None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Preliminary evidence has driven the development of an innovative treatment for early stuttering, called the Westmead Program. The treatment involves training children to practice a speech pattern known as syllable timed speech (STS) with their parents, daily. STS involves speaking with equal stress attached to each syllable and it is the best known means to control stuttering in a laboratory context. The current best practice treatment, the Lidcombe Program, has been replicated in randomised controlled trials; however, it does require considerable resources from families and clinicians. The purpose of investigating innovative treatments for early stuttering is to provide users with effective alternate approaches that have the potential to improve health care efficiency and client care. Accordingly, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether the experimental treatment is at least as efficacious as the standard treatment.
Interventions
The Westmead Program is conducted in two stages. During stage 1, children are taught to to practice a speech pattern known as syllable-timed speech (STS) with their parents, daily. STS involves speaking with equal stress attached to each syllable. The treatment is administered by a trained speech pathologist during weekly or fortnightly clinic visits, lasting 30-60 minutes in duration. Treatment continues until stuttering is less than 1.0% syllables stuttered within the clinic and average weekly
The Westmead Program is conducted in two stages. During stage 1, children are taught to to practice a speech pattern known as syllable-timed speech (STS) with their parents, daily. STS involves speaking with equal stress attached to each syllable. The treatment is administered by a trained speech pathologist during weekly or fortnightly clinic visits, lasting 30-60 minutes in duration. Treatment continues until stuttering is less than 1.0% syllables stuttered within the clinic and average weekly severity rating scores beyond the clinic are less than 2, for three consecutive weeks. At that point, participants progress to Stage 2 of treatment. The aim of Stage 2 is to maintain the low level of stuttering achieved during Stage 1 whilst gradually withdrawing treatment over approximately one year. The Westmead Program treatment group will be run simultaneously to the Lidcombe Program treatment group.
Sponsors
National Health and Medical Research Council
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
1 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Stuttering for at least 6 months; stuttering severity greater than 2.0 %SS; no previous treatment for stuttering; no other speech or language disorders; functional spoken English.
Exclusion criteria
Stuttering for less than 6 months; stuttering severity less than 2.0 %SS; previous treatment for stuttering; other diagnosed speech or language disorders; non-functional spoken English.
Outcome results
None listed