Popping in here as a speech therapist to lend my two cents: you were misled about adult therapy. Fluency therapy isn’t like language therapy—there’s no developmental window we’re hoping to intervene in before it ‘closes’. That’s just the wrong way to think about stuttering in general. It’s not something to be remediated or fixed (like a traditional language delay) as much as it is a brain difference and a lifelong journey to be managed and controlled. You can definitely still learn fluency strategies! In fact, I’d argue adults are especially more fit to engage with stuttering therapy, understand the theory behind the techniques, and have self-awareness about which ones work for them. You were probably taught a lot about “smooth vs bumpy speech” and “turtle talk” as a kid, and while it’s helpful at that age and there’s a reason we use those kinds of cutesy metaphors, it doesn’t do anything to help the child grow up with a clear understanding of what fluency is if they don’t go on to receive more adult-oriented services. Honestly, if money is a barrier and you’re motivated, you can research a lot of these evidence based techniques and try them out for yourself. stutteringhelp.org has a TON of free resources, books, and podcasts.