These are offered to help clients maintain their gains after treatment, and may be attended as often as necessary. Sessions are held weekends in fall, winter and spring, and week-long in summer and winter, but they may also be specially arranged as needed. In addition to the refresher clinics, we also suggest follow-up visits to local speech pathologists. Workshops of this kind have been given across Canada and the USA as well as in Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and Kuwait. Special programs for children have been developed.
Treatment varies according to age and degree of stuttering and is tailored to individual needs.
Treatment takes place in an interactive format where clients work directly with a clinician. If needed, computerized programs are used to augment treatment. Older children and adults learn to manage their speech through fluency skills relating to breathing, voice initiation, articulation and speech rate. They work to overcome speech fears and avoidances and to build confidence, social skills and self-management abilities. Because therapy is not a cure, ongoing effort and commitment are necessary to maintain new speech patterns and attitudes.