Registered Speech Language Pathologist · Virtual Across Ontario · No referral needed
stuttering
Your Stutter Isn't Something to Fix
Maybe you've stuttered for as long as you can remember. Maybe it faded in childhood and came back, or maybe it's entirely new.
Either way, stuttering doesn't change who you are as a speaker, and you don't have to handle it alone.
Common Signs of Stuttering and Cluttering
Stuttering and cluttering look different for everyone. You might notice:
Repeating sounds or words
Sounds, syllables, or words repeat before you can move on
Tension when speaking
You feel tension in your face, jaw, or chest when you talk
New or changed stuttering
Stuttering that started or changed in adulthood, sometimes after a stroke or brain injury
Rushed or jumbled speech
Speech comes out too fast, with words running together
Getting stuck
A word or sound gets blocked, and nothing comes out for a moment
Social anxiety
Avoiding phone calls, introductions, presentations, or other social settings
Switching words
You swap in easier words to avoid the ones you might stutter on
What Is Acquired Stuttering, and How Is Cluttering Different?
Stuttering that emerges or changes in the teen or adult years can have a few different roots. It might follow a stroke or brain injury. It might be connected to Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), where the nervous system's signals aren't getting through the way they should. Or it might simply be a stutter re-emerging or shifting in pattern later in life, with no clear cause.
Stuttering itself involves disfluencies in speech, such as repeating sounds, stretching sounds, or blocking airflow. Often, there is visible tension, and it can affect confidence in social situations, workplaces, school, and everyday conversation.
Cluttering is a related but different presentation. Instead of the tension and blocks associated with stuttering, speech comes out too quickly or irregularly. Sometimes sounds or words run together, or pauses land in places that don't quite fit the sentence. People who clutter are often less aware of their speech patterns than people who stutter. This is why the two may look similar at a glance and why an assessment is needed to determine the best path forward.
If any of this sounds familiar, reach out.
getting start is simple
No referral needed
You don't need a referral or a diagnosis to receive speech therapy.
Start whenever you're ready.
Direct Billing Available
Cognicare direct bills most major insurers, including Canada Life, Manulife, Desjardins, and Beneva, so claims go straight to your insurer.
How Speech Therapy Helps stuttering and cluttering
Goals are set with you. Sessions can work toward:
✓⃝ Smoother speech: Using fluency shaping or stuttering modification, matched to what works for you
✓⃝ Less avoidance: Gradually taking on the situations you've been avoiding
✓⃝ Everyday speaking: Practicing for phone calls, meetings, introductions, and presentations
✓⃝ Self-advocacy and disclosure: Deciding if, when, and how to mention that you stutter
✓⃝ Cluttering: Rate, pausing, and clarity for speech that runs together
This work draws on stuttering modification techniques, alongside a gradual, supported approach to easing speaking-related anxiety, so progress holds up in real conversations, not just in session.
what happens next
Free consultation
15 minutes. No obligation.
Assessment
A clear picture of your strengths, challenges, and goals
Treatment plan
Built around the speaker you already are
Functional application
Strategies carry over into real speaking situations, from phone calls to meetings to everyday conversation
Progress and taper
Sessions ease off as you meet your goals and work towards independence. You leave with a toolkit that's yours to keep and an open door to return to if needed.
why virtual speech therapy?
Online speech therapy offers the convenience of receiving personalized treatment straight into your home. It offers increased flexibility in your schedule, removes the commute time, and accommodates your abilities and energy.
With Cognicare:
No downloads or subscriptions required
One click access. You receive a personalized link to your session in your inbox
Sessions are safe, secure, and private
who you’ll work with
Mariya is a registered speech-language pathologist based in Toronto. She has extensive experience treating acquired stuttering, alongside experience supporting communicative needs in the workplace. Her approach is collaborative and identity-affirming: therapy is built around your goals, not a single definition of fluent speech.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime!
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No. Adults who've stuttered since childhood can start therapy at any age. Goals will reflect your current lifestyle and might include smoother speech in specific situations, less avoidance, or more comfort talking about stuttering.
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Acquired stuttering can follow a stroke or brain injury, be connected to FND, or appear with no clear cause. An assessment helps work out what's behind it. If a stutter started suddenly, let your doctor know as well.
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Not necessarily, and that isn't the only way to measure progress. Many adults aim for smoother speech in the situations that matter to them, fewer avoided situations, and less tension when they do stutter.