An Introduction to Camps for Children Who Stutter: What They Are and How They Can Help

Abstract

Stuttering therapy for children, both preschool and school-age, has been offered in a variety of settings and formats, for example in schools, university clinics, outpatient clinics, and private practices. Therapy itself is offered either in a group setting or a one-to-one basis in many of these settings. In recent years, there has been an increase in specialized camps (generally offered in the summer) for children who stutter. Camps for children who stutter vary in duration and offer a combination of group and individual therapy in addition to activities designed to address the affective and cognitive aspects of stuttering and increase overall communicative effectiveness. This paper provides an overview and description of five such camps for children who stutter to help spread awareness and familiarize the listener with the role camps play in helping children who stutter. Preliminary outcome data on the various goals targeted within some of the camps is included; however, that is not the purpose of this paper.

Targeting Communication Effectiveness in Adults Who Stutter

“…A growing body of evidence over the past decade demonstrates the benefits of treatment programs that target the cognitive and affective aspects of stuttering rather than targeting only fluency. Byrd, Chmela, et al (2016) reviewed activities and preliminary data from five separate intensive treatment programs for children and adolescents who stutter with this expanded focus. Although duration and parental involvement varied between programs, preliminary data demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and parent-reported peer relationships.…”

The Communication Benefits of Participation in Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: An Extension and Replication

“…Over the past decade, there has been a marked increase in the number of intensive programs for children and teens who stutter that address the cognitive and affective components of stuttering. Byrd et al 26 provided a summary of the common themes and findings of four weeklong intensive programs (Camp Dream. Speak.…”

Exploring the Effectiveness of an Intensive Treatment Program for School-Age Children Who Stutter, Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: A Follow-up Study

“…There has been an increased number of camps for children who stutter in recent years that include activities designed to target the cognitive and affective components of stuttering. A recent summary by Byrd et al 31 described the common themes across four such weeklong camps (Camp Dream. Speak.…”