About the presenter: Dobrinka Georgieva, Ph.D. is a lecturer in logopedics at Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. She is Vice-Dean of the faculty of Philosophy and Director of the University Stuttering Research Center. Dobrinka is a published author in Bularian, English, Finnish and French and is also fluent in Russian and has presented internationally. She is a member of the International Fluency Association, the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, the Bulgarian National Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics and the Greek Association in Neurolinguistics. | |
The first stuttering treatment in Bulgaria dates from 1898 when a German, F. Urbich, opened the first logopedics school in the capital Sophia. Sixty years later, in 1959 started the university student training in Speech Therapy in Bulgaria.
The first part of this presentation analyzes the 40 years period of stuttering treatment when the ex-Soviet Union Logopedics influence was dominant.
The general influence on fluency disorders is characterized by:
The influence on treatment is characterized by:
The second part of the presentation deals with the development of fluency disorders therapy in Bulgaria in the last 15 years Transition period. It is a struggle of influence period, where many international scientific schools try to implement their methods and therapeutic programs in this field such as for instance - Craig's method, F. Le Huche method, stuttering modification approach methods (Van Riper, H. Gregory, E. Cooper), K.O. St. Louis and F. Myers cluttering synergetic method, Daly method etc. (A. Craig, 1999; F. Le Huche, 1979, 2000; Van Riper, 1973, 1982; H. Gregory, 1979, 1986; E. Cooper & C. Cooper, 1991; F. Myers & K. O. St. Louis, 1992; D. Daly, 1992)
I have tried to categorize the various methods for the both fluency disorders in a useful and creative way. Four categories of general approaches reflect the present practice of Bulgarian speech therapists:
In Bulgaria, nowadays, formal stuttering and cluttering therapy methods generally are combinations of a few approaches (and many techniques). The most popular methods are based on fluency shaping approach while stuttering modification approach methods, contingent management and desensitization and counseling are not quite popular. Self-help or support group are not becoming available yet.
On the other hand we notice a big interest in cluttering research studies.
Clinician’s method |
Year |
Age |
Therapy schedule and duration |
Description of the main stages of the therapy |
Speech techniques |
Measures of effectiveness and results |
Therapy approach |
1. Vlassova, N.
А., Rаu, Е. Ph. |
1959 |
Preschool
age |
8 - 9 months |
Complex therapy. For
first time different degrees of speech independence are
applied. 1.Accompanying
speech 2.Reflective
speech: the child repeats speech therapist’s speech 3.
Answers of questions on pictures 4.Independent
description of pictures 5.Retelling 6.Spontaneous
speech 7.Normal
speech |
1. Breathing exercises 2. Articulation exercises 3. Voice exercises |
There is no data for Bulgaria. In
Russia 70% effectiveness; 30% complementary effects ( Vlassova). 60%
effectiveness; 19% considerable improvement; 13% failed; 8% - relapses (Rau). |
Complex approach; Fluency shaping approach |
2.
Cheveleva, N. А. |
1965 |
Preschool
age |
8 - 9 months |
Complex
therapy in the situation of a game activity and manual activity! Transition from situational
to complex speech. 1.Limited
speech activity 2.Accompanying
speech 3.Final
speech: the child describes executed, past events and activities 4.Planned
speech: the child talk about what he/she intents to do 5.
Stabilization speech: the aim is to maintain the new fluency skills. |
1. Breathing exercises 2. Articulation exercises 3. Voice exercises 4. Movement exercises |
There is no data for Bulgaria. The most applied method in
Bulgaria Modified for Bulgarian
conditions by Stamov, Vurbanova, Stavrakova (1987). |
Complex
approach; Fluency
shaping approach |
3. Mironova, S. А. |
1969 |
Preschool
age |
8 - 9 m. |
1.
Plain situational speech: work over the Lexis 2.
Repetition of speech habits for the situative speech and gradual transition toward plain
context speech work over phrases 3.
Independent context speech work over stories 4.Independent
speech with different degrees of complexity |
1.
Articulation exercises 2.
Voice exercises 3.
Breathing exercises 4.
Prolonged speech 5.
Airflow |
There is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency
shaping approach |
4.
Seliverstov, V. I. |
1979 |
Preschool
age |
8 - 9 m. |
1.
Preparatory 2.
Training 3.
Repeating The
logopedic therapy is accomplished in the conditions of a game activity |
Work
over: 1.Prosodics 2.Rhythm 3.Voice
strength In
different speech situations. |
There is no data for Bulgaria. 39.7% without stammering; 47.8% considerable
betterment; 12.5% inconsiderable
betterment (Seliverstov) |
Complex
approach; Fluency
shaping approach |
5.
Volkova, G. А. |
1983 |
Preschool
age 2-4
years 4-7
years |
8 - 9 m. |
1.Diagnostic
stage 2.
Limited
speech activity 3.Accompaning-reflected
speech 4.
Stage of questions and answers 5.
Spontaneous independent speech Partitions
of the program for logopedic work: 1.
System of games 2.
Logorhythmics 3.
Educational work 4.
Influence upon the micro-social environment of children |
1.Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises |
There
is no data for Bulgaria. 70.2% without stuttering; 26.3% considerable
betterment; 3.5% noticeable betterment; (Volkova) |
Complex
approach; Fluency
shaping approach |
6.Vigodskaya, I. G., Pelinger, Е. L., Uspenska, L. P. |
1984 |
Preschool
age |
8
- 9 m. |
1.Silence 2.Formation
of speech breathing 3.Short
phrases 4.
Longer phrases 5.
Speech in speech situations 6.
Spontaneous speech Relaxation
exercises are leading through the games |
1.Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises |
There
is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
7.
Cheveleva, N. А. |
1978 |
Primary
school age |
9 m. |
The
logopedic work is carried out on the background of manual activity: 1.
Accompanying speech 2.
Final speech 3.
Planned speech 4.
Maintenance of the speech skills |
1.Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises 4. Prolonged speech |
There
is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
8.
Yastrebova, А. V. |
1979 |
Primary
school age |
8 - 9 m. |
Method
for stutterers with language impairment 1.Work
over speech fluency, Lexis, grammar, development and stabilization of the skills for
word analysis 2.
Stabilization of the skills for fluent speech 3.
Work on the sound and the speech
intonation |
Work over: 1. rate 2.
rhythm 3. fluency 4. articulation 5. gentle onset 6. proper direction of airflow |
There
is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
9.
Missulovni, L. Y. |
1988 |
Adolescent
and adults in the conditions of psychoneurotic dispensary |
3
- 4 m. 2
times per week |
1.
Diagnostic stage 2.
Silence after a sitting of suggestion 3.
Automation of speech habits 4.
Stabilization of speech skills The
logopedic work is carried out together with the medicine therapy and
psychotherapy |
Gentle onset Airflow Systematic desensitization |
There is no data for Bulgaria. 17.8% without stuttering 34.6% considerable
betterment; 38.5% betterment; 9.1% without betterment
(Missulovin) |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
10.
Bujanov, М. I. |
1989 |
Adolescents
in the conditions of clinics or dispensary |
4 m. |
1.
Stage of speech technique
formation: midriff breathing,
voice exercises, syllable exercises 2.
Reading of texts and/or retellings with a different degree of complexity 3.
Automation of speech habits in different speech situations and mastering of
habits for autogenous training The
logopedic work is carried out parallel with the medical therapy, psychotherapy, physiotherapy ,occupational
therapy and music therapy |
1.Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises |
There is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
11. Shkolovski, V.
М. |
1974 |
Adolescents
and adults |
2.5 - 3 m. |
1.
Diagnostic stage 2.
Reorganization
of the pathologic speech skills 3.
Stabilization of the skills for speech fluency 4.
Prophylactics 5.
Sanatorium and resort treatment The
logopedic work is carried out parallel to hypnotherapy, self suggestion,
rational psychotherapy, suggestive psychotherapy, physiotherapy |
1. Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises |
There
is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
12.
Hvatsev, М. Е. |
1959 |
Adolescents and adults |
45 days |
1.
Diagnostic stage 2.
Work over breathing 3.
Work over voice 4.Work
over sound pronunciation 5.
Work over the rhythmical speech (accompanying speech , reflected speech,
reading, learning by heart of texts, independent speech in different speech
situations) |
1.Articulation exercises 2. Voice exercises 3. Breathing exercises |
There is no data for Bulgaria. |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
13.
Daskalov, D. (Bulgarian
method) |
1963 |
Adolescents and adults |
45
days treatment program |
Balneal-sanatorium
treatment of stutterers. 1.Systematic
breathing and speech exercises, rhythmic vocal exercises with musical
accompaniment, singing 2.Auditory
masker – for severe stuttering cases (10-12
days subcutaneously inject at each of certain points in the Zakharin-Head
zones of the speech organs – see Van Riper, 1973, p. 93) Application
of protracted sleep along with drugs; relaxation; healing effects of the
naturally favorable climate and the baths; psychotherapy, gymnastic therapy,
remedial exercises had air, sun and aqueous baths. |
|
Temporary
effectiveness during the pharmacy therapy This
method has been completely abandoned in Russia (Platonov, 1959) |
Complex
approach; Fluency shaping approach |
14. No specific method
for cluttering treatment. |
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|
|
The treatment procedures
are the same as in stuttering cases |
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