2022 Talk to a Professional
Hello, our names are Marissa and Megan and we are graduate students studying speech-language pathology. We recently read Rik Mets’ article in which he explained his experience of accepting his stutter versus another PWS who eliminated her stutter through intensive speech therapy as a child. We were wondering how an SLP should approach therapy with a person who stutters if they’re not sure if the person wants to accept their stutter or try to eliminate their stutter.
Hello Marissa and Megan, thank you for your question.
No SLT has a crystal ball or ability to see the future, so although evidence tells us that for some children stuttering is only experienced during childhood, others will of course stutter into adulthood. While research has identified some factors that increase the likelihood of persistent stuttering (‘risk factors’) it isn’t an exact science and not every individual fits the model. I think it’s helpful to talk to even young children (and their families) about acceptance, even if evidence at the given time means you are predict stuttering will only be present during childhood. Acknowledging that stuttering is just how some people talk – it may sound a bit different to how most people talk but lots of people stutter and it’s OK to be different – is a concept that can be introduced alongside the idea that if stuttering is making talking hard work or it feels uncomfortable (i.e. high levels of tension within the stuttered moments) there are strategies therapy can explore that will make the stutters feel easier (lower tension). In this way it is possible to reinforce the message of acceptance whilst simultaneously introducing strategies to manage tension.
Does that help make things clearer? I hope so!
Jenny