In most cases a stutter (also known as a stammer) is not acquired but developmental, adults presenting with a stutter usually have had it since childhood.

With a stutter, there is disruption to the fluency of our speech. This interference can be in the form of long pauses in the middle of a sentence, repetition of the first part of a word (wh-wh-where), interjections of smaller sounds/words (‘um’ or ‘eh’) or holding a single sound for a long time whaaaaaat).

At an initial meeting the Speech and Language Therapist will carry out an assessment to evaluate the speech problem properly. They will also speak at length to the person to understand the impact the stutter/stutter has had on this person’s life (social, academic, occupational and confidence) and what steps the client would like to take to make gradual changes so they can speak more confidently.

The long term goals of stuttering therapy are continued reduction of the impact of stuttering on the client’s life, continued follow-up and structured network of support for clients and maintain emphasis on chosen therapy, empowerment and acceptance. Therapy for stuttering is usually offered on an individual or a group basis for a pre-defined period of time. At an initial appointment or assessment, the therapist will discuss your individual needs with you.  An individually tailored treatment plan will be devised with you and can include many approaches and techniques.