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From: Vince Vawter
Date: 10 Oct 2011
Time: 07:41:27 -0500
Remote Name: 67.187.126.12
The best way to answer this is to tell you a story. I enrolled in a three-week intensive fluency shaping program at age 39. Our group consisted of, as I remember, eight people. Seven of us (6 male and 1 female) were in our late 20s, 30s and 40s. There was one person older than me who was an architect. Although our sessions with clinicians were one-on-one, we would gather as a group for breaks and practice sessions. Without a doubt, the person who achieved a heightened fluency level the quickest was a teenage boy who I believe was around 14. I did not keep up with any of my fellow therapy mates, but I would wager my pension check that this young man gained freedom from his stutter for the rest of his life. Without consideration of his speech, I could see the change in him. He started out the three weeks withdrawn and nervous. At the end I saw a young man bursting with confidence and the energy of youth that I knew would sustain him. I was as happy for him as I was in the progress I was making. Truthfully, I was also jealous. I knew if I could be magically transported back to my teenage years, I would have a much better chance at my freedom. Danielle, you tell this teen that you know an old guy who began stuttering at 5 and didn't get serious about therapy until he was almost 40 years old. One of his few regrets in life is those 35 that were wasted on his journey to fluency freedom. Today's youth speak a different language from old goats like me, so tell him this old goal said "JUST DO IT." He'll be eternally grateful that he did.