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From: Patty Walton
Date: 10 Oct 2008
Time: 14:14:34 -0500
Remote Name: 71.215.67.153
Hi Alison- Excellent question about awareness. One thing I think that is so important to remember about working with stuttering that there is a great deal of variabilty across parameters. This is true with respect to awareness in the young child. the young stuttering child can be very aware of there stuttering and in many cases very negatively aware. Such negative awareness can be seen in very young children as well. Much of the way these kids respond to there stuttering is linked to sensitive temperament. We can assess this awareness in the way the child responds to moments of stuttering, degree of struggle and tension, etc. such observations would then direct treatment decisions. Some young children can show little to no awareness. In terms of escape and avoidance behaviors, these behaviors take time to develop but can be seen in the speech of young kids who stutter. Stopping talking because it is too hard is likely more prevalent than word or sound avoidances. When you see these behaviors you need to be concerned that they are not reinforced.