Treatment of Severe Stuttering in a Child

—Through Integration of Direct and Indirect Treatments—

Abstract

We obtained exallent results in treating a severely stuttering child. We taught him to manipulate his stutter and to adopt his attitude so as not to fear stuttering.
Onset of stuttering was at 2 years 10 months, and the first consultation was at 6 years 7 months. During this interm stuttring had become worse. Stuttering symptoms were almost all of the block type, and accessory symptoms were notable. Even more conspicuous was an attitude seeking to avoid stuttering. The child was overly sensitive, and he withdrew when his parents and elder sister pressured him.
In order to change this environment and his character, we offered counseling and guidance to his parents, and provided play threrapy to the child. When improvement in his psychological state, we began direct therapy for stuttering and taught him to stutter fluently. As a result, he acquired ability to stutter fluently and tell his worry about stuttering to his parents.