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From: Ann Packman
Date: 10/21/03
Time: 1:06:07 AM
Remote Name: 129.78.64.100
Thank you for your interesting questions. First, we do not know what causes stuttering and I would say precisely this to parents. Second, one can never know in advance whether an individual child will recover naturally, although there are some favourable factors. I would tell the parent that research has shown that waiting for up to a year after onset is very unlikely to jeopardise a child’s responsiveness to treatment with the Lidcombe Program—should the child then need it; and they are usually reassured by this. Third, I think “watchful waiting” is a good way to characterise any waiting period. In particular, I think the clinician should monitor the child, and should be concerned by any significant increase in stuttering severity and/or child distress. Keeping in regular contact with the family is the only way to do this.