Pausing and Stutttering

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Re: Pausing as a avoidance behavior

From: Peter Reitzes
Date: 07 Oct 2009
Time: 10:25:29 -0500
Remote Name: 165.155.192.75

Comments

Jennifer, thanks for the great question. Some speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a core belief that speech tools should involve moving forward, without exception. Some SLPs consider any stoppage of speech to be impeding, not aiding communication. I disagree. At times, a person who stutters may pause or stop as a way to prevent a moment of stuttering, as a way to let the stuttering moment pass or as a way to prepare/plan to speak differently. Sometimes, the speaker may pause or stop only to end up avoiding speaking or avoiding stuttering. I think what is important here is for the speaker and the SLP to be aware that pausing may be used productively and unproductively. For this reason, the speaker and SLP need to have frank and open discussions about why and when pausing is being used throughout therapy. Any speech tool may be used productively or unproductively and pausing is no exception.


Last changed: 10/07/09