Pediatric Speech Therapy · Dixon, CA

Stuttering Therapy for Children -- Dixon, CA

Q: Will my child outgrow stuttering?

Some children do outgrow stuttering, but waiting and hoping carries risk. Without treatment, stuttering can become more entrenched. Early evaluation ensures your child gets help if needed while the brain is most responsive to intervention.

Early intervention is highly effective. 75-80% of children recover with treatment. Free consultation.

ASHA CCC-SLP | 20+ Years Experience | 300+ Families | Insurance Accepted

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Normal Disfluency vs. Stuttering

Many young children experience disfluent speech as their language develops. This table helps distinguish typical disfluency from clinical stuttering.

Feature	Normal Disfluency	Stuttering (Evaluate)
Type of repetitions	Whole-word or phrase repetitions ("I-I want," "but-but")	Part-word or sound repetitions ("b-b-b-ball," "mmmmom")
Duration	Brief, less than 6 months	Persists longer than 6 months
Physical tension	Relaxed, effortless	Visible tension in face, jaw, or neck; eye blinking
Frequency	Occasional, typically under 10% of syllables	Frequent, often more than 10% of syllables
Awareness / avoidance	Child is unaware; no avoidance	Child avoids words, substitutes words, or stops talking mid-sentence
Blocks	Absent	Silent blocks where airflow stops before or during a word

Reference: ASHA Practice Portal, Childhood Fluency Disorders. 75-80% of children who stutter recover with early intervention.

When to Seek an Evaluation

If any of the following apply to your child, a professional fluency evaluation is recommended.

Duration exceeds 6 months. Stuttering that has persisted for more than six months is less likely to resolve spontaneously.

Visible tension or struggle. Facial grimacing, eye blinking, jaw tremors, or physical effort when attempting to speak.

Avoidance behaviors. Your child substitutes words, avoids speaking situations, or says "I can't say that."

Family history of stuttering. A parent, sibling, or close relative who stuttered increases risk of persistent stuttering.

What Therapy Involves

We use evidence-based approaches for childhood stuttering, including the Lidcombe Program for children under 6 -- a treatment supported by randomized controlled trial evidence.

Comprehensive fluency evaluation to determine stuttering severity, frequency, and impact
Lidcombe Program: parent-delivered treatment with clinician guidance, supported by RCT evidence
For older children: fluency shaping and stuttering modification strategies
Parent education on supportive communication techniques at home
Objective progress tracking using syllable-per-minute and disfluency-rate measures

Reference: Jones et al. (2005), Randomized controlled trial of the Lidcombe Programme. BMJ, 331(7518), 659.

Clinical Credentials

20+

Years Experience

300+

Families Served

CCC-SLP

ASHA Certified

75-80%

Recovery With Early Tx

What Families Say

"Our son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4. The first services we received was speech therapy as he was unable to express himself. We were lucky enough to have been paired with Stacey. Our son has been in speech therapy for almost a year now and has improved so much. He is always excited to go see Mrs. Stacey. We are forever grateful."

-- Lopez Family, Dixon, CA

"STC helped me ease my daughter into attending sessions independently instead of needing me to accompany her to every session, which has given her more confidence. My daughter looks forward to her therapy every week. We've experienced other speech therapy service providers and STC is by far our favorite. It feels like a second home."

-- Ann & Rose, Vacaville, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stuttering in young children normal?

Some disfluency is normal in children ages 2-5 as their language develops rapidly. However, true stuttering involves repetitions, prolongations, or blocks that persist for more than 6 months, increase in frequency, or are accompanied by tension or avoidance. A speech-language pathologist can distinguish between normal disfluency and stuttering.

What is the success rate for childhood stuttering therapy?

Research shows that 75-80% of children who stutter recover with early intervention. The Lidcombe Program, an evidence-based treatment for children under 6, has strong research support including randomized controlled trial evidence.

At what age should I seek help for my child's stuttering?

Seek evaluation if stuttering has persisted for more than 6 months, your child shows tension or struggle when speaking, there is a family history of stuttering, or your child is avoiding speaking situations. Earlier intervention leads to better outcomes.

Will my child outgrow stuttering?

Some children do outgrow stuttering, but waiting carries risk. Without treatment, stuttering can become more entrenched. Early evaluation ensures your child gets help if needed while the brain is most responsive to intervention.

What insurance do you accept?

We accept Sutter HMO, Kaiser, Cigna, Blue Shield PPO, Western Health Advantage, and North Bay Regional Center for children ages 0-3.