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From: Vivian Sisskin
Date: 02 Oct 2008
Time: 12:42:33 -0500
Remote Name: 129.2.24.10
I am smiling as I write this, but I would say the most commonly cited bad advice: “Slow down; take a deep breath; and think about what you are going to say”. Slowing rate may be an effective treatment strategy, but not realistic in the moment of stuttering without sufficient practice in a systematic way. That advice just doesn’t help the PWS slow down when in the midst of struggle. Taking a deep breath might seem like good advice when parents are observing their child struggling and out of breath. If that advice is followed, it can lead to a maladaptive pattern of inhalation while trying to speak (we speak on exhalation). And finally, most of the time, PWS DO know what they want to say and really don’t need to think about it. This advice can lead to a postponement pattern where the PWS waits (perhaps pretending to be thinking), resulting in long silences before content words, a pattern not typical of comfortable speech.