A Mother’s Perspective on Stuttering Treatment: When Lidcombe Does Not Work and Dismay Regarding Speech Pathology Australia’s Proposal (Ep. 511)

stuttering, StutterTalk
Alex, Sophia and Maddy

Charlotte Jolley in Perth, Australia joins Peter Reitzes to discuss being the mother of triplets who all received Lidcombe Stuttering Treatment. Sophia and Maddy recovered while Alex, now 8 years old, continues to stutter. Ms. Jolley reports that Alex received Lidcombe on-and-off for 3-4 years and participated in over 100 treatment sessions. Ms. Jolley expresses feeling that some of her previous speech-language pathologists gave up or “threw in the towel” on helping Alex. Ms. Jolley discussed feeling extremely pleased now that Alex is receiving treatment that focuses on acceptance, empowerment, meeting and learning from other children who stutter and easier ways of talking. After just a single session that focussed on acceptance, Alex is described as a “different boy.”

stuttering, StutterTalk
Charlotte Jolley

Ms. Jolley expressed great concern and dismay regarding Speech Pathology Australia’s proposal to the Australian Government Department of Treasury. Jane Fraser, President of the Stuttering Foundation, described the issue in a recent statement:

“Australia’s professional association for speech pathology has recently submitted a proposal to the Australian government seeking to provide reimbursement for only a single type of stuttering treatment, creating a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy for treating pre-school children who stutter. We find this proposal unthinkable and strongly oppose any policy action to limit choices to a single method by controlling government reimbursements for healthcare practitioners in any field…”

Related Links:

  • Kathy Viljoen’s letter to Speech Pathology Australia – link
  • Janet Beilby’s letter to Speech Pathology Australia – link
  • Speech Pathology Australia’s proposal/budget submission to the Australian Government for 2015-2016 – link
  • The Stuttering Foundation’s Response/Statement titled Another Blunder from Down Underlink
  • Craig Coleman’s post/petition – A Dangerous Precedent from Australia: What It Means and What Happens Nextlink
  • Speech Pathology Australia’s Response/Statement – link
  • Problem with “One Size Fits All” – link
  • Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children letter to Speech Pathology Australia – link
  • Craig Coleman’s ASHA blog post, A Controversial Proposal on Stuttering Treatment from Speech Pathology of Australia: What It Means and What Happens Next – link
  • ASHA blog post by Ann Packman, Mark Onslow and Deborah Theodoros – link
  • International Fluency Association Press Release – link
  • Lidcombe the only effective treatment in Australia? – link
  • Submission to the Community Affairs References Committee of the Senate – “An inquiry into the prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia” – link
  • A very important question to Onslow and Packman – link
  • Deborah Theodoros has been misinformed about the efficacy of Lidcombe – link
  • The Australian Budget Lidcombe Proposal Debate: A Primer in Memes – link
  • Chickens are Coming Home – link
  • StutterTalk Episode 502 – link
  • StutterTalk Episode 508 – link
  • StutterTalk Episode 509 – link