Speech Therapy at Home: How to Practice Stuttering Treatment Between Sessions
Why Home Practice Is Essential
Research consistently shows that the biggest predictor of stuttering therapy success is how much a person practices between sessions. Your weekly SLP session teaches you what to do — home practice is where you actually build the skills.
Think of it like learning an instrument. A 30-minute lesson teaches you the techniques, but the daily practice is what makes you a musician.
Setting Up Your Practice Space
You don't need a clinic-quality setup. Here's what helps:
- A quiet room where you won't be interrupted
- A device with a microphone (laptop, tablet, or phone)
- Headphones (essential for auditory feedback exercises)
- A timer for structured sessions
- A journal or app for tracking progress
Daily Home Routine for Adults
Morning Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Start your day with breathing and gentle onset:
- 2 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing
- 3 minutes of gentle onset practice with everyday phrases ("Good morning", "I'd like coffee", "What's the plan today?")
Main Practice Session (20 minutes)
Choose your focus for the day:
Technique Days (Mon, Wed, Fri)
- 10 min: Audio Lab with DAF/FAF
- 5 min: Reading practice using your target technique
- 5 min: Spontaneous speech practice
Conversation Days (Tue, Thu)
- 10 min: AI conversation practice (phone calls, social scenarios)
- 5 min: Feared word practice
- 5 min: Real-world challenge (make an actual phone call or talk to someone)
Reflection Days (Sat, Sun)
- 10 min: Voice journal — record your thoughts about your week
- 10 min: Review your progress data, set goals for next week
Home Practice for Children
Kids need shorter, more playful practice:
Ages 2-6 (10-15 minutes)
- Turtle talk: Speak slowly like a turtle — make it a game
- Breathing bubbles: Blow bubbles while practicing slow exhales
- Easy starts: Practice starting words softly with favorite toys
- Reading together: Read picture books using gentle, slow speech
- Praise fluency: "I loved how smooth that sounded!"
Important: For young children, the Lidcombe Program is the most evidence-based approach. It's parent-delivered — your SLP trains you to run the sessions at home.
Ages 7-12 (15-20 minutes)
- Reading aloud with DAF support
- Gentle onset practice with school vocabulary
- Role-playing phone calls and classroom participation
- Simple voice journaling about their day
- Tracking streaks for daily practice (kids love this)
Tools for Home Practice
Free Tools
- Breathing timer apps for diaphragmatic breathing
- Voice recorder (built into any phone) for self-monitoring
- StutterLab free tier — includes DAF tool and 3 daily exercises
StutterLab Pro
- Full Audio Lab (DAF + FAF + Choral Speaking + Metronome)
- AI Conversation Simulator
- 90-Day Structured Curriculum
- AI Stutter Fingerprint analysis
- Feared Words Trainer
- Voice Journal with fluency tracking
- Weekly AI coaching report
Tips for Staying Consistent
- Same time every day — attach it to an existing habit (after morning coffee, before bed)
- Start small — 10 minutes is better than skipping 30 minutes
- Track your streak — visual progress is motivating
- Celebrate small wins — smoother speech in a meeting? That counts
- Don't aim for perfection — aim for progress
- Tell someone — accountability helps (partner, friend, SLP)
When Home Practice Isn't Enough
See your SLP if:
- You're not sure which exercises to prioritize
- You feel stuck or plateaued
- Speaking anxiety is increasing despite practice
- Your child's stuttering is getting worse
- You need a professional assessment or updated treatment plan
Home practice is powerful, but it works best as part of a professional treatment plan.
StutterLab provides browser-based tools for stuttering practice at home. It is designed to complement, not replace, professional SLP care.