Online Speech Therapy for Fluency Disorders
A child’s ability to share their thoughts and feelings begins with the confidence to express themselves.
Fluency Disorder & Stuttering Therapy for Schools
A student who stutters may know the answer and still stay silent. eLuma’s speech-language pathologists help students who stutter or clutter build the confidence to express themselves and keep their IEP services on schedule.
Fluency Therapy Services for Your District
eLuma provides licensed, school-experienced SLPs who evaluate and treat fluency disorders for K-12 districts. Your eLuma SLPs provide:
- Fluency evaluations, including the Stuttering Severity Instrument, Fourth Edition (SSI-4)
- Direct therapy aligned with IEP goals, one-on-one or in small groups
- IEP meeting attendance and collaboration with your in-school team
- Progress tracking and documentation in Insight™
Services are delivered live virtually and run on a secure, FERPA-compliant platform.
The Fluency Disorders eLuma SLPs Treat
A fluency disorder is an interruption in the flow of speaking, marked by an atypical rate, rhythm, and disfluencies such as repeated sounds, prolonged sounds, and blocks (ASHA). eLuma SLPs treat both fluency disorders.
Stuttering
- Stuttering is the most common fluency disorder. It involves repetitions of sounds, syllables, or short words, prolonged sounds, and blocks, often with physical tension or avoidance of certain words and situations. About 2% of children ages 3 to 17 stutter, according to ASHA. Roughly 5% to 10% of all children stutter at some point, most often beginning between ages 2 and 6 (NIDCD).
Cluttering
- Cluttering involves a rate of speech that sounds rapid or irregular, with collapsed syllables, dropped word endings, and pauses in unexpected places.
Fluency disorders can affect how clearly a student is understood. They can also bring stress, frustration, or embarrassment, and students may begin to avoid speaking situations and social interaction.
Treating Fluency Disorders
eLuma’s fluency treatment capitalizes on each student’s strengths, improves functional skills, and builds support systems that help compensate for deficits. Your eLuma SLP collaborates with the student’s interdisciplinary team, which may include general and special education teachers, special education administrators, and mental health professionals.
Therapy is individualized. Approaches recognized by ASHA include:
- Speech modification strategies that change the timing and tension of speech, such as easy onsets, light contacts, and pausing
- Stuttering modification strategies that reduce tension during moments of stuttering
- Work on reactions to stuttering, including desensitization and self-disclosure, to reduce avoidance
- Rate and pausing strategies for students who clutter
Why Districts Choose eLuma for Fluency Therapy
Qualified SLPs
eLuma’s vetting process confirms that every SLP meets your district’s qualifications.
Dedicated support
A named Customer Success Partner is assigned to every district.
Matched to your caseload
Our team pairs your district with SLPs who meet your specific needs.
Help Every Student Speak Confidently
If you have questions about online school-based speech therapy and how it works, explore why schools win with online therapy to learn more about how effective and affordable it really is.
eLuma has served 500+ districts since 2011 with a 92% satisfaction rate. Book your free consultation to learn more about eLuma’s speech-language therapy for schools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stuttering and Fluency Therapy
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Does eLuma provide fluency therapy for schools?
Yes. eLuma provides licensed speech-language pathologists who evaluate and treat stuttering and cluttering for K-12 districts. Services are delivered virtually.
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Can fluency therapy be delivered through teletherapy?
Yes. ASHA notes that telepractice is used to deliver fluency services. eLuma SLPs provide the same required services live and online as they do in person, on a secure, FERPA-compliant platform.
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What is the difference between stuttering and cluttering?
Stuttering involves repeated sounds, prolonged sounds, and blocks, often with physical tension. Cluttering involves a rapid or irregular speech rate, with collapsed syllables and reduced clarity. A student can have both.
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Does a student who stutters qualify for an IEP?
A student qualifies when stuttering adversely affects educational performance. IDEA names stuttering in its definition of speech or language impairment (34 CFR 300.8(c)(11)), and state criteria set the details.
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What accommodations help a student who stutters in class?
Common accommodations include extra time for oral reading and presentations, an alternative to oral reading, a smaller audience, and the option to record a presentation. These can be written into an IEP or a 504 plan.
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When should a school refer a student for a stuttering evaluation?
ASHA lists these reasons to refer when they appear alongside disfluencies: physical tension, negative reactions to speaking, concern from the student or family, negative peer reactions, or a family history of stuttering.
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