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From: Michael L.
Date: 10 Oct 2011
Time: 13:02:45 -0500
Remote Name: 50.83.62.124
I disagree with essentially your entire comment. 1) Contrary to your claim, over the past century and a half there has in fact been *insufficient* focus on stuttering etiology, with a disproportionate focus on treatment unsubstantiated by scientific research. 2) What prolongs the difficulties of PWS is, as I stated above, assessment based on poorly researched or insufficiently supported interpretations of stuttering--which is, frankly, unethical and harmful. If anything, the persistence of PWS and researchers in expanding etiological research is the only reason we have today finally seen progress in understanding stuttering from a neurological and genetic perspective, as well as progress in investigating pharmacological treatment options--something that was previously considered taboo by the majority of treatment providers. 3) Etiological assumptions *inevitably* inform stuttering treatment, whether or not a therapist is explicitly aware of the assumptions that underly their treatment approach. Case in point: not thirty years ago it was commonly accepted within the SLP community that stuttering is attributable to psychological, behavior-based (rather than neurologically-based) factors. Because of this false etiological assumption, for decades PWS were given improper and unethical treatment. (Unfortunately, because of inertia and dubious, profit-oriented motives, these practitioners can still be found today). Regarding my initial comment, what I was originally responding to was the (unintentionally, presumably) pedantic implication that a PWS who asks about etiological explanations of stuttering is somehow "getting stuck" on irrelevant information. I find this both an insulting and dangerously common attitude. If anything, the question should be asked *more* often, and would better serve PWS clients in effectively evaluating whether care providers are committed to best practices and research-supported therapy.