Effective treatment for preschool children who stutter: An advanced course

Overview

Stuttering in preschool children can be one of the more challenging disorders for speech-language pathologists to treat. Many clinicians have wondered about which children need treatment and what are the most effective way to help children overcome their difficulties with speech fluency.

Common questions include:

What is the difference between normal disfluency and stuttering?

When should I conduct an evaluation of a preschool child who stutters?

Will evaluating a preschool child make his stuttering worse?

How long should I wait before recommending treatment?

Should I be working with the parents or the child or both?

 How do I get parents involved in therapy? What if they won’t participate?

What if the child becomes aware of his stuttering?

What if he keeps stuttering?

What if the child does not want to be in therapy?

This workshop is designed to help you answer these and other difficult questions so you will be able to provide the most effective treatment for the children on your caseload.

The workshop will begin with an overview of key concepts in stuttering therapy, including specific techniques for helping preschool children who stutter improve their speech fluency and overall communication. The presenter will then provide specific examples of treatment goals, strategies, and therapy activities that can be adapted for clinicians working in a variety of settings. Particular attention will be paid to strategies for working with parents of preschool children who stutter. Numerous sample dialogues will be presented so participants will understand how to answer the types of questions that parents often ask. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about specific children on their caseloads.

Participants will come away from the workshop with a better understanding of the nature of preschool stuttering and increased confidence in their ability to help preschool children who stutter and their families overcome the burden of this challenging disorder.

Sample Outline / Timed Agenda

(Full-day program shown. All seminars can be adapted to a variety of schedules.)

8:30 - 9:00 Preschool Stuttering 101

9:00 - 10:00 Understanding the Diagnostic Process

10:00 - 10:15 break

10:15 - 10:45 Specific Diagnostic Strategies

10:45 - 11:45 Helping Children Communicate More Effectively

11:45 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 Parent-Focused Treatment Strategies

2:00 - 2:30 Parent-and-Child Focused Treatment Strategies

2:30 - 2:45 break

2:45 - 3:30 Child-Focused Treatment Strategies

3:30 - 4:00 Questions & Answers / Case Examples

Learning Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify preschool children in need of a comprehensive evaluation of speech fluency.

Select appropriate evaluation strategies for determining which preschool children who stutter are in need of treatment.

Develop individualized treatment approaches aimed at helping preschool children overcome their speaking difficulties.

Effectively educate parents about 3 strategies for facilitating preschool children’s fluency at home and in other situations.

Utilize 3 strategies for helping preschool children improve their speech fluency directly.

Describe 2 strategies for helping preschool children develop health, appropriate attitudes toward stuttering and their speaking abilities.

For More Information

To schedule this seminar or to find out how this program can be adapted for your organization, contact Dr. Yaruss at seminars@yaruss.com.