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From: Michael
Date: 03 Oct 2006
Time: 12:10:53 -0500
Remote Name: 138.9.30.74
Elizabeth: You bring up some nice points. Delaying treatment may lead to greater struggle because of an inability or unwillingness to constructively deal with issues associated with stuttering....but that statement implies lack of knowledge or having knowledge but not willing to use it in a helpful way....Some PWS have more important life issues than their speech, and I respect that...others may have had successful treatment, made gains, and although may potentially make further gains, are satisfied and comfortable with their current level(s) of fluency/disfluency. My point is that there must be a readiness for change for therapy to help, just as some plants are "ready to grow" in some conditions more than others. Regarding your point about denial: Denial implies a refusal to admit some truth or reality. If a person is avoiding therapy because they are not admitting they stutter (when they truely do), then I'd say they're in some kind of denial. If the person recognizes they stutter and "avoid" (I'm not sure that is the appropriate word here--maybe "don't engage in" is better) therapy because they don't think they need or want therapy, that's their choice and I respect that. The latter person would also likely do poorly in therapy because there is a lack of motivation for change. Anyway, that's my "top of the head" winded response for now...Thanks for your thoughtful reflections. Michael