About the presenter: Erin C. Dyer has been a speech pathologist for 28 years and is a member of the initial cadre of Board-Recognized Specialists in Fluency Disorders. She currently works with children and their parents at the Belleville School District in Belleville, WI. Erin teaches the Graduate Seminar in Fluency Disorders at the U.W.: Whitewater and has a private practice. An ASHA Legislative Councilor, Erin has worked to promote the needs of students and individuals who stutter.

You can post Questions/comments about the following paper to the author before October 22, 2006.

A Family Activity To Address The Problem Of Interruptions

by Erin Dyer
from Wisconsin, USA

At dinner time, every family member begins with 10 pennies. During the course of the meal, if someone interrupts whoever is speaking, they lose a penny & have to give it to the person they interrupted. The person with the most pennies at the end of the meal gets a special privilege. (e.g. stay up 30 minutes past their regular bedtime; gets a larger dessert; picks a game for the family to play, etc.)

A variation of this activity involved having the parents identify behaviors that they do that impacts their child's speech. One father had to avoid finishing his son's statements, His mother had to avoid talking about work during dinner. Both parents earned a reward. Dad got to play an extra game of golf. Mom was given a flowering plant.

You can post Questions/comments about the above paper to the author before October 22, 2006.

September 9, 2006
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