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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 05 Oct 2009
Time: 15:00:07 -0500
Remote Name: 129.93.227.150
Hi Jack. Thanks for your great question. I read Gary's comments and agree with what he has said but I would like to add a couple of comments of my own. First, I have been asked this same question by other people who stutter and I get the impression that what they really want to know is if, in the future, there is a pill that a PWS can take to get rid of their stuttering. I think the answer is no just like there isn't a pill that totally eliminate someone's anxiety. But, just as we take some pills to "calm us down" there is still a need for us to get through tough situations by what we do. The same is true for treating stuttering. I think there will be some medication in the future that will work on modifying the biochemical processes that are creating some chaos in the neural systems that control speech production. I think this will work for some but not others and I think we will get to a point of knowing which medications work for which clients. I doubt that any medication will work for everyone who stutters. Second, I think that even if there is a pill that one could take to help manage stuttering, behavioral methods will still be needed. Just like we have to try and manage other motor acts like creating the best golf swing or tennis stroke, I think the same is true for modifying and monitoring how one's motor system is working during speech. I think there are some very effective strategies PWS can use if there is a lot of time spent learning the strategy with a high degree of self monitoring used in order to help one's motor system respond the best way that it can. Over time, things get easier and a little less controlled. So, medications can help in this learning process but that's why it takes years to change how a system works...just like developing into a better golfer or tennis player.