Speech therapy addresses strategies for smooth speech, self-awareness/self-acceptance, stuttering facts, relaxation techniques, and the social/emotional aspects of stuttering.
Smooth speech strategies can fall under stuttering modification or fluency shaping. Stuttering modification strategies include strategies to use while stuttering (ie. pullouts and cancellations) and exercises to make stuttering less effortful (ie. stuttering on purpose). Pull-outs involve catching a stutter and easing out of it. Cancellations require pausing, resetting, and trying again.
Fluency shaping works on changing the way we talk to have smoother speech (ie. easy onset, slowed speech, light contacts). Easy onset, also called easy starts or easy speech, means we use less tension when starting to talk. This can be achieved by breathing out or saying an /h/ sound before talking. Slowed speech means talking at a slower rate, which often will help a child to stutter less. Light contacts is a strategy of putting the speech helpers/articulators (ie. teeth, lips, tongue) together lightly and softly.
I teach several smooth speech strategies so students can choose what works best for them.
​
The term fluency can cause confusion among educators and families. SLPs use the word fluency to describe stuttering. We are talking about our ability to produce smooth speech. Reading fluency refers to the ability to read quickly and accurately with expression.