ABSTRACT
At present, it seems clear that some children who begin to stutter will recover without formal treatment. The exact portion of a clinical caseload for which this will occur is not known with certainty at present, nor is it known how to predict which children will recover without treatment. Not surprisingly, then, case selection strategies for early intervention are currently a controversial topic (e.g., Bernstein Ratner, 1997; Curlee & Yairi, 1997; Packman & Onslow, in press, Onslow, 1996; Zebrowski, 1997). It seems clear, however, that active treatment for early stuttering is necessary with many children. It also seems clear from clinical reports (Onslow, Andrews, & Lincoln, 1994; Starkweather, Gottwald, & Halfond, 1990; Starkweather & Gottwald, 1993) and laboratory reports (see Onslow, 1996 for a review) that reduction of stuttering to near zero levels is an attainable goal for preschool children, and one that can be achieved in quite few clinician hours. This chapter outlines the Lidcombe Program, which is a treatment for early stuttering that, we claim, warrants consideration as an effective procedure to achieve the goal of rapid elimination of stuttered speech in children for whom that is considered necessary.1
