March262001

Our guest chat hosts tonight, March 26, 2001, are Vivian Sheehan, MA, CCC/SLP,

Dale F. Williams, Ph.D., CCC/SLP, and Peter Dugan, M.Ed, CCC/SLP.

These three SLPs will chat about stuttering therapy. They will also be conducting a

STUTTERING THERAPY INSTITUTE on May 3, 2001 at the Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (APPSPA) Spring Conference in Delray Beach, Florida.

Vivian Sheehan, MA, CCC/SLP, is an ASHA Fellow, specializing in stuttering.

She is the Director of the Sheehan Stuttering Center, a Private Practice in Santa Monica,CA.

Dale F. Williams, Ph.D., CCC/SLP, is an Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic

University and Director of the Fluency Clinic there. He holds Specialty Recognition

by ASHA Special Interest Division 4: Fluency and Fluency Disorders.

Peter Dugan, M.Ed, CCC/SLP, is a speech/language pathologist with the Broward CountySchools. He is also an Adjunct Supervisor at Florida Atlantic University Communication Disorders Clinic.

Resources for Stuttering provided by the guest hosts can be found at the bottom of this page.

<Anonymous821> yes, I have difficulty answering phones

<Peter Dugan> I still have trouble with that sometimes

<Anonymous821> I don't like to answer it with anyone around

<Dale> For 821: there is desensitization therapy for fears such as the phone.

<Anonymous821> Is it better to offer the information that I stutter?

<Dale> It can help--let's the cat out of the bag, takes the pressure off.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- Try undercovering w/ the people that you already know, even

<Dale> For 821: Desensitization is a gradual process of removing fear of a stimulus.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- Are you sure no one knows you stutter?

<Anonymous821> yes, just started my job and nobody said anything to me. I try to cover it up.

<Peter Dugan> 821, one technique we use is to actually stutter on purpose to get

<Anonymous821> what would they say anyway if I did?

<Vivian Sheehan> Did you take the job trying to prove that you were fluent?

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- This does not matter. You still to talk to co-workers and

<Dale> 821- the problem with hiding it is that it gives you short-term success, but long

<Anonymous821> I don't like to have people know though

<Dale> You're far better off being open. Do you need to learn how to do that?

<Dale> Would you like to find a therapist in your area that specializes in stuttering?

<Vivian Sheehan> 821- After you stutter on a word comment on it, saying "I sure stuttered

on that." This is a way of putting the stuttering in the open.

<Anonymous821> I feel that they wouldn't like me

<Vivian Sheehan> Where do you live? I think therapy would be helpful.

<Dale> The SFA web site has a list of therapists. If you want, e me privately & I 'll see if

<Peter Dugan> Have you ever had therapy before 821?

Vivian Sheehan> That is great advice, but hard to do. Be patient with yourself.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- Try talking to one person about your stuttering, even though it is

Anonymous821> I see him every morning and he gives me my assignment

<Vivian Sheehan> The boss might be the last person you should start with. Try a close

<Anonymous821> he talks with me but I don't know if he knows

<Dale> I think she's saying start with someone easier.

<Vivian Sheehan> No. Just don't use him as the first. Practice w/ others until you can

<Peter Dugan> Who are you comfortable with just talking to ?

<Vivian Sheehan> 821 -- Grandma is good. Start with her.

<Anonymous821> i will have to call in my attendence at work when i get full time

<Vivian Sheehan> Start making phone calls to people you know well and trust to practice

<Peter Dugan> Its been my experience that a lot of people in my life have been

sympathetic about my stuttering and nice about it 821

<Anonymous821> calling and praticing on the phone

<Dale> There are some easier ways to practice on the phone, but a therapist shd bring

<Vivian Sheehan> This is the begining of therapy and you need someone to talk to about

<Robin> 2943, do you have any questions about stuttering therapy for our panel of

<Vivian Sheehan>You need to find a therapist in your area.

<Vivian Sheehan> Depends on whether the therapist is a specialist in stuttering.

<Dale> 821--there are listserves devoted to stuttering also that give good info. e me re. this

<Peter Dugan> 821 definitely need someone who specializes in stuttering

<Robin> I have a question for our panel from a final semester SLP grad student who

<Robin> she wanted to know about Effects of Maternal Rate on Fluency in Children

<karla> Does anybody from the panel know about FluencyMaster, and what are your

<Dale> If a kid is susceptible to stuttering, a parent's behavior can allow it to develop. This

is why we often teach parents to reduce their rates.

<Pat> I don't want to intrude on any ongoing conversation, but does anyone here know

<karla> Is that the same thing as Fluency Master?

<Dale> Dr. F is a computerized device made for fluency shaping therapy.

<Dale> I'm 41 & yes, I think you'd hear it. Peter, Viv, Robin--is it noticeable?

<Robin> Karla, do you treat dysfluent patients?

<karla> Typically I see a patient for Foreign accent reduction and they also stutter

<Dale> Re. the Fluency Master, I've never used one. It's not the same as Dr. Fluency.

<Robin> you can come to the stuttering workshop that Dale, Vivian and Peter are giving

<karla> I would love to go to workshop but unable to attend

<Dale> There was recently a good discussion of Fluency Master on stutt'l. Try to access the

<Vivian Sheehan> 821- Try attending a meeting of the NSA (National Stuttering Assoc.)

in your area. You will hear a lot of stutterers and can compare notes. It is also great

<karla> Dale, which web site, I am not familiar w/ that

<Dale> Temple Univ. You can also get there from the Stuttering Home Page (it comes

<Robin> Dale, is that one of the references you gave me?

<Peter Dugan> 821 one of the biggest breakthroughs was getting to the point where I it

<Robin> Karla, there are some stuttering resources posted on the Forum Message

<Anonymous821> do you care what people think of you?

<Dale> Robin, the Stuttering Home Page is one I gave you.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821- You can contact the NSA at 1-800-364-1677 or look on the

<Robin> Karla, look at that post on the message board

<Dale> 821--sure I care. But I forget stuttering seconds after it happens now.

<Peter Dugan> Of course I do but I don't even notice when I stutter any more, If people

<Anonymous821> Do you hate yourself after you stutter?

<Dale> I might still be embarrassed now & then, but it passes quickly.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821- hating yourself only keeps the stuttering going. Try to accept

the fact that right now you need to allow your stuttering to be heard.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821 -- Then when you have learned to accept your stuttering you will

<karla> to the panel, when working w/ a client, and they are not willing to practice

techniques, how do you encourage them to proceed

<karla> this partic. client loved to talk about it, understand it, but not practice easy

<Peter Dugan> The goal of therapy isn't so much to stop stuttering but to be able to say

what ever you want when ever you want even if you do stutter

<Anonymous821> people look at ya strange though..lol

<Dale> Karla, I explain at great length the cost of not practicing--you don't progress,

<Vivian Sheehan> Try not to pay attention it others' reaction. They cannot run your life

<karla> isn't that the truth, however, he wasn't paying for it out of pocket

<Peter Dugan> You also might be surprised at the people who would admire you for

<karla> overall he got much better, but he could have made more progress

<Dale> Karla--sometimes Clients aren't ready for therapy. They have to be motivated.

<karla> that's true. His supervisor referred him to me.

<Dale> Maybe a support group would be better for him now, if he really likes talking about it

<Peter Dugan> Karla good point, they have to be ready for therapy

<karla> I referred him to local support group, never showed up

<Dale> Karla, why does he come see you? Looking for a quick fix?

<karla> Yes. I also saw him for foreign accent reduction. 1st worked on stuttering.

<karla> We are actually through. Just wondering if I missed something, could've

<Dale> If he were a kid, I'd say make the tx fun. But an adult should be self-motivated.

<karla> Thats why I also asked about fluency master

<Dale> I'd advise explaining the treatment program in great detail, including why it

won't work w/o practice. If he understands but doesn't practice, he won't progress.

<karla> Thanks for all your input. I will be signing off.

<Dale> Karla--the Fluency Master might give him a quick fix. But for some, it's not lasting.

<karla> Have a great seminar. Wish I could be there w/ you

<Vivian Sheehan> 821, Your silence is because you are holding back your stuttering,

hoping that it will go away. Try to talk even if you stutter.

<Dale> If you learn to stutter easily, it would help with that, 821.

<Anonymous821> i need how to control my airflow

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- You have to adjust to that. You are not letting the sounds out.

<Peter Dugan> And to begin to easy stutter you need to be willing to take the risk and

<Anonymous821> I would love to talk more with a crowd of people but I hold back

<Robin> Pat and 2278, are you working with dysfluent clients?

<Vivian Sheehan> Cutting "the flow" is your way of hiding. Be more open and let it out.

What is the wost thing to happen if you stuttered w/ someone you know?

<Dale> When I then tell them I stutter, they feel stupid. And you know what--I'm glad.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- At this point tell them that you stutter. Just give me time and I will

<Peter Dugan> people will like you even if you stutter and those who don't you don't

<Dale> 821--you want people not to make fun of you. That's diff. than liking you.

<Vivian Sheehan> 821-- They will say good things about you when they realize how

<Dale> Do people make fun of my speech behind my back? yes. Do I make fun of their

<Vivian Sheehan> You changed your name legally because you stutter?

<Vivian Sheehan> O.k. What is your real name? Say it as often as you can for other

<Karen> I don't like it when people make fun of stutterers though

<Vivian Sheehan> We cannot change other people. We can only change ourselves.

<Dale> Karen--when you stutter with a little attitude, people don't make fun of it very

<Karen> I try to be happy, is that what you mean?

<Peter Dugan> I think Dale means stuttering and still being confident about yourself

<Dale> What I mean is that when you really don't care what people think it's no fun for

<Peter Dugan> It takes time to make a change like that but its possible

<Karen> I try to have a good attitude with people

<Karen> always caring and concerned with people

<Karen> I would like to help people like me in counseling... to become a speech therapist

<Dale> It's good to be caring & concerned, but not over every little imperfection.

<Vivian Sheehan> Karen, you might want to contact the Stuttering Foundation of

America and obtain info and materials to read -- 1-800-992-9392 and they are online

<Dale> ASHA has a site too, with info on becoming an SLP.

<Peter Dugan> I tell my kids at school that to say " Whatever " when they are are in the

moment of stuttering instead of being concerned about what other people might say

<Vivian Sheehan> Your wish to become a speech therapist is a great idea. It will take

time, but it will bring a great reward. I have a # of people who have made their

Dale> It's tough on parents--they're told not to deal w/ it, and they have nowhere to

<Peter Dugan> They begin to change the way they think about stuttering from this

horrible thing they never want to do some thing that isn't so bad to something they can

<Karen> people need to know how to deal with a stutter

<Karen> some need courses in how to deal with them

<Dale> I say it to clients over & over: You'll get control of it, rather than letting it keep control

<Karen> I just keep quiet if i feel i might stutter

<Dale> Back to Karen--yes, I think that would be a good idea.

<Adrienne> maybe it was the technique they tried?

<Karen> I would read to them and they couldn't believe how i was reading

Vivian Sheehan> Karen -- Comment -- there are two groups of stutterers. Some read

better than they talk. Others talk better than read.

<Adrienne> Does reading usually have that difference with stuttering?

<Karen> well, i think talking is easier than reading

<Dale> Adrienne--if the stuttering is more word-specific, reading is tough.

<Vivian Sheehan> Being lucky "fluent" at a particular time does not change your

<Dale> ...if it's more situational, reading is probably OK.

<Peter Dugan> Karen, there are certain conditions where people will be more likely to

<Peter Dugan> Depends on the individual stutter

<Adrienne> Karen, there are many strategies out there for different situations, keep

<Vivian Sheehan> And work with a lot of mistakes and stuttering. It takes time and

<Vivian Sheehan> Karen, Take charge and decide that you are going to make yourself

<Adrienne> challenges are part of life, getting over/through them is great! You can

<Karen> i will come back and talk with you again

The National Stuttering Assoc. http://www.nsastutter.org

The Stuttering Foundation of America http://www.stuttersfa.org

The Stuttering Home Page http://www.mankato.msus.edu/depts/comdis/kuster/stutter.html

The British Stammering Association http://www.stammering.org

International Stuttering Awareness Day On-Line Conferences 1998-2000

http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/isad/isadcon.html

http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/isad2/isadcon2.html

http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/ISAD3/isadcon3.html

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Quesal, R. (1998). What is "successful" stuttering therapy? Paper presented at the International Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference. At: http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/isad/isadcon.html

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Sugarman, M. & Yaruss, J.S. (2000). Use of Helpful Counseling Techniques for Fluency Therapy. Paper presented at the International Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference. At: http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/ISAD3/isadcon3.html

Van Riper, C. (1973). The Treatment of Stuttering. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

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