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From: Kevin Eldridge
Date: 13 Oct 2010
Time: 14:44:17 -0500
Remote Name: 64.134.34.14
After the study by Mary Tudor hit the newspapers, I re-read the copy that I had of the study and sent an analysis to a number of colleagues. At that point, I felt that the data did not show that Mary Tudor (and her advisor Wendahl Johnson) had succeeded in turning the orphans into children who stutter. I agreed that some had become hesitant to speak but didn't feel it meant the definition of stuttering. I also saw other methodological problems with the study. Since that time however, I have had the opportunity to speak to someone at length who has actually spoken to Mary Tudor and had access to records of her attempts to "undo" what they had done to these children. As a friend stated, "The study isn't the entire picture. Its what happened after that study that is really important." I didn't have access to that information when I went on the record saying I didn't believe the orphans stuttered. It appears quite clear from the interviews with Mary and the family of the orphans, that the study carried out on these children accomplished its goals. The children were hesitant to speak, reported difficulty initiating speech, and saw themselves as someone who stutters. The psychological damage was done. These kids believed what they were told- that they stuttered. The fact that the family of six of the orphans received almost 1 million dollars, suggests that the families had a strong case. On top of this, Mary could do nothing to reverse these effects. I don't feel it furthers our field to deny this. Devon, that being said, I am not arguing that because they were able to make children stutter, that this means we now know what causes stuttering. If I gathered 6 children for a study, and pushed them down every time they walked near me, they may begin to fall as soon as they saw me approach (to avoid being pushed down). Would this tell me anything about why some kids fall more than others? I've probably already said more than I should.... so I will stop.