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Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder with varied etiological explanations. It is important to identify symptoms early so that adequate and timely intervention can be delivered with focus on management and recovery. Stuttering, besides affecting speech fluency, might have a number of negative psychosocial consequences for the sufferer that may lead to immense anxiety, besides other symptoms. Therefore, it is thus imperative to include multiple dimensions in the holistic treatment of stuttering. Cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness equip the client with the skills to manage the problems that occur as a result of stuttering. Since the rate of relapse in this condition is high, the chosen therapeutic paradigm must involve booster sessions over a long term. Periodic, detailed assessment would update the therapist about the barriers in treatment and would help in devising appropriate methods to get rid of these hindrances.

Objective: Classification systems and their practical implications have become increasingly important in child and adolescent psychiatry. This paper presents the evolution and practical applications of a multiaxial classification system for children and adolescents presenting to mental health services. Included are some worked examples demonstrating both the complexity of many presentations and how broadening the use of the multiaxial system can help in identifying appropriate interventions. Conclusions: Classification systems in child and adolescent psychiatry have largely remained uniaxial in nature. A multiaxial system encapsulates the broader biopsychosocial aspects of the presenting child or adolescent, and orders complex data in a concise manner. This approach can be used to concisely communicate with other treating clinicians, and assist with case reviews, formulation and teaching.

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