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From: Retz
Date: 19 Oct 2004
Time: 12:32:41 -0500
Remote Name: 206.40.122.35
Peter...Great question! When I speak about a results based communication approach, I am speaking about what results do the Parents of the CWS want as a result of therapy. I always initially ask parents to answer these 3 questions...1.) What general goals do you have for your child when they go walking out the door at 18 years of age? 2.) What type of communication skills would you like for them to have when they go out the door at 18 years of age? 3.) What role do you want me, as a slp, to play in helping you attain these goals for your child? Their answers to these questions assist me in designing a therapy approach & the decisions regarding educating. Their stating of their goals help me in figuring out how to help them towards attaining the goals they desire for their CWS. The goal of Stopping or Controlling stuttering is not the same goal as Talking! I do not know what causes stuttering. I do not believe there is a "cure" for real stuttering. I do know that those who stutter definitely posses "natural speech"...how to release it is the million dollar question to me. The ultimate stuttering behavior is "chosen silence". To have the fear of stuttering or the fear of talking is an insidious feeling....specially to a child. I know what increases stuttering behavior (fear)....I also know what decreases stuttering behavior (no fear). I do not believe you can stop or control stuttering successfully over a lifetime. If you stutter, you stutter.... You can also talk. I base therapy on the goal of talking -- even if you do stutter. My basic goals--and I am stating these very basically-- in the treatment approach I advocate for are 1.) Increase Verbal Output 2.) Decrease Communication Apprehension 3.) Provide interaction activities with Typically Developing Peers in one to one, small group (3 - 5) and large group settings (classroom). 4.) Education/training/modeling/demonstrating of real "listening" skills to the parents and any other identified significant listeners in the child's life and assigning them "homework' for the mastery of this absolutely necessary skill. I let parents know, and help them, become experts regarding real knowledge of stuttering and their child. As a professional, I ask myself"Would I do this if the child were mine?" I always will demonstrate any and all therapy techniques to the parents, and have them actually engage in that technique. Then I let them tell me if they want me to use it with their child. Let the parent experience the therapy before applying it to the child....I've never had parents reject the "listening' technique. I have had them reject FT/FS/ and SM techniques after they have had the opportunity to learn and be requried to use them first. Don't get me wrong...If a CWS/TWS asks me about techniques, I gladly share and show them. Heck, I'll go out in public and demonstrate techniques for them if they want. I do believe learning to "play with" stuttering is really important....How to "turn it off" and "turn it on", so to speak...Yet having them ask VS imposing these things is the key. I have never had a child/teen who stutters tell me they enjoy "techniques" ....I have had them tell me they really enjoy being "listened" to.... Therapuetic Listening is a terrific base....The major side effect of therapuetic listening is that a child will talk more...even if they stutter. Therapuetic Listening requires the listener to focus on the message and does not allow for focusing on how it is said. If you are a child, It is most important that you listen to my message because that is what is important to me, the child....but, if you care more about how I say it, you will risk me learning to fear stuttering and fear talking. (I always say it only takes a little poison to kill a kid...) The message being sent by the listener is what you have to say is not as important as how you say it. And for a CWS/TWS, this can be deadly. The message is the real deal. It is OK to stutter. There is no BUT....Acceptance of how I am is of paramount importance if you want me to have the opportunity to change. Hope this helps answering your question. Thanks for asking, Peter. Thanks for being involved in this great conference!