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From: Alan Badmington (to Dawn)
Date: 18 Oct 2005
Time: 09:56:05 -0500
Remote Name: 81.79.133.21
Hi Dawn, Thank you for taking the time to respond to my article. Your comments, and interest, are greatly appreciated. Oh dear! – you really have posed me some difficult questions ;-) You will, of course, appreciate that I cannot speak from a professional point of view – merely from my own experiences as a PWS. Right, where do I start? Well, you will be well aware that every person who stutters is different. Each of your clients will have had different life experiences; originated from different backgrounds; and received different family support. They will also have different aspirations in life. I used the breathing technique and tools as a means to an end. They helped me to challenge my self-limiting beliefs and expand my comfort zones. But, in my experience, it is difficult to transfer those techniques/tools from the clinician’s room into the outside world. I was so fortunate that I had access to a superb worldwide support network 24/7. Without that, I’m not sure that I could have made the advances that I did. Based upon past experiences, I feel that I would probably have become disheartened in the face of continual setbacks. Having the support network, I was able to practise my new techniques whenever I chose. I had the opportunity to telephone literally hundreds of persons in all parts of the world, who were able to monitor if I was using it correctly. I also had access to local support groups, at which every member was also familiar with (and using) the same techniques. I was, therefore, able to consolidate my proficiency. This was so different from past experiences where I had ventured out into the outside world alone – totally unaided. Although I recognise the value of techniques, there is far more to dealing with stuttering than merely working upon the mechanics of speech. What I’m trying to stress is that, in my humble opinion, we need to address the whole self, and not just concentrate upon that area of the body from which the words emanate (the mouth, articulators etc). Dealing with speech, in isolation, is (in my view) unlikely to succeed. One also needs to deal with the psychological aspects, negative beliefs, self-image, approach avoidance strategies, emotions, self-esteem, self-confidence, expanding comfort zones, communication skills etc. The new techniques and tools that I learned were also invaluable in assisting me to eradicate word substitution. To summarise, I’d just like to reiterate that one set of rules, or approach, cannot be applied to everyone. We are all different. However, I feel that there may be areas in which all clients could be encouraged to work. Negative self-talk can be so damaging (this is something that I explained more fully in my earlier responses to Sophie and Jack). Encourage them to challenge their fears by doing the things they always felt lay outside their scope. Expanding comfort zones is an essential part of personal growth, yet so many of us (including those who do not stutter) avoid challenges because of the fear of the unknown, and the fear of failure. You may wish to read my 2003 ISAD Online Conference paper, “STEP OUTSIDE: Why expanding comfort zones can improve our stuttering and help us to lead more fulfilling lives”. It can be found at: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad6/papers/badmington6.html And, finally, I urge that you try to engage them in as many social activities as possible. I have witnessed so many PWS who, because of their decision to remain on the fringe of conversation etc, do not develop good interpersonal skills. I really must close at this point. I hope that you may find something of interest in my response, although I’m not sure that I’ve answered your questions ;-) Kindest regards Alan