Stuttering and concomitant disorders: What to tell clients and their families

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Re: When to refer/how to tell parents?

From: John Tetnowski
Date: 16 Oct 2008
Time: 08:20:15 -0500
Remote Name: 130.70.11.135

Comments

Cathleen, First of all, you have a great mentor in Lee. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from such a skilled and dedicated SLP. In terms of referral, refer when there is anything that interferes with a person's ability to communicate that is outside of your expertise and training. That's a vague answer, but, for example, if a client cannot become fluent under any conditions, and they are drooling a bit, or have some uncontrolled movements, I begin to ask questions about medical history, medications, etc. I look things up and see what I can find myself, but if I am unsure....then I refer. But talk to the parents and let them know why. Which leads to your next question. As a parent myself, there is nothing worse than uncertainty. I prefer bad news to no news....in that way, at least I can act. I feel that leaving a parent with uncertainty is worse than giving them bad news. Of course you always have to give them information on potential solutions if you give them bad news, so plot out a strategy first. Thanks, John Tetnowski


Last changed: 10/16/08