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From: Lynne Shields
Date: 07 Oct 2009
Time: 14:45:20 -0500
Remote Name: 68.188.68.2
Pam, You don't like people finishing your words or sentences and your friend doesn't mind. I think it is important for speaking partners to find out what a person's preferences are, and do their best to follow those preferences. Hence, when I work with someone who stutters, I ask them to decide what they want and then consider informing their speaking partners, so that their preferences or expectations can be explicit. That will help prevent 1) frustration on the part of the partner who stutters, as others know what they prefer and, 2) anxiety or uncertainty on the part of the partner who doesn't have to wonder 'should I help out or wait'. Getting things out in the open, or working toward establishing more open communication about preferences, is sometimes a goal for children or adults with whom I am working. Lynne