Learning a New Motor Skill

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Re: Article 1

From: Judy Kuster
Date: 30 Sep 2012
Time: 18:40:42 -0500
Remote Name: 68.232.253.249

Comments

In my opinion there is more than one path to developing stuttering. And yes, for some, learning a new motor skill can be an important part of therapy. But for many, it is only a PART of therapy. The purpose of the assignment was to teach my students how difficult learning a new motor skill can be. And practice is part of that, but no, practice does not always make perfect. Gene Cooper wrote about what he labeled "chronic perseverative stuttering." (see http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/cooper6.html For some people, the overt symptoms of stuttering are not going to be overcome. It is not because of failure on the part of the client, or necessarily on the part of the clinician. Sometimes, but not always, finding a different approach to therapy can be helpful. One size (or even one clinician) does not always fit all. A good friend, Marty Jezer, tried just about every therapy treatment there was and lived his life with a significant stutter. A very important part of therapy for any person who stutters, in my opinion, is to become a comfortable and effective communicator whether there is overt stuttering or not. Marty Jezer was that kind of person. His book, Stuttering: A Life Bound Up in Words shared many of his attempts at therapy. Several chapters of that book are available online at http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/library/library.html


Last changed: 10/22/12