutter need airflow to talk and it is harder to breathe in masks. Someone who suffered a stroke might get frustrated if not understood. People have asthma, kids have oral motor issues or apraxia. The list goes on and on. It is also a little scary not recognizing people. With that […]


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Posted on April 23, 2020 7:45 pm by

Top questions to ask speech pathologists if your child stutters so they succeed?

Did you know only one percent of the population stutters? Did you know that most of  graduate students do not work with anyone who stutters in their careers? It takes time to change speech patterns.  If your child is under 7 parents should be in the speech room because Lidcombe is the best therapy out there. What should you ask? What is your experience with stuttering? How many years have you worked with stuttering? How can you help my child?


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Posted on January 29, 2020 12:11 am by

How to help your child with ADHD?

Take a break… Give yourself a chance to breathe as a parent and realize that not all children develop at the same time..   ADHD Parenting Tips Learn what you can do to manage your child’s behavior and deal with common ADHD challenges. How to help your child with ADHD Life with a child or teen with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) can be frustrating, even overwhelming. But as a parent you can help your child overcome daily challenges, channel their energy into positive arenas, and bring greater calm to your family. And the earlier and more consistently you address your child’s problems, the greater chance they have for success in life. Children with ADHD generally have deficits in executive function: the ability to think and plan ahead, organize, control impulses, and complete tasks. That means you need to take over as the executive, providing extra guidance while your child […]


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Posted on January 28, 2020 11:57 pm by

Understanding preschool stuttering….

STUTTERING IN YOUNG CHILDREN Tips parents need to know. by LORI MELNITSKY, MA, CCC-SLP posted in CHILD DEVELOPMENT Isn’t it wonderful that some of our best learning stems from personal experiences? Many years ago, my 2½-year-old daughter came home from a sleepover at her grandparent’s house. She was repeating whole words and phrases. Additionally, she was prolonging sounds in words (“ssssssand”) and seemingly unaware of how she sounded. As a speech/language pathologist who stutters, I knew that many children experience stuttering or disfluencies at an early age. Still, as any parent would be, I was concerned and worried. Many questions had to be answered. I admit, my gut reaction was to say all the wrong things to my daughter that I had heard early in my childhood, such as “slow down,” “breathe,” “say the words over” and “don’t be nervous.” However, I knew these suggestions, though all well-intended, were more harmful than helpful. […]


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Posted on January 17, 2020 11:20 pm by

2020 brings a fluency program for adults who stutter to talk fluently: a 17 year old talks…

My initial intake of 17 year old Bruce , a junior in high school: To the listener he stuttered mildly. Inside he was suffering and changing words constantly to talk.  The fear of stuttering was enormous and was causing emotional damage. Me: Why do you want an intensive stuttering program? Bruce: Because I cannot talk to my friends or say my name. I feel my palms sweat. I run out of the class when I am called on. I want to go to college and not hide.  I need to be able to say my name. He asked me this…What is the point of doing well in school if I cannot talk? two months later: Me: Did the course help you? Bruce: Lori, I asked a girl to the prom. My palms do not sweat. I can say my name. I work hard to practice. I cannot thank you enough.. […]


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Posted on December 31, 2019 9:33 pm by Leave your thoughts

Wow…MPI 2 graduate… Stuttering to Fluency……

Jake stuttered. Was terrified of speaking. This is why he took the program- 1. Took the program because I was tired of conventional therapy not helping me and was intrigued by the biofeedback aspect of the program. 2. Helped me by changing my pattern of speech to be more flowing and smooth. Made me aware of what words and phrases caused me to stutter and how to handle it. The program instructions allowed me to speak to new people with the headset on and desensitized me to new situations. 3. Stuttering is sometimes debilitating for me. I was in a dark place and thought I’d never be able to accept the fact that I stutter. Through this program and therapy with Lori, I’ve become more accepting and have learned the tools and techniques to manage my stutter. It doesn’t define me anymore. age 22 college senior Please click to watch […]


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Posted on December 13, 2019 1:01 am by Leave your thoughts