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From: Suzanne Kimia-Kohanteb (graduate student)
Date: 16 Oct 2006
Time: 04:25:54 -0500
Remote Name: 69.231.24.225
Dear MR. Hicks, I enjoyed reading your paper. I am currently taking fluency course, and I am coming to a conclusion that fluency shaping that happened at your “speech correction” camp is only working for some people and for most the generalization does not last long. I believe that we have to work on the fears and feelings and attitudes as well as fluency shaping and an integrated approach, individualized for each client, is the ideal way for treatment. You mentioned two people that put guns to your head to take you to NSA or Toastmaster. Caring people like these individuals can make a difference in people’s lives as you did in the case of the little girl, the Chinese girl or the gentleman in Toastmaster. English is my second language. I was telling our fluency professor the other day that when I am tired or rushed, I have increased dysfluencies. Initially when I came to this country, I did not speak much English. I preferred not talking to the shame and embarrassment of my English, and when I spoke no one could hear my hypophonic voice. I was shy and afraid of my accent, the possibilities of not being able to find words, or lack of understanding of what I was told! I finally faced my fears and made myself talk in the classrooms and other public places. Now because I have faced my fears, I can be a role model to so many people who desperately need help facing their own demons. How does it feel to be able to make a difference in people’s life? I am just curious, have you ever considered becoming a SLP? You will make a great one! Thanks for the great paper. Suzanne