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From: John Tetnowski
Date: 04 Oct 2011
Time: 08:42:35 -0500
Remote Name: 130.70.40.111
Vince, One of the things that we do know is that ADD/ADHD and many (actually most) other conditions run concomitant with stuttering. These figures range between 40 and 68%, depending on which data sets we are considering. I think that almost any extra concomitant disorder makes stuttering therapy more difficult...especially when we want our clients to be better communicators (not just less stuttering). The issue that often comes up is, "How do I treat a person who stutters who also is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD?". My answer is to begin with techniques that have been documented to be effective. In addition, make adaptations based upon the individual needs and skills of the individual. The bottom line is this, there is not one documented approach that works for ALL PWS that also carry a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD, just as there is NOT one treatment for all PWS. Our role as SLPs is to make wise clinical decisions when considering a) the condition of the client, b) the needs of the client, c) the motivation of the client, d) the skills of the clinician, and e) what has been documented in the research. Thank you for the question. John Tetnowski