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From: Brett Kluetz
Date: 10/15/02
Time: 8:01:12 AM
Remote Name: 136.142.43.21
Torione,
It's interesting that you note that you couldn't imagine yourself being self-conscious about "something you couldn't control (stuttering)." I think that's a really healthy attitude, but I think a lot of people who stutter think that if they just worked hard enough, they could control it. I think it is common to blame onself for stuttering (and therefore feel self-conscious that they can't "control it"--especially so for people who have ungergone a lot of therapy and feel that they haven't improved or gotten 100% fluent. But I think that treatment for kids and adults should stress that PWS shouldn't blame themselves for their stuttering. Also, in response to your comment that some people rely on their loved ones to be "their voices to the world." I think that would be an extreme case... and I've never come across someone who relies on their partner/friends/family to that extent, but I think that some PWS have the propensity to rely on such people to speak for them and I think this can sometimes make the PWS feel helpless. That's the point to underscore... Finally, re: your question about if I have kids-- I do not have any children yet. But when I do have kids, i hope to be honest and open about my stuttering... and even add some humor. I think that's important too if it's done in a self-respecting way... Good luck with your career in speech-language pathology. Thanks for showing an interest in stuttering-- this field needs people who are willing to look at the gestalt of stuttering-- not just the overt behaviors...
Brett