Lidcombe Program Adelaide
Stuttering speech therapy with the Lidcombe Program for Adelaide families
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Lidcombe stuttering therapy for children in Adelaide
When a young child starts to stutter, parents want to know how to support their child. Our speech pathologist provides stuttering therapy for preschool and early primary school children using the Lidcombe Program, which involves short daily practice, simple feedback and weekly reviews, making talking feel easier at home, with friends and in classroom.
Lisa Mathers is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), Lidcombe-trained, with over 20 years of practice experience. She coaches parents to use daily severity ratings and tailored comments alongside activities that support fluency. If your child is older or another path is likely to suit them better, we will outline options and the next step.
Contact us today to hear more about how we can help your child’s stuttering using the Lidcombe program.
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is a pattern that disrupts the flow of speech. It can start suddenly or build over time and it often fluctuates from day to day. Stuttering can affect children socially and emotionally, and it affects children of all ages, most commonly developing before the age of five. Stuttering can develop unexpectedly and can vary in its severity. Children who stutter will exhibit at least one of the following stuttering behaviours:
- Repetitions: sounds at the start of words or whole words are repeated (‘I-I-I’, ‘c-c-can’, ‘want-want-want’)
- Prolongations: a sound is held on to and prolonged (‘soooo’ or ‘ssssso’)
- Blocks: the sound is unable to be released due to a block of air and no sound can be made
Concerned about speech sounds, language, stuttering, social awareness or literacy? Set a weekly or fortnightly time to target your concerns. Home strategies and practise also provided.
The Lidcombe Program Adelaide
The Lidcombe program is an evidence-based approach for treating stuttering in preschoolers and children in the early school years. The program aims to eliminate stuttering or significantly reduce its occurrence.
The Lidcombe program requires the parent and child to attend regular speech pathology sessions to be trained in providing the Lidcombe Program at home. The program requires dedicated commitment from the parents to work with their child for 10-15 minutes every day at home. Together with the speech pathologist, the parent learns to rate their child’s stuttering daily and to provide simple activities matched to their child’s age. Controlled comments (verbal contingencies) are then used to reinforce the smooth-talking and transfer this to everyday talking.
The Lidcombe program is very effective when carried out as prescribed. If you live in Adelaide and have any concerns about your child and stuttering or would like more information about the Lidcombe Program, please call us to discuss the next step for your child.
How Lidcombe works at a glance
Who is the Lidcombe program for
Lidcombe is designed for preschoolers and early primary-aged children who stutter, with parents taking a daily, supportive role. If your child is older or if a different approach is likely to fit better, we will explain why and outline alternatives.
Your role as a parent
Our role as clinicians
We meet weekly to coach and fine-tune the approach, help you choose the right moments in your day, adjust language to match your child’s fluency and troubleshoot any sticking points. We ensure activities are appropriate and build fluency.
Where it happens
Most of the Lidcombe therapy happens at home but clinic time is used for coaching, measuring and planning the next step at home.
How Lidcombe speech therapy works at Sure Start Health’s clinic
Enquire and match
Please tell us your child’s age and what you are noticing. We will offer a weekly 45-minute Lidcombe session at a time that suits as closely as possible. There is no online booking for speech because weekly slots are fixed and consistent.
Assessment and first coaching
We conduct an assessment and discuss what stuttering can look like on a day-to-day basis. You will learn how to use a simple daily rating scale and see how the smooth talking time practice works at home. It is normal to feel unsure at first; we will demonstrate and coach you until it feels clear.
Plan together
We agree on goals, confirm the weekly session and shape home practice to fit your lives. You will know when to practise, what to say and how to keep it brief and positive.
Therapy and home practice
Between visits, you will do short, parent-led practice each day while noting the daily rating. In the clinic, we review how the week went, coach and fine-tune the approach, and adjust tasks to match energy, attention and progress.
Review and step down
We track changes together using your ratings and our measures. When stuttering is minimal and stable, we gradually reduce clinic frequency with clear check-ins, so gains are supported. If the pattern fluctuates (as it sometimes does), we will adjust and keep things practical.
Early stuttering? Lidcombe with weekly coaching, daily ratings and parent delivered practice at home.
Meet Lisa Mathers, CPSP,
Lisa is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) with 20+ years’ experience supporting children and families. Trained in the Lidcombe Program, she works with preschool and early primary children who stutter, coaching parents in short daily practice, using simple severity ratings and setting clear, appropriate goals. Sessions are practical with time for questions each week.
More details for parents on stuttering and the Lidcombe program delivery at Sure Start Health in Mitcham
Stuttering often ebbs and flows with tiredness, excitement, faster speech and busy settings. You might also see secondary behaviours; facial tension, blinking, small head movements or your child avoiding certain words or group talking.
The Lidcombe Program gives you clear, everyday tools. You’ll use short daily practice, provide feedback about talking, and keep a simple daily severity rating so we can track change together. Feedback is accurate and brief, either commenting on smooth talking, or acknowledging the bumpy talking. We will show you exactly what to say and when, and what to avoid, so practice is encouraging but effective.
Lidcombe stage 1 and stage 2
Lidcombe has two stages. In Stage 1, we focus on reducing stuttering to little or none using short, parent-led practice plus weekly clinic coaching. When that pattern is steady, Stage 2 begins, where we step down clinic visits in a planned way and keep quick checks to help maintain gains. There is always support available if needed and we can return to more structured sessions if required.
Practical help
Here are a few practical tips to help families maintain momentum.
- Daily ratings are quick (one number each day) and make trends easy to see at a glance.
- Verbal feedback is delivered in a low-key and age-appropriate manner; we keep it supportive and concise.
- Practice that tries to fit into life. It is done flexibly through play.
- We help you carry success into everyday conversations.
- Step-downs and check-ins once things are stable, we spread visits out with clear review points.
- Telehealth can support existing clients when needed; we will advise if it is a good fit.
Parents do not cause stuttering and children can’t “try harder” to switch it off or fix it by slowing down. Early, parent-delivered support helps fluency develop in everyday conversations. What helps is calm, consistent input in small daily moments, plus steady coaching, so you feel confident with the tools. If your child is older, or a different pathway would suit better, we will explain options and map the next step together.
Why choose Sure Start Health for Lidcombe
Lidcombe-trained clinician with experience
You will work with Lisa Mathers, CPSP, a Lidcombe-trained speech pathologist with 20+ years in practice. Sessions focus on clear goals, calm pacing and regular reviews.
Parent-coached therapy that fits family life
We coach you in short, everyday practice so progress is not limited to the clinic. You will know what to do, when to do it, and how to track change with simple daily ratings.
Collaboration when helpful
With your consent, we share concise updates with kindy or school, so everyone understands the plan and how to support it during the week.
Local but accessible across Adelaide
Our clinic is in Kingswood (Mitcham) with free onsite parking and easy access from nearby suburbs. Families attend from across the Adelaide metropolitan area.
Geographical service areas
We welcome clients from across the Adelaide metropolitan area. Sure Start Health is located at Unit 1, 15 Princes Road, Kingswood. Many of the families we regularly see, visit us from nearby suburbs such as Unley, Parkside, Mitcham, Netherby, Urrbrae, Goodwood, Melrose Park, Colonel Light Gardens, Belair, Coromandel Valley, Blackwood, and Hawthorndene. However, some families even travel from further afield, from the Adelaide Hillls, from Christies Beach and north from Angle Vale.
Fees and rebates speech therapy
If you have private health insurance that covers our services, you can claim a rebate on the spot using our HICAPS terminal. We accept GP CDM referrals when eligible. Self-managed and plan managed clients welcome and can be billed accordingly. Telehealth is available for existing clients only and is charged at the same fee. For fees and item codes, see our fees and rebates page.
Our speech pathology policies
- Full payment is required at the time of treatment.
- There is a 48-hour cancellation policy.
- When less than 48 hours’ notice is given for a change or cancellation of an appointment, a fee will apply. Please read our Cancellation Policy here.
- If you have any questions or concerns about any element of your care (financial, clinical or other), please speak candidly to your speech pathologist.
- Please help our office run smoothly by arriving in our reception area a few minutes before each appointment. If you’re running late, please call us so we can advise you on how to proceed.
- Our Privacy Policy.
- Our Child Safe Policy and related feedback forms.
Frequently asked questions about stuttering and the Lidcombe program
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What does a speech pathologist do for stuttering?
We coach parents to deliver short daily practice that encourages smooth speech, track severity with simple ratings, and adjust the plan together at weekly visits.
Is early intervention really important for stuttering?
Yes. Stuttering often starts before age five and can fluctuate. Because we can’t predict who will recover without help, starting early with a parent-delivered, evidence-based approach like Lidcombe can support fluency in everyday life. We’ll coach you step by step and keep practice brief and calm.
How much daily practice is needed?
Usually 10–15 minutes of calm, parent-guided practice woven into ordinary routines—reading time, car rides, playtime.
How long does Lidcombe take?
Time frames vary from child to child. We review progress regularly and plan a gradual step-down when stuttering is minimal and stable.
Can parents attend sessions?
Yes. Parent involvement is central. We coach you each week and leave time for questions.
Do you treat older children or teens who stutter?
Older children and teens often need a different approach. If that is your situation, we will discuss the options and provide guidance.
Is telehealth possible?
For existing clients when needed. It can work well for coaching and review and is charged at the same fee as clinic sessions.
Can we get an after-school appointment?
After-school sessions are limited and offered if one becomes available. We will suggest the closest fit for your family.
Enquire about the Lidcombe program
If you are a parent with concerns about your child’s speech, language, literacy or early stuttering, contact us today. We are here to listen and help. We look forward to hearing from you.