When Speech Doesn’t Flow
Does your child repeat sounds or words, get stuck on the first sound of a sentence, or seem to struggle to get words out? Stuttering — also called stammering — is a common speech fluency difficulty that affects people of all ages, and support is available.
Paul Riley from Southern Cross Speech Pathology provides mobile stuttering support for children and people of all ages across Wyndham, visiting your home, your child’s school, or another convenient location across Werribee, Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Manor Lakes and Williams Landing.
What Is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a disruption to the natural flow of speech. It may involve:
Repetitions — repeating sounds, syllables or words (“I w-w-want to go”).
Prolongations — stretching out a sound (“Ssssorry”).
Blocks — getting stuck before or during a word, with no sound coming out at all.
Stuttering often begins in early childhood and may come and go. For some children it resolves on its own; for others, support makes a significant difference.
Is It Just a Phase?
Many young children go through a period of dysfluency as their language develops rapidly — this is normal. However, if stuttering persists beyond six months, is increasing in frequency or severity, or is causing your child distress, it is worth seeking an assessment.
Stuttering in Older Children and Beyond
Stuttering does not always resolve in childhood. For those who continue to stutter, therapy can build fluency strategies, communication confidence, and reduce the anxiety that often develops around speaking situations. Support is available at any age.
What Does Therapy Look Like?
Therapy approaches vary depending on age and individual need. For young children, parent-involved approaches have strong evidence. For older children, therapy may focus on fluency techniques, managing speaking anxiety, and building confidence in everyday situations. Paul works collaboratively with families throughout the process.
Book a Stuttering Assessment in Wyndham
Paul currently has immediate availability across Wyndham. Call 0494 102 108 or email info@southerncrossspeech.com.au to book today.