Why We Must Know More

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Integration is essential

From: Tim Mackesey
Date: 06 Oct 2004
Time: 19:15:29 -0500
Remote Name: 68.219.104.59

Comments

I concur, Peter and Darrell. On the East Coast, there are several FSI intensive programs. In Atlanta I have helped several dozen teen and adults who stutter who have attended these programs. Some of them have gone several times for refreshers and/or to repeat the whole program. What is missing is very similar: 1) not knowing how to handle anticipatory anxiety in the very places that used to haunt them. 2) not having reframed cognitions and affect adequately (see point #1). 3) still needing desensitization. 4) needing more modification skills to handle the moments of blocking. 5) many had an internal conflict right away with the sound and feel of shaping and elongating. Take for example a mild, situational case. This person has a certain "identity" with his peers as sometimes stuttering and being accepted with it. Returning to that environment with a drastically different speech pattern can be uncomfortable. Several have said: "I feel that shaping brought MORE attention to my speech." This is personal and if a person feels this way, they will abandon the targets. Anyone who says "it is better than stuttering" is not validating the client. The "cook book" approach is not client-centered enough from my experience. I see FMI, FSI and cognitive reorganization/reframing to all be tools for every SLPs tool box. Cheers, Tim Mackesey


Last changed: 02/21/07