How simple can a treatment for early stuttering be? A proposed two-factor early intervention

Onslow, M; Hearne, A; Yu, K; O'Brian, S; Menzies, R; Lowe, R

How simple can a treatment for early stuttering be? A proposed two-factor early intervention

Onslow, M

Hearne, A Yu, K O'Brian, S

Menzies, R

Lowe, R

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Publisher:: American Speech Language Hearing Association
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2026, 35, (2), pp. 422-430
Issue Date:: 2026-03-10

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Onslow, M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2629-2390
dc.contributor.author	Hearne, A
dc.contributor.author	Yu, K
dc.contributor.author	O'Brian, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0882-1909
dc.contributor.author	Menzies, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7589-960X
dc.contributor.author	Lowe, R https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3826-5306
dc.date.accessioned	2026-05-01T02:04:11Z
dc.date.available	2026-05-01T02:04:11Z
dc.date.issued	2026-03-10
dc.identifier.citation	American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2026, 35, (2), pp. 422-430
dc.identifier.issn	1058-0360
dc.identifier.issn	1558-9110
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194853
dc.description.abstract	<jats:sec> <jats:title>Purpose:</jats:title> <jats:p>In this clinical focus article, we draw attention to the need for immediate intervention shortly after stuttering onset. More than half of stuttering onsets occur before 3 years of age. We argue that existing interventions for preschool children who stutter require varying levels of cognitive engagement from children; hence, they are not suitable for children of that age. For this reason, we argue that there is no clinical trials evidence for treatment efficacy with children younger than 3 years of age.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title> <jats:p>There are many recommended parent strategies that do not require any active participation from children, which, therefore, may be suitable for immediate stuttering intervention. Two of these have laboratory support in their favor: parent speech rate reduction and increased interturn speaker latency. Therefore, we developed a clinical protocol based on those two parent strategies and showed the clinical viability of the protocol with three children who stuttered. We argue that automation of our proposed treatment with lifelike artificial intelligence–generated avatar clinicians will make it globally viable, and a suitable target for future Phases I–IV clinical trials.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	American Speech Language Hearing Association
dc.relation.ispartof	American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1044/2025_ajslp-25-00256
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1702 Cognitive Sciences, 2004 Linguistics
dc.subject.classification	Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
dc.subject.classification	3903 Education systems
dc.subject.classification	4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
dc.subject.classification	4704 Linguistics
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Stuttering
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Speech Therapy
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Child Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Treatment Outcome
dc.subject.mesh	Artificial Intelligence
dc.subject.mesh	Parents
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Stuttering
dc.subject.mesh	Treatment Outcome
dc.subject.mesh	Speech Therapy
dc.subject.mesh	Child Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Parents
dc.subject.mesh	Artificial Intelligence
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.title	How simple can a treatment for early stuttering be? A proposed two-factor early intervention
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	35
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences
utslib.for	2004 Linguistics
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Australian Stuttering Research Centre (ASRC)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2026-05-01T02:04:09Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	35
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Purpose: In this clinical focus article, we draw attention to the need for immediate intervention shortly after stuttering onset. More than half of stuttering onsets occur before 3 years of age. We argue that existing interventions for preschool children who stutter require varying levels of cognitive engagement from children; hence, they are not suitable for children of that age. For this reason, we argue that there is no clinical trials evidence for treatment efficacy with children younger than 3 years of age. Conclusions: There are many recommended parent strategies that do not require any active participation from children, which, therefore, may be suitable for immediate stuttering intervention. Two of these have laboratory support in their favor: parent speech rate reduction and increased interturn speaker latency. Therefore, we developed a clinical protocol based on those two parent strategies and showed the clinical viability of the protocol with three children who stuttered. We argue that automation of our proposed treatment with lifelike artificial intelligence–generated avatar clinicians will make it globally viable, and a suitable target for future Phases I–IV clinical trials.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194853