Helping your child speak with ease
Stuttering often appears between ages 2 and 5. Many children recover, but not all, and it is hard to predict who will.
At Happy Brain Clinic in Tyre, Lebanon, and online, our speech-language pathologists assess your child and guide you, with a psychologist when worries, teasing or frustration are part of the picture.
- Parents at the center
- Arabic · English · French
- In Tyre or online
What stuttering looks like in children
Repetitions
“I-I-I want”, “b-b-ball”, often more than twice.
Prolongations
“mmmmummy”, stretched sounds.
Blocks & tension
Silent moments, eye blinking, facial or body tension.
Reactions
Frustration, saying “I can’t say it”, avoiding talking.
When to consult a speech therapist
- Stuttering has lasted more than 6 months
- It started after age 3½, or is getting stronger
- There is a family history of stuttering
- Your child shows tension, frustration or avoids speaking
- You are worried: a consultation is always appropriate
How we help young children (2–6)
Programs for young children are delivered with parents, in short daily practice at home and regular sessions.
Lidcombe Program
Parents give positive, structured feedback on smooth and stuttered speech in short daily practice; randomised trials support it.
Palin Parent–Child Interaction
Parents and therapist adjust interaction styles that support fluency and confidence.
RESTART-DCM
Reduces communication demands while building the child’s capacities; shown comparable to Lidcombe in a randomised trial.
Techniques and confidence
Easy onset
Starting the voice softly and gradually, with relaxed breath, instead of a hard, tense start.
Light contacts
Touching the lips, tongue and palate lightly on consonants such as p, b, t, d, k, g to reduce blocks.
Smooth, slower speech
Linking words smoothly at a calmer rate (prolonged or smooth speech), then gradually returning to a natural rate.
Pull-outs & cancellations
Learning to release a stuttered moment smoothly while it happens (pull-out), or to repeat the word calmly just after (cancellation).
Confidence & teasing
A psychologist helps with worries, teasing at school and avoidance, and builds confidence to speak in class.
Guidance for parents & teachers
Practical advice for home and class so the child feels supported, not corrected.
Simple tips for parents
- Speak a little more slowly and calmly yourself, rather than asking your child to slow down
- Give your child time to finish; do not finish words for them
- Keep eye contact and show you are listening to what is said, not how
- Reduce rapid questions; one question at a time
- Plan a few minutes of calm one-to-one talk every day
- Talk openly and kindly about stuttering if your child mentions it
Concerned about your child’s speech?
An early assessment helps decide whether to monitor or start therapy. Send us a message.
What the research says
Lidcombe Program
A randomised trial showed greater reduction of stuttering in preschool children than no treatment.
RESTART-DCM
A randomised trial found outcomes comparable to the Lidcombe Program.
Palin PCI
Studies report reductions in stuttering and positive impact for children and parents.
Online delivery
Programs for young children can be delivered online with parents for many families.
More about stuttering
Scientific and professional sources
- ASHA Practice Portal: Fluency Disorders
- Jones et al. (2005), BMJ: RCT of the Lidcombe Program of early stuttering intervention
- de Sonneville-Koedoot et al. (2015), PLOS ONE: Direct vs indirect treatment for preschool children who stutter (RESTART trial)
- Millard et al. (2018), AJSLP: Palin Parent–Child Interaction therapy outcomes
What families say about us
Real Google reviews from families who worked with our team.
This organization enjoys high-level therapists, and they even develop every day to much higher levels as this field progresses.
Frequently asked questions
Will my child grow out of stuttering?
Many young children recover, but some do not and it is hard to predict who. An assessment helps decide whether monitoring is enough or therapy should start.
Should I tell my child to slow down or start again?
It is better not to. Model calm, slower speech yourself and listen to what your child says. Your therapist will give you specific guidance.
Does speaking Arabic, English and French cause stuttering?
No. Multilingualism does not cause stuttering. Your child can keep all family languages.
Can therapy for young children be done online?
Yes, programs for young children are delivered with parents and many families do them online successfully.
How do I book an assessment for my child?
Send a WhatsApp message to +961 81 338 699 or use the booking page, with your child’s age and languages.
Book a stuttering assessment for your child
In Tyre or online, in Arabic, English or French.