Retraining: how new patterns replace old ones

In our approach, new patterns do not erase old ones by knowing about them. They replace them through targeted, repeated practice.

The idea: train exactly what you identified

Because stuttering occurs in individual patterns, we do not use a one-size-fits-all routine. After your patterns are identified, pattern-based training works on those patterns specifically, in one-on-one sessions with a speech coach. The number of sessions depends on your needs. People respond differently to stuttering treatment, and programs work best when they fit individual needs. (Baxter et al., 2016)

From old routine to new routine

1. Identify: your patterns, including strategies, are pinpointed. See recognizing your patterns.
2. Train: guided sessions practice easier ways of speaking in place of the established ones.
3. Repeat: the new way of speaking is practiced again and again, so that it can become more automatic. This is what we call re-training muscle memory. See muscle memory and speech.

For adults who stutter, training that builds new, easier ways of speaking has the strongest research support. (Brignell et al., 2020; Bothe et al., 2006)

Practice and maintenance

The brain stays adaptable, and structured training can measurably change how it controls speech, but these changes need continued practice to last. (Neumann et al., 2005; Kell et al., 2009) How well results hold up varies from person to person. (Brignell et al., 2020) That is why our program includes extended training after the basic training, to maintain and strengthen your progress.

In our experience, working on person-specific patterns can lead to lasting progress: 85% of participants maintain fluency for at least 12 months after training. Everyone is different, no method works the same way for everyone, and we do not promise a cure.

Online and free

The full program is online, so you can take part from wherever you are. A speech training program delivered remotely has been shown to work as well as face-to-face treatment in a randomized trial. (Carey et al., 2010) Thanks to our donors, every program is free of charge. See our three-part approach.