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From: Vince Vawter (not a prof)
Date: 20 Oct 2011
Time: 09:22:13 -0500
Remote Name: 67.187.126.12
Jay, our situations appear to be similar although I'm probably several years older than you and I'm retired now. I also attended the three-week program at Hollins. I have owned a SpeakEasy device for about 12 years. (Do they really cost $5,000 now? I think I paid about $2,200 for mine.) First, I'll say that both Hollins and the Speakeasy device helped me. Hollins gave me my first feelings of fluency in 1985. The Speakeasy helped me gain confidence to stand up in front of large audiences and speak. But you must think of both of these things only as "tools." The SpeakEasy is not magic. It will help you focus on your speech targets (gentle onset, amplitude contour, etc). You will probably gain some increased fluency initially with it, but it you look upon it as the "cure" you will be disappointed. You may find this interesting. The last few times I have spoken to large audiences, I have worn the SpeakEasy but didn't turn it on. I used it like a fail-safe device. I had it in my ear if I thought I needed it, but it was only there as backup. I don't practice my targets now like I should because I have more interesting things to do, but on the occasion that I do practice I wear my SpeakEasy. The device is expensive, and if you can afford it without a strain on your budget, I say go for it. Do not, however, place all your fluency eggs in that basket. What you are looking for is freedom, not so much fluency. It took me almost 65 years to find a level of freedom that was acceptable to me. You will find yours also, but you will have to work at it. Good luck.