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From: Meaghan Tal
Date: 23 Oct 2006
Time: 11:55:56 -0500
Remote Name: 134.29.31.173
I am in complete agreement with author Tim Mackesey’s proposal that parents and other frequent communication partners of people who stutter should take a proactive approach during interactions. I recognize that it is easier to react, which is often the result of impulse, than to resist immediate action, and instead teach the person who stutters how to effectively and efficiently deal with the negativity associated with stuttering. It is therefore important for clinicians, parents, and teachers of people who stutter to make a conscious effort to prepare the person to face challenges that may arise as a resulting of stuttering. This will give the person the best opportunity to do his or her best, instead of criticizing, critiquing, and offering unconstructive suggestions. I believe that the author’s supportive, insightful, and enlightening suggestions relate to Charleen Bloom and Donna Cooperman’s Synergistic Theory. This approach proposes that stuttering is complex and multidimensional, and that the synergistic domains of speech-language attitudes and feelings, and environmental influences are all integrated and interact to influence stuttering. The environment or the listener’s responses impacts the speech-language behaviors, feelings and attitudes of those who stutter. When responding to individuals who stutter, we should respond proactively because that is sure to produce a positive result in all three domains. It is critical that we create the most optimal environment for people who stutter, so that the best outcomes can be achieved.