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From: Prakhar Sachan
Date: 06 Oct 2006
Time: 10:24:41 -0500
Remote Name: 202.141.136.155
Hi Jessica, Thank you very much for the kind words, and best wishes! You ask: >>”I was wondering why do you think that your stuttering become worse in your adolescent years?”<< I think it has got to with, as an adolescent, I became very conscious of my speech. As it is common, in early teens and mid-teen years, we become very conscious of our looks, our clothes etc – in my case I was overly conscious of my speech! Because of the stuttering mindset, my feeling of self-worth, or self-esteem, became directly connected with my “performance” in speaking. As such, even a minor “fumble” would cause a dent to my emotional well being, and would add to the emotional baggage associated with stuttering. In such a setting, top it off with ridicule -- even though of a very minor nature -- you have a perfect recipe for 'disaster'. :-) You further ask....>>”Also, I was interesting in knowing how the treatments in India might differ from the USA? << I don't have any first hand knowledge of treatments in the USA, but I do have a lot of second hand information. I feel there isn't much difference when talked in regards to conventional speech therapy. The techniques are the same – easy onset, phonation exercises, slow rate of speaking, speaking with the aid of DAF, stretching the initial syllable, voluntary stuttering, desensitization etc etc. The key difference, in my opinion lies when it comes to stuttering related programs and support groups. As of yet, support groups in my knowledge are non existent. There are some programs, but not as intensive as that in the USA. Another difference is that the use of fluency devices, and medication for stuttering isn't that widespread. If I am not wrong, then in the USA there are SLPs attached with schools and universities. Also universities have their own Speech Pathology department. Right? Well, that is not the case over here. I haven't heard of any SLP attached to schools. Also, the university structure here is different. For example, my university was the state's technical university, and ONLY concerned with technical education, research etc --- not speech therapy! I guess those who pursue speech therapy as a career have their own universities/schools/colleges. I'm not sure.... Best always! - Prakhar