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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 22 Oct 2007
Time: 10:37:41 -0500
Remote Name: 129.93.99.57
The goals for therapy are basically the same, whether you are trying to treat someone on a short-term or long-term basis. My goals follow directly from the CALMS model that I discussed in the article. What is included in each component can be measured objectively before and after some period of treatment. Examples of things to measure can be found on my website at www.unl.edu/fluency.shtml and then look for section on the clinician page about the CALMS scale. In general, what I try to achieve relative to the five components are things like: improved thoughts, awareness, and understanding of stuttering (Cognitive), improved feelings, attitudes, and emtional reactions to stuttering (Affective), improvement in stuttering as the client tells stories and conveys complex information (Linguistic), a more efficient and less tense speech production through the use of various fluency enhancing and stuttering modification techniques (Motor) and transfer of speech strategies used in the clinic to realistic speaking situations and with other communication partners other than the clinician (Social). In the short-term, I try to touch on all of those factors and work on ones that are contributing most to the fluency disorder. Over a longer period of time, I look for stabilization in the skills and continued refinement in how the client thinks, feels, and behaves. Hope this addresses your question. Thanks for reading my article.