[ Contents | Search | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Greg Snyder
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 13:27:44 -0500
Remote Name: 130.74.194.57
Hi Vasu. You wrote: [it is undeniable that the three (JS/WJ/CVR) were virtually fluent speakers…] I’ve never had the honor of meeting any of them before their passing, but one can still hear them online if the right website is searched. While the speech sample that I’ve heard was small, I would classify it was a well-controlled stutter; to call them virtually fluent, at least in the small recordings that I’ve heard, would be a stretch. … … … … Undoubtedly, all three contributed to the field, for better or worse; their contributions did help many. … … …. …. But as for your original question, I do believe that the emerging neurophysiological model does hold promise. The variability of stuttering has really been tough for theorists to account (which may have been enticing for those in the psychological milieu), but a proposed neuro-etiology can likely handle the variable nature of stuttering. Singing uses an entirely different neural processing pattern and neural pathways, thereby bypassing any proposed neurophysiological flaw. Choral speech provides speech feedback in the form of exogenous gestural initiation, thereby utilizing an alternate premotor pathway that bypasses the stuttered neural flaw. Utilizing a foreign accent also produces gross changes in speech-related neural activity, and relies heavily on sensory feedback. However, as this novel form of speech becomes more habituated, it will become integrated into the speech gesture itself, thus losing its fluency enhancing effect. (As does any other secondary stuttering behavior; which serves as a novel alteration to the speech gesture, thereby likely utilizing an alternate neural pathway or processing pattern.) … … … … The thing is—what I have just described is a gross over-simplification of a perspective probably best explained by Per Alm; although others, such as myself, have arrived upon the same general conclusion. While many aspects of this perspective have yet to be tested, they are testable, especially with the inclusion of current and future neural imaging techniques looming on the horizon. fRMI and MEG are our friends. If I’m not mistaken, Per Alm has his dissertation published on line, and can be accessed for free. If you’re asking for a modern theory on the etiology and behavioral aspects of stuttering that follows the merits of true science, it would be a good place to start. Hope this helps,