Speech and Language Therapy
If you are the parent of school-aged child or teenager who stammers, you may be looking for speech and language therapy at this time as your child’s stammering has now continued for a number of years and it is having an impact on their day to day life.
They may be feeling worried, embarrassed or frustrated with their stammering, they may have started to avoid talking because of it or they may be keen to learn what they can do to help. We also know that a child’s stammering can have an impact on parents and you may even be more concerned about it than your child.
You are welcome to call me for an initial discussion free of charge, with no obligation to book an appointment. We can discuss your concerns and what you hope to gain from speech and language therapy and I can let you know what I offer and what I can do to help.
Speech and Language Therapy
In order to identify the best way forward, I start by spending time getting to know you and your child. I will arrange to visit you at home or I can see your child at school with prior arrangement. These sessions can also take place online (e.g. via Zoom).
I start by arranging two sessions:
A session with your child
During this session, I will observe your child’s overall speech, language and communication skills through play and conversation. I may also make use of standardised checklists or questionnaires. These activities will enable me to identify your child’s key areas of strength and any areas of need. I will make observations on how often your child is stammering, the type of stammering behaviours in their speech, and establish their awareness of it and the impact it may be having on their day to day life. I will also consider their overall speech and language development in relation to children of the same age.
A parent session
Parents or carers are central in establishing the best way forward. You know your child best and can therefore provide valuable information regarding your child and their stammer within the context of the family and their day to day life. As having a child who stammers can be very worrying for parents, the parent session also gives you the opportunity to share your worries and concerns with me.
At the end of the parent session, I will give you feedback from your child’s session and help you to understand the factors which are relevant to your child’s stammer. We can then agree next steps that meets your child’s individual needs. This may involve giving you advice and activities to carry out at home or I will recommend a block of sessions. There are lots of things we can do to help.
I may also need to liaise with your child's school as required.
I can also provide a full written report. This will include a summary of your child’s strengths and areas for development as well as recommendations made, which may include referral to another professional.
Please contact me for information regarding fees.
Next Steps
Therapy Sessions
I offer a range of support which will vary depending on the age of your child and what you and your child need. I work closely with parents and the child who stammers to establish what you would like to achieve from your sessions with me. I aim to offer support that is effective and tailored to you and your child’s individual needs. I also help parents with their worries and concerns and ensure that you feel confident in how best to support your child at home.
These sessions can take place face to face or online (e.g. via Zoom). The number of sessions each child needs varies. I may start with a 6-8 week block of sessions. Sessions usually last 60 minutes. Once we have completed a block of sessions, this will be followed by a consolidation period, and a review session, where we will review your child’s progress together and then discuss the need for any further help.
Please contact me for information regarding fees.