About the

clinic
References Stuttering
Treatment for
The mission of the La Trobe
¹ O’Brian, S., Onslow, M., Cream, A., & Packman, A.
(2003). The Camperdown program – Outcomes of a new Adults &
prolonged speech treatment model. Journal of Speech,
Communication Clinic is to: Language, and Hearing research; 46, pp. 933 – 946 Adolescents:
² Packman, A., Onslow, M., & Menzies, R. (2000). Novel
• Provide speech pathology services speech patterns and the treatment of
that are informed by client need and stuttering. Disability and Rehabilitation; 22(1), pp. 65 -
79
best practice Smooth Speech
³ Andrews, G., Guitar, B., & Howie, P. (1980). Meta-
analysis of the effects of stuttering treatment. Journal of
• Achieve excellence in clinical Speech Hearing Disorders; 45, pp. 287-307
education ⁴ Block, S. (2004). The evidence base for the treatment
of stuttering. In Reilly, S., Douglas, J., & Oates, J. (Eds.),
• Create research opportunities for Evidence based practice in speech pathology. London:
Whurr.
Human Communication Sciences
⁵ Bourke, J., Fraser, S., Josevski, S., Sedgley, J., Streat-
students and staff feild, B., & Tuke, M. (2005). iStutter: Recommended
treatment – smooth speech. Retrieved June 9, 2008,
Services are provided by qualified speech from http://www.latrobe.edu.au/istutter/?q=node/12
pathologists and supervised ⁶ Block, S., Onslow, M., Packman, A., Gray, B., & Dacakis,
undergraduate and postgraduate speech G. (2005). Treatment of chronic stuttering: outcomes
from a student training clinic. International Journal of
pathology students. Language & Communication Disorders; 40(4), pp. 455 —
466
⁷ O’Brian, S., Packman, A., & Onslow, M. (2008). Tele-
health Delivery of the Camperdown Program for Adults
Who Stutter: A Phase I Trial. Journal of Speech, Lan-
guage, and Hearing Research; 51(1), Health Module,
p.184
⁸ Australian Stuttering Research Centre. (2006). The
Australian Stuttering Research Centre. Retrieved June 5,
2008, from: www3.fhs.usyd.edu.au/asrcwww/
downloads/Camperdown_Tmt_Manual.pdf

Contact Details L a T r o b e
C o m m u n i c a t i o n
La Trobe Communication Clinic
4th Floor, Health Sciences Bldg 1 C l i n i c
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
© 2008. Created by: 4th year Bachelor of Speech Pathology students in
The School of Human Communication Sciences,
Tel: +61 3 9479 1921
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia:
Fax: +61 3 9479 1874
Kylie Blair, Angela Bradbury, Meg Graham, Alison Hall, Email: k.newbury@latrobe.edu.au
Miranda Guizzo and John Pierce under the supervision of Dr. Susan Block
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/hcs/clinic/index.htm
 What is Smooth
Speech?
“Smooth Speech” (sometimes called
“Prolonged Speech”) is a method of speaking
that can reduce stuttering in adults and
1
adolescents. It is one of the most widely used
treatments for stuttering,1,2 and has the best
evidence in both short and long term.3, 4
Smooth Speech involves altering the speech
pattern in a number of ways, including:5
• Starting words gently
• Linking them smoothly
• Stretching out vowels
• Pausing at the right
places
Does it work?
Yes! Smooth Speech has been shown to be
effective at reducing stuttering both during
treatment and long afterwards. Recent
studies have shown:
• 3½ - 5 years after treatment, adults have
maintained a 70% reduction in stuttering.
• 12 months after treatment, adults have
maintained a 95% reduction in stuttering.1
• 6 months after treatment, a 74%
reduction in stuttering has been
maintained. 7 Smooth Speech.6
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex-s/2496139865/sizes/l/
How is Smooth
Speech Taught?
The Smooth Speech technique is
demonstrated by audio and video examples
or speech pathologists.6 Treatment generally
follows three major steps:
1. Learning the correct pattern of Smooth Camperdown
Speech Program
2. Learning to use Smooth Speech in a The Camperdown Program involves weekly
variety of situations. E.g., in sessions and one 8-hour practice day,
conversations, in monologues, in groups usually with three participants.
During the individual sessions, the
3. Maintaining the technique in everyday
participant learns to use features of
life
Smooth Speech (Prolonged Speech).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ingorrr/378113451/sizes/l/
The La Trobe Communication Clinic generally On the group practice day, participants
offers Smooth Speech in two practise Smooth Speech both individually
different formats, outlined below.
and together. Following the group practice
day, the participant continues the weekly
sessions until speech is fluent and natural,8
Intensive Program
and able to be used in a variety of
The intensive Smooth Speech Program is a situations.
two month program. It usually has around
12 - 15 participants, but is primarily
individual treatment. It is run at the La Trobe
Communication Clinic. The first stage
involves five consecutive 9 hour days where
participants learn the Smooth Speech
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22897538@N04/2537544551/sizes/l/
6 technique, in small groups and individually,
and practise it in various situations. The
second stage involves a weekly 2 hour follow
up session for seven weeks. During these
sessions, clients discuss problems, review
practice, measure fluency, and practise
Treatments are provided by
supervised Undergraduate or
Masters Speech Pathology students