Behaviour Change

Table of Contents - 01 December 2004 - Volume 21, Issue 04  

Invited Essay

Treatment of Stuttering in Preschool Children

Mark Onslowa1 c1

a1 Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Stuttering is a speech motor disorder that begins in the first years of life and if not treated effectively can have catastrophic effects on the individual. This article briefly describes the disorder, and overviews treatment of stuttering in preschool children. Such treatment is considered far preferable to treatment in adolescence and adulthood. Evidence of the effectiveness of early stuttering treatment from clinical trials is overviewed, along with clinical benchmarks for such treatment. Epidemiological data showing considerable natural recovery are reviewed, and the implications of those data for the timing of early stuttering intervention are considered.

Correspondence:

c1 Address for correspondence: Professor Mark Onslow, Director, Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe NSW 1825, Australia. E-mail: M.Onslow@fhs.usyd.edu.au