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From: Ed Feuer
Date: 20 Oct 2010
Time: 09:28:15 -0500
Remote Name: 142.161.163.158
Nan and Rosemarie, with all due respect, there exists a tremendous amount of ignorance among the general public about stuttering and misconceptions abound. Parents, siblings, other relatives and neighbours are certainly not immune. Van Riper knew this, stating: "In our culture, parents of a young stutterer come to the speech therapist with a multitude of concerns and it is important that the therapist know what they are if his counseling is to have any effectiveness. Some parents are certain that the stuttering is merely a temporary aberration of development, that the child is sure to outgrow it eventually. Others view it as a bad habit like thumb sucking to be broken as quickly as possible. When one of the parents or other members of the family possess it, the disorder may be viewed as a family curse to be endured or contained. Some see it as a social disgrace, a future occupational disability or merely an irritating nuisance to communication. Many parents come to us with a profound sense of guilt, believing that somehow they have caused the child's difficulties and are directly responsible for its continuance. We also find a wide variety of anxiety and hostility reactions of various degrees of intensity." (The Treatment of Stuttering, page 418). Van Riper understood that it was crucial to deal with these parental attitudes because he believed that a positive, healthy and total environment for therapy was necessary and parents had to be brought onside to become part of that therapy environment. The concept stands the test of time and there's no need to reinvent the wheel. But what is necessary is a thorough, profound and heartfelt reconsideration of how to most effectively deliver what the great man prescribed. Cordially, Ed. edfeuer@mts.net