Distance Intervention for Early Stuttering with the Lidcombe Programme

Abstract

The Lidcombe Programme is a parent-conducted operant intervention for early stuttering. This article presents a case study of the Lidcombe Programme adapted for distance intervention with a family who were isolated from treatment services. The subject, Matthew, was 5 years 10 months old and had been stuttering severely for nearly 4 years at the start of treatment. The entire treatment occurred by telephone contact and was supplemented by audiotape and videotape recordings of the subject's speech, which were mailed to the clinician by his parents. Matthew's mother was taught to implement all aspects of the Lidcombe Programme: control of stuttering with on-line praise and correction, measurement of stuttering severity, and administration of a maintenance programme. Matthew attained near-zero stuttering levels after 25 telephone consultations over a period of 9 months. Data suggest that he maintained those levels for 23 months posttreatment. Plans for further research into distance intervention with the Lidcombe Programme are discussed, with particular reference to the issue of cost effectiveness.