| The Lidcombe Programme which originated from | | | | learnt it, the pathologist checks to see if the |
| a suburb near Sydney, Australia of the same | | | | parents are administering the treatment in the |
| name is a special treatment program developed | | | | right way because any flaw in the treatment |
| for the cause of stuttering children. The | | | | could prove worthless for the stuttering child. |
| programme which originally began in Australia has | | | | Hence proper training must be taken by the |
| received world-wide recognition because of the | | | | parents with complete involvement to achieve the |
| effectiveness of the treatment. It was developed | | | | desired results. |
| by Professor Mark Onslow as a behavioral | | | | After the parents proceed with the treatment, |
| treatment to help stuttering children recuperate | | | | they have to be direct with their comments on |
| from their problem. | | | | the child's speech. They must overly encourage |
| This treatment makes use of parents or closely | | | | every stutter that is overcome and rarely point |
| related relatives of the stuttering child so that | | | | out the stutter when it happens as this avoids |
| there is involvement and ease. The treatment is | | | | putting too much pressure on the child. Points are |
| undergone in the presence of a speech pathologist | | | | given to monitor the progress: No stutter gets 10 |
| who briefs the parents on the methods involved | | | | points while sever stuttering gets 0 points and |
| in the treatment. The speech pathologist only | | | | weekly observations are made on this basis and |
| directs and guides the parents or volunteers in | | | | corrections made in the following weeks. |
| doing the methods of the treatment so that the | | | | The child is ready for the second stage only when |
| stuttering child feels comfortable and familiar in its | | | | the stuttering has been overcome and here |
| surroundings. | | | | maintenance of the fluent speech is advised. |
| Divided into two stages, the Lidcombe | | | | Normally, the first stage takes somewhere |
| programme focuses on eliminating the stutter in | | | | around 11 weeks for an average stutterer. The |
| the first stage and in the second stage care is | | | | primary success of the Lidcombe programme lies |
| taken so that the stutter doesn't reappear. During | | | | in the fact that it is mainly practiced in the real |
| the first stage, the parents visit the clinic of the | | | | world scenario outside a clinic thereby making sure |
| speech pathologist for a certain required number | | | | the treatment works effectively and also ensuring |
| of times in a week and learn the treatment | | | | the child's advancement in a natural environment. |
| methods from the pathologist. Once they have | | | | |